You Told Us: How Has the Economy Affected You?

The answer, according to nearly 30,000 people surveyed on RealSimple.com and CNNMoney.com: The downturn in the economy has had a tremendous impact on spending habits. See the survey results.

Staying In Is In

Question: What area of your life have you cut back on most?

Break out the slow cooker―people are reining in their restaurant budgets; 37 percent of people who answered this question are cutting back primarily on eating out. Nineteen percent of respondents say that their foremost cutbacks are on clothing, while 15 percent say their main trims are in entertainment and 11 percent point to travel. Though 65 percent of responders say they would cut back wherever necessary, there are certain everyday indulgences some are apt to keep: Transportation, gas, taxis, and household services (like child care and cleaning) lead them.

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The RealSimple.com poll was conducted via SurveyMonkey.com from February 18 to March 12. There were 26,944 respondents.