CUTS: We had to laugh a bit at this recent study we were sent. It talks about what Pennsylvanians are doing to save money, implying these “broke behaviors” are somehow new and in response to rising costs.

The behaviors are things like switching off lights, bringing snacks to a movie theater, waiting for something to go on sale, delaying routine health appointments until you can afford it — things that most of us do or have done.

However, it also suggests “morally gray area” things that we won’t share at length, like “forgetting” to scan something at self-checkout. This is called theft. Don’t do it. The cost is far greater than that of the item you think you’re getting for nothing.

On the forum Reddit, people admit to reusing things that are supposed to be disposable, diluting dish soap, saving plastic bags, keeping clothes until they are worn out, and keeping napkins and condiments from food orders to use at home or at the office.

We all know folks who don’t turn on the heat until they are sure winter is here to stay, and are the same way with air conditioning.

To get a clearer picture of how Pennsylvanians are navigating rising costs, Lenspricer.com, a price comparison site for contact lenses, surveyed 3,005 respondents, asking them what they do to stretch their budgets.

When money gets tight, spending priorities shift quickly, and predictably.

Eating out is the first to go, with 43% cutting back on meals and takeout. Shopping follows at 22%, as non-essentials are pushed down the list. Subscriptions (15%) and social plans (14%) are trimmed next, small recurring costs that quietly add up. Health-related spending, though lower at 6%, still features — highlighting a worrying willingness to delay care.