The global economic crisis has many in our area worried about the future. Food prices are climbing, and our invested savings continue to decline. Neighbors in even well-to-do homes face the possibility of foreclosure, and whispers of impending company layoffs have many Loudouners scaling back and making do with less.

I stopped by the Sugarland Crossing Shoppers in Sterling yesterday to see what customers there had to say about these uncertain times.

Elaine Kiroff of Cascades said she’s buying less at the grocery store these days and choosing the cheapest brands and meats available.

“Even the sliced ham I buy has jumped 40 percent since the last time I bought it,” she said, asking, “With gas prices less, why isn’t the store lowering food prices?”

Kristie Galati with children Giovanni (left) and Allie at the Sterling Shoppers on Sunday (Photo by Erica Garman)

Kiroff, who hopes to put her home up for sale in late February, is worried about spending extra money now, not knowing what the real estate market will be like in late winter.

“I’ll definitely be spending less over the holidays — I still need to cover my credit card debt,” she said.

Kristin Campbell of Herndon is a mother of four who said she normally doesn’t buy groceries from Shoppers. But with the economy the way it is, she’s looking for better food prices these days.

“We pay attention now,” she said. “Constantly, we ask ourselves, ‘Do we need it?’”

The Campbell family is eating out less than they used to and scaling back on vacations. To save money, they now go out of town with another family to share costs.

Potowmack Elementary School teacher Kristie Galati of Sterling was grocery shopping with two of her three children in tow. She said her family is buying more things in bulk at places like Costco, and they’re cutting coupons to use at regular grocery stores for supplemental items.

“We’re eating out less, scaling back on vacations, and not going to the movies as much as we used to,” she added.

Are you cutting back on spending? If so, how? Please share money-saving tips with readers in the comments field below.