“I don’t go all over town like I used to. I try to make my trips count. Fuel prices are higher. I’m going out on a mission, not just for shopping,” Johnson said.
SAN DIEGO — Everything seems to cost more these days, which means people have to make tough choices about what to spend their money on and what to drop off the list.
“I don’t get my nails done that often. I haven’t had them done in about 2 years,” said San Diegan, Debra Johnson.
“Just leave the house and go out less and stay home more and save money that way,” said El Cajon resident Cesar Williamson.
“I’m more selective about where I go to eat because the prices are going up,” said San Diegan, Ana Verdin.
A new report from New First Insight shows what people have cut the most across the country due to the impact of inflation on their wallets.
42%of consumers save on dining out.
33% percent cut their entertainment spending while 30% cut their grocery spending.
Still, many people in El Cajon say they don’t give up eating out. “No, I was at another restaurant last night and I’m here today. I’m not cutting back on restaurants, that’s for sure,” Kathy Box said.
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“I don’t think any inflation would stop us from coming here. Every Sunday for about 3 years, we would never give this up,” Liz Phelps, a loyal Por Favor customer told El Cajon.
While some restaurants may have more empty seats, people say they’re staying home more often to save gas.
“We have good days and bad days. Before we were open 7 days a week and now we are only open 5 days a week,” said Slyvia Ursino, who has worked at Por Favor for more than two decades.
“I don’t go all over town like I used to. I try to make my trips count. Fuel prices are higher. I’m going out on a mission, not just for shopping,” Johnson said.
In contrast, the data shows that there are things consumers refuse to give up: beauty products and pet services top the list.
“I wouldn’t cut back on things like getting my dogs groomed,” Box said.
” Coffee ! Cosmetics ! Or getting their hair done, stuff like that. These are necessities,” Verdin said.
“We wouldn’t give up traveling. We refused to go out. We might not because I force him to cook,” laughed a customer at Por Favor restaurant.
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According to the report, consumers are also reducing their spending on travel, gym memberships and furniture.
“Just because we have inflation, I’m going to continue to live my life and my budget in another way and not stress about it,” Williamson said.
The majority of people seem to be saving on gas, but the trends are still changing as consumers face the highest rate of inflation in 40 years.
According to First Insight, the report is based on a sample of 1,000 people contacted by email in April 2022. The sample was proportionally balanced by generation, region and gender.
WATCH RELATED: Inflation in the United States slowed last month from its highest level in 40 years and after seven consecutive months of worsening price increases: