The economic decline has forced many consumers to cut their budgets, but the cuts are not even across the board by any means. Consumers were quick to cut certain expenses, like cellphone upgrades, high-end cosmetics and GPS subscriptions. However, other expenses like cable subscriptions, dining out and haircuts continue to see dollars coming in at a healthy rate.

One way to save money on luxuries without cutting them may be to negotiate with your service providers. Most cable and internet providers are willing to match competitor pricing to keep you from going elsewhere, especially if you threaten to move over the whole package. Cell phone services are the same way and may be willing to tack on additional benefits to save you.

Consumers may also want to check out online services like Hulu.com to replace their cable subscriptions. These web sites allow visitors to view many of their favorite television programs online for free anytime. Another way to lower cable costs is to bundle services – consumers that add on cable and phone to their internet can save as much as $10 per month by bundling the services.

Those maintaining their clothing spending may want to check out online coupon sites to find deals, like RetailMeNot.com.