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I don't see an answer for me up there. I've quit using credit cards. Once in a while I write a check or use a debit card. Otherwise it's cash all the time.
NO our spending hasn't changed lately.
The only two cuts I made was not using my car anymore(sold it) and dropped my auto insurance. I use public transportation, ride my bike, and walk everywhere. Due to this cut I have saved a lot of money and have been in the best shape of my life.
Use of electricity already almost to the bare minimum, though still a few more steps I could take.
Have tried to develop habits to cut down on water use, cut down eating out from about once a week to once a month, make bread and pizza at home, buy flour in bulk and store at home in bins given for free by a local supermarket.
By next year, will probably begin growing some fruits and vegetables on property to the extent possible. Could also try to develop ways to capture rainwater and store, and turn pool into fish pond.
Having said that, I still use a credit card - but not credit - for most purchases as if cash. The difference is that one can gain credit for further purchases such as airline tickets while, if paying off the balance in full each month, avoiding any charges, in effect participating in the credit card company's fees charged to merchants.
My spending "habits"(I live well below my means) have not changed but my spending has gone up. Every time I buy food I spend more than I used to for the same items.
habits have not changed. Always tried to live within my means and so far done pretty well. On the personal finance side, we are in great shape with just the note for my car to finish and dh wants to pay that off this year.
We have gardens and I am adding additional food this year from Lisa's idea sq. foot gardening. Our garden is located 3 miles from our home at dh's parents house. I have always wanted something closer, so have enlisted dh to build me three to four boxes to plant in this year. The food, I freeze and can so we can eat thru the winter.
On the business side, we do have business debt, but are not worrying about it. Rentals are paying the payment on themselves and the equipment is the workhorse of dh's job. If we were to be unable to pay for the new equipment, we still have backup that can be used, but if it comes to this condition---the economy would be so far tanked it would be scary.
Am gathering a nest egg of cash to keep on hand in case of emergency. Even though our bank is still strong, I want something away from our accounts.
All in all, we are doing ok and will continue to in the near future unless drastic things happen.
Retired, on Social Security and withdrawals from IRA. It would be very difficult to spend less. We could give up, in this order, Daily newspaper, computer Internet access, Cable TV. that would give us over 150 more per month. Next to go would probably be one of the cars. Can't do anything about most of the utility bills. About all the other, food and gasoline, could be cut a little, but not much. While I like to eat well...eating out is reserved for quick grab-a-bites at a drive in window.
We use one credit card and pay it off each month. If we just used cash, I am certain that we would spend more. It's having to face paying a large sum when the bill comes in that keeps me from using that credit card often
After I wrote the above post, I got to thinking......in a lot of ways we are living in a much better style than we used to before we retired. No house payments, and we live in a very desirable neighborhood, no purchases for clothes and shoes for work, no lunch money (and often tips) no gasoline for daily trips to work.
We have swapped more income for more time. It was a good deal for us.
I think we are heading for some bad times. I really do. It's been building up, and I think it's about at the breaking point. Will it be as bad as in the Great Depression? I don't think so. But some things, like too much credit, inflated housing costs, (do you really need four bedrooms and 5 baths) new car every year, will change. The industries that supply the unneccessary will suffer a little longer, but I think that needs to happen too.
The stock market is dropping to a point where stocks are beginning to fall in line with what the companies are really worth. Not some pie in the sky value that has be pushed up by people playing around in the market. Is this bad? I think it's a needed adjustment.
The ones that will suffer the most are those that had very little to begin with and those that don't understand that they are wasteful and have to adjust their way of spending.
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I've quit using credit cards. Once in a while I write a check or use a debit card. Otherwise it's cash all the time. 
sq. foot gardening. Our garden is located 3 miles from our home at dh's parents house. I have always wanted something closer, so have enlisted dh to build me three to four boxes to plant in this year. The food, I freeze and can so we can eat thru the winter. 
It would be very difficult to spend less. We could give up, in this order, Daily newspaper, computer Internet access, Cable TV. that would give us over 150 more per month. Next to go would probably be one of the cars. Can't do anything about most of the utility bills. 
About all the other, food and gasoline, could be cut a little, but not much. While I like to eat well...eating out is reserved for quick grab-a-bites at a drive in window. 
