More American households are shopping for grocery and vacation bargains and eliminating impulse buys, according an online survey by DisneyFamily.com.
Seventy-eight percent of families report that they’ve been affected by the economic downturn, the survey found.
As economic uncertainty continues, parents remain cautious, with 48 percent report they are concerned about job security and the current job market, up from 36 percent in 2008. As a result, 53 percent of parents have cut back on overall spending for their children.
Other survey findings:
- 72 percent reported reducing or eliminating eating out altogether;
- 78 percent report changing their grocery shopping habits by leveraging advertised sales, clipping coupons, and buying generic brands;
- 74 percent  said they are only purchasing essential items and will be making little to no impulse purchases this holiday season;
- 59 percent have eliminated or changed vacation plans for a cheaper alternative.
“A year into the recession, family finance remains a top concern among parents everywhere. Parents continue to be focused on stretching every dollar,” said Emily Smith, vice president of Disney Online.
The survey is based on responses of more than 4,700 DisneyFamily.com visitors in the U.S. from Aug. 19 to Sept. 8. The margin of error is plus or minus 1 percent.
