Americans may be losing some of their optimism according to a new poll. The study shows Americans are expecting the economy to get worse over the next year and they’re backing up their suspicions with their spending. More than 65% of Americans have begun purchasing generic brands as a way to save money. Back in February 61% of Americans were doing this to save money.

This Harris Interactive poll found that Americans are also taking these steps to save money:

• More people today are brown-bagging their lunch as a way to save money. The number of people using refillable water bottles rather than purchasing bottles of water is the highest it’s been since June 2009.
• More than two in five Americans are going to the hairstylist or barber less often as a way to cut costs.  The only other time this number has been greater than two in five was 20 months ago, in October 2009.
• Three in ten Americans have cancelled one or more magazine subscriptions to save money while one in five U.S. adults have cut back on cable TV service.
• Now a fourth of Americans say they have cut back on dry cleaning as a way to save money.
• One in five have stopped purchasing coffee in the morning which is about the same number since the first Harris Interactive Poll was taken back in October 2009.
• While some Americans have cancelled their landline telephone service, changed or cancelled their cell phone service or begun carpooling or using mass transit as ways to save money, these trends aren’t widespread.

Overall, most Americans are making changes to save money. That’s good news for the household budget, but doesn’t help the economy grow. Officials say there needs to be balance in order for the financial situation to improve.

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