Has anyone recently cut back on extra spending?

I think that the economy has gone down almost everywhere. It seems like once the United States economy started slumping, everyone's started slumping! I've cut back on spending. I've even cut back on driving places because I can't afford the gas to go places!

I have cut back on unnecessary shopping. Probably not for groceries but for other shopping like clothes, utensils, Make-up and so on. I try ways to save all the extra money. I fill out coupons to buy groceries too. I try to earn more each day too these days.

I don't spend as much money on clothes I don't need and I have also cut back on entertainment buys like DVD's, music,fast food,eating out stuff like that.

I have always been someone who tries to be as efficient and cost effective as possible, so I am already in the habit. However, I have noticed a need to employ these tactics more often and be more careful when shopping since the recession has come. Oftentimes prices on specific brands or items are increasing on short or no notice, so keeping my eye out for alternatives is imperative. The best advice I can give is to be aware of what things cost and stock up when a sale hits. You want to have the ability to decipher the actual deals from the marketing tricks.