<p class="ingestion featured-caption">Americans' spending habits are ever-changing, but many people are still looking for ways to save money. d3sign</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Despite easing inflation, many Americans are still looking for new ways to save money.</li><li>The high cost of homeownership and smaller pay bumps are among the factors weighing on consumers.</li></ul><p>Inflation may be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/august-jobs-report-new-york-federal-reserve-unemployment-economy-outlook-2024-9">coming down</a>, but Americans are still looking for ways to save money.</p><p>Over the past year, many US consumers have spent less money on travel, clothes, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-doing-less-diy-worrying-sign-economy-lowes-earnings-2024-8">home improvement</a>, and car insurance, according to surveys, business executives, and analyses of Americans' spending patterns.</p><p>For some people, this means seeking out lower-priced clothing, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-americans-are-saving-on-road-trips-despite-economic-concerns-2024-9">travel destinations</a>, DIY project options, and car insurance policies. But for others, it's meant delaying or foregoing spending altogether.</p><p>This shift is yet another example of how Americans have changed their <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-spending-habits-changed-covid-19-experts-skeptical-2020-5">consumption habits</a> in recent years, in part to combat various economic challenges.</p><p>In 2022, US consumers spent a larger share of their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-youre-still-spending-much-of-your-budget-on-food-2024-2">disposable income on food</a> than they had in over 30 years, and in response, many people <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-inflation-is-changing-grocery-shopping-coupons-sales-frozen-foods-2022-6">looked for creative ways</a> to spend less at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/meal-planning-helped-me-cut-my-grocery-spending-2020-9">grocery store</a>.</p><p>While price growth for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kroger-food-inflation-is-finally-slowing-down-2023-11">food</a> and other expenses have slowed considerably over the past two years, dwindling <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shoppers-spending-less-retailers-brands-cutting-prices-economy-explained-why-2024-7">COVID-era savings</a>, smaller <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-outlook-cooling-signal-data-shows-wage-growth-slowing-2024-7">pay bumps</a> at work, and the still-high costs of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-its-expensive-to-own-a-home-mortgage-insurance-interest2024-4">homeownership</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/high-childcare-costs-in-us-women-workforce-cheapest-countries-kids-2024-2">childcare</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-millennials-falling-behind-savings-americans-renters-homebuying-loans-finance-2024-05">retirement</a> have continued to motivate consumers to save money.</p><p>"People are going to spend, but they're only going to spend when they feel like there's really value there," Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate, previously told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retail-consumers-spending-shopping-economy-covid-stimulus-inflation-xrt-etf-2024-9">Business Insider</a>.</p><p>But where consumers choose to spend their money — and not spend it — is ever-changing.</p><p>In 2022, despite rising prices across the economy, many Americans decided that shelling out on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-consumer-spending-inflation-travel-expenses-2022-7">experiences and trips</a> was worth it as pandemic restrictions eased. However, in recent months, several travel industry companies have pointed to "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/travel-spending-budget-hotels-flights-15c6d33e">softness</a>" in Americans' travel demand,<strong> </strong>particularly among lower-income consumers.</p><p>To be sure, Americans — particularly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-economy-recession-richcession-wealthy-spending-luxury-savings-pandemic-2023-7">high-income individuals</a> — are still spending at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-economy-outlook-data-points-to-soft-landing-no-recession-2024-9">strong levels</a> overall. Additionally, there are some expenses, like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/my-roommates-and-i-share-groceries-to-save-money-2024-8">groceries</a>, where shoppers continue to look for ways to get around elevated prices.</p><p>However, travel, clothes, home improvement, and car insurance are among the areas many Americans have cut back more over the past year to give their finances a boost.</p><p>Here's how this spending shift is playing out.</p>