A survey by Dun & Bradstreet in New Zealand shows more than 65% of people are planning deeper cuts in discretionary spending.
A quarterly consumer credit expectations survey by the agency has found half of respondents are worried about their current financial situation.
Dun & Bradstreet's data shows people plan to spend less because of ongoing economic uncertainty both here and in the Eurozone.
New Zealand general manager John Scott says 66% of people say they are less likely to buy non-essential items.
Respondents say they are less likely to buy non-essential items which until now have resisted recessionary pressures, such as beauty treatments and new mobile phone contracts.
The survey indicates that families are increasingly vulnerable.
It says 56% of those with children are concerned about their current financial situation, 7% above the national average and 13% above the figure for couples with no children.
At the same time, more than a third of families surveyed think they'll have difficulties meeting their credit commitments, as compared to 24% of childless couples.
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Dining out less
The Restaurant Association says people are responding to tough economic times by changing where and how often they eat out.
The association says a new survey conducted with American Express shows 33% of people are reducing the number of times they eat out.
Chief executive Marisa Bidois says 12% are visiting less expensive restaurants.