{"id":7544,"date":"2026-04-01T08:03:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T08:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/?p=7544"},"modified":"2026-04-01T08:03:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T08:03:18","slug":"americans-cut-back-on-food-dining-spending-as-costs-climb-and-refunds-become-essential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/?p=7544","title":{"rendered":"Americans Cut Back on Food, Dining, Spending as Costs Climb and Refunds Become Essential"},"content":{"rendered":"

by\u00a0Stacy M. Brown<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Americans across income levels are changing how they eat, spend, and plan their finances as rising costs for food, housing, and basic necessities continue to tighten household budgets, according to a series of new LendingTree analyses and local data from the District of Columbia.<\/p>\n

\u201cFood costs are hitting every income level, and it\u2019s changing how people spend,\u201d said Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree. \u201cNearly half of Americans are struggling to afford food, and even higher earners are feeling the pressure. That shows up in everyday choices, from groceries to dining out, and it\u2019s a clear sign that budgets are stretched thin.\u201d<\/p>\n

A\u00a0LendingTree survey<\/a>\u00a0found that 49% of Americans say it is difficult to afford food right now, while more than half report spending more on groceries and dining than they did a year ago. The financial strain is especially pronounced among younger generations and families, with 19% of Gen Z respondents, 18% of millennials, 17% of parents with young children, and 22% of low-income households saying affording food has become very difficult.<\/p>\n

Concern extends beyond those reporting hardship. Even among higher-income households, 57% said they worried about paying for groceries in the past month.<\/p>\n

As a result, Americans are adjusting their daily routines. Nearly 90% say they have changed how they shop for groceries. About 30% are watching prices more closely, 24% are cutting back on splurge items, and 23% are reducing food waste and relying on leftovers or switching to store brands.<\/p>\n

For many low-income households, those adjustments are no longer enough. The report found that 22% are buying fewer groceries and 18% are shopping less often, indicating that some families are reducing food purchases after exhausting other cost-cutting options.<\/p>\n

Spending at restaurants is also declining. LendingTree found that 84% of Americans have cut back on dining out, with 39% eating out less frequently, 25% paying closer attention to menu prices, and 22% choosing cheaper restaurants or fast food. A quarter of Americans say they are tipping less, while 19% of millennials and 16% of Gen Z respondents have stopped ordering delivery to save money.<\/p>\n

\u201cMargins get even tighter when inflation runs rampant,\u201d\u00a0one social media user wrote<\/a>\u00a0in response to a video of a restaurant worker getting into an altercation with a customer for not tipping.\u00a0 \u201cRestaurant owners are hurt from raising prices to make a profit and customers eating out less, because they have less spending money.<\/p>\n