Save Money Americans upbeat about economy, poll shows

Many Americans who said they made financially “responsible” plans in 2015 followed through, with about 44 percent saying they cut back on spending, 37 percent paying down debt and 21 percent making home improvements to increase the house’s value, according to Harris Poll data out last week. Looking into the new year, about 41 percent expect to cut household spending, 40 percent expect to save more and 29 percent will pay down debt.

However, among those polled who expect the U.S. economy to worsen this year, 51 percent say they’ll cut back spending. Among people who felt more confident about the economy, 50 percent expect to sock more away in savings.

About 57 percent of folks who are confident the financial condition of their own households will improve next year said they’ll save more.

Westerners were more upbeat about the economy than most other regions of the U.S., with 28 percent of respondents expecting improvements, compared with 17 percent in the Midwest. The Denver Post