Life in New York Has More People Doing These “Broke Behaviors”

If you’ve caught yourself turning off every light in the house lately, waiting for things to go on sale before buying them, or checking your bank account more often than you’d like to admit, you’re definitely not alone.

A new survey found that many New Yorkers are quietly adopting what researchers are calling “broke behaviors” as rising costs continue to pressure household budgets across the state.

Survey Reveals How New Yorkers Are Saving Every Day

Researchers with Lenspricer.com surveyed more than 3,000 people about the everyday habits they’ve picked up while trying to stretch their money further.

And reading some answers, you can almost hear your own voice in them. One survey participant even admitted, “I haven’t paid full price for takeout in months!”

The study found these aren’t necessarily dramatic financial decisions. They’re the little things people do almost automatically now because everything feels more expensive than it used to.

Turning Off Lights: New Yorkers’ Most Popular Money-Saving Habit

The number one habit reported by New Yorkers was obsessively turning off lights to save electricity.

Not just casually flipping a switch on the way out of a room, either.

The study describes people practically patrolling their homes looking for lights left on because wasting electricity suddenly feels personal when utility bills keep climbing.

If you’ve ever yelled, “Who left this light on?” while patrolling your apartment (or turned into the unofficial light-switch police), you’re in good company. (I know I have!)

Other ‘Broke Behaviors’ New Yorkers Are Adopting

Some of the other top “broke behaviors” New Yorkers admitted to include:

• Picking up takeout instead of paying delivery fees
• Bringing snacks into movie theaters
• Waiting for sales before buying things
• Ordering the cheapest thing on the menu
• Taking extra napkins, sauces, or condiments for later
• Using someone else’s streaming login
• Constantly checking banking apps

While some of these habits are funny (and a bit ingenious), others just show how creative and careful we’ve all become about spending.

Cutting Back on Dining Out and Entertainment

When asked where they reduce spending first, 43% of New Yorkers said dining out and takeout are usually the first things to go.

Shopping, subscriptions, and even social plans were also high on the list.

If you’ve checked restaurant prices lately and decided the leftovers in your fridge sounded just fine, you’re not alone. In fact, we’re all finding new ways to pinch pennies these days.

Healthcare Gets Put on Hold for Savings

The most concerning part of the survey may be the number of people delaying healthcare because of costs.

According to the study:

• 30% delayed replacing glasses or contact lenses
• 28% postponed dental checkups
• 26% delayed general health appointments

That’s where these “small” money-saving habits stop feeling funny and start to hit home for a lot of us.

Uncertainty: How New Yorkers Feel About Their Finances

The survey found that while some New Yorkers describe themselves as financially “careful and controlled,” many others say things feel unstable or unpredictable.

And that uncertainty is probably something many people across New York can relate to right now.

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It’s not always about being flat broke. Sometimes it’s just the constant mental math: watching every purchase, debating whether something is really worth it, and trying to make the numbers stretch one more week. If that sounds familiar, trust me, you’re not the only one.