Exactly what is happening to the U.S. economy is still open to interpretation, depending on which expert is speaking on the topic at any given time.

However, it’s no secret to residents of The Times and Democrat Region that times are harder than they were just 18 short months ago. As a consequence, many people are taking some common-sense measures to save money.

The number of lifestyle alterations people are willing to make to accommodate higher gas and food prices depends on the individual’s level of income and debt. Those with an upper middle class income aren’t as likely to have difficulty affording necessities as those making minimum wage. Troubles in the banking industry and the home mortgage crisis, however, have spread the belt-tightening around to virtually everyone.

Cynthia Jamison of Orangeburg is one, however, who says she really hasn’t made any adjustments because of the current state of the economy.

“I was a single parent but now my child is grown and out of the house,” Jamison said, “so I don’t have to do too much shopping anymore. The gas prices really don’t bother me because you have to buy gas no matter how high it goes. It doesn’t affect me at all.”

During an informal survey of local residents at the Prince of Orange Mall, Jamison was definitely in the minority in her feelings about making changes.

Bessie Lee of Norway said she and her husband have already had to make adjustments, especially since they travel to Orangeburg to shop.

“It’s a whole lot you have to adjust to,” she said. “Gas prices are one big thing, and there have been a lot of layoffs, too. Food costs almost as much as gas does but you just gotta make do.”

Don and Karen Coughenour of Cordova, while shopping at the Orangeburg Wal-Mart recently, said they haven’t made too many changes but gas prices are still a major concern.

“My wife is an assistant professor at Francis Marion University, and she’s been commuting,” Don Coughenour said. “Because of the gas, we ended up purchasing a house in Florence and renting the bottom out. She’s now staying in the top part two to three days a week. Grocery prices are also going up.”

David Coleman, president of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce, said the economy is very tight all over the area and he hears that people have been looking at the bottom line all summer.

“Personally, I still have a sense that everything I have to do needs to be done in one trip,” Coleman said. “Of course, with everyone trying to save money, that means not as many purchases are taking place as usual. Local businesses have to deal with that as well as the increased prices for everything from raw materials to food to transportation costs.”

He added, “Most of the savings that companies are trying to achieve is pretty industry-specific. However, you can see where school districts like Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4 went to three-day work week during the summer. A lot of companies dealing with the housing industry have been hurt, and that infects the furniture makers, heating and air contractors, upholstery, financial services and sales in the real estate market. Another group is those that depend on diesel fuel in the production of agricultural products. One farmer I was talking to who used diesel pumps for irrigation said he was changing over to electricity.”

Almost everyone had at least one tip in adjusting spending habits in the face of the weak national and regional economy.

Karen Coughenour said, “We bought a Seal-A-Meal food saver so we don’t have to throw anything away because the cost of produce and meat is going up. We finally bit the bullet and paid $107 because we found it would save us in the long run.”

Geraldine Amaker of Orangeburg said she has drastically curtailed taking a number of long-distance trips in response to higher gas prices.

“You have to watch what you spend, period,” Amaker said. “Not taking many trips is one way I’ve cut back. My sister from out of town is here with me now, but I usually don’t get to see her much. And I have daughters in North Carolina, so that means grandchildren I don’t get to see as often as I would like.”

Kayla Crum of Orangeburg said gas prices have pushed her and her husband to utilize another solution that dates to the gas crisis of the 1970s.

“My husband and I carpool now, and we go less places and I buy less groceries,” Crum said. “We’re expecting our first baby, and we also have to put off buying all the baby things we want him to have.”

Finally, some people feel that purchasing the least expensive foodstuffs possible is the way to go.

Lee said, “We buy a lot less of the name brands, and we limit our food purchases to only what we need rather than always what we want.”

Okwdinanka Igwe of Orangeburg attends Claflin University, and he has also resorted to one of the time-honored cost savers of the average college student.

“I had to cut down on the name brand stuff and start buying more generic and store brand stuff,” he said. “That’s pretty much it.”

“But it’s still tough.”

T&D Correspondent Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at pmhsarata@aol.com.

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