Poll: More NY suburbanites watch spending

Responding to the 2007-09 recession and anemic recovery, Long Islanders and people living in other New York City suburbs are opening their wallets less often, delaying car and home repairs and clipping coupons, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The Siena College Research Institute found nearly 80 percent of suburbanites have either "completely or partially changed" their behavior by using coupons and other discounts to purchase food, clothing and other necessities and are closely watching the household thermostat.

About 70 percent of those polled in Nassau, Suffolk and the other counties near the city said they have stopped buying on impulse and cut back on entertainment spending such as vacations and restaurant meals. Half said they are purchasing lower quality goods in place of brand-name merchandise.

"The recession of 2007 may be over but New Yorkers continue to feel the pain and to take steps to weather this storm that will not blow out to sea," said Siena pollster Don Levy.

Seventy-six percent of those surveyed in the metropolitan area said they were either "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" about home-heating bills this winter squeezing their finances. Thirty percent or more said in the past six months either they or a family member had taken a second job to make ends meet or had work hours reduced.

Faced with smaller paychecks or none at all, some suburbanites have borrowed money from 401(k) retirement accounts (13 percent) and many stopped making contributions (35 percent) in the past six months.

Levy said the attitudes of Long Island generally mirrored those of all metropolitan area residents.

While almost 70 percent called government at all levels "more of a problem" in resolving economic problems, an equal or greater number backed more federal spending on roads, bridges and education. Eighty-seven percent supported higher expenditures for worker training than expanding unemployment benefits.

Outside the CVS drugstore in Baldwin Harbor Wednesday, several shoppers said they had altered their habits because of the sluggish economy.

"I never used to use coupons but now I wouldn't go to the store without them," said Angela White, 42, a homemaker from Freeport. "You save a lot of money and, besides, I'm worried my husband could lose his job."

She and others were pessimistic about their economic well-being in the immediate future. "I don't see things getting any better," White said.

In the Siena poll, 40 percent of suburbanites said they expected no change in their financial condition over the next year while 32 percent expected to be better off and 20 percent, worse off.