Canadians scale back spending as energy costs rise: survey

[CBC News]

Nearly half of all Canadians were cutting back on using cars, and more than two-thirds were shivering more in the winter and sweating it out this summer due to rising energy costs, a survey suggests.
In fact, only eight per cent of Canadians said they hadn't made any changes in their daily lives as a result of higher energy costs, according to Decima research commissioned by the Investors Group financial services company.
Due to higher gasoline prices, 73 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they were driving less and more slowly to save money.
As well, 37 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they were likely to change their vacation plans because of higher fuel prices.
To save energy expenses, such as heat and air conditioning, 69 per cent of Canadians said they were conserving year round by avoiding air conditioning in the summer or turning the heat down in the winter.
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What, if anything, are you doing to save on energy expenses?


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[#juan]

We will be cutting back on a few things. We will probably cancel this year's vacation altogether and add the funds to next year's trip to the maritimes.....something we have been planning for several years. It's not as if we need a break from working since we are retired.

 

[Walter]

Haven't changed a thing. Energy is still relatively cheap.

 

[DurkaDurka]

I make an effort to lights off when I don't need them on, that's about it. I will not being turning down my AC though, it's so damn hot in Toronto right now that AC is a must. I take the public transit daily, so I can't really cut down on fuel unless I walk 15km to work everyday.

 

[karrie]

So, inherently flawed self report data says that people are cutting back. I call bull****. I suspect the survey shows what people wish they were doing. I don't know a single person who's had to cut back for fiscal reasons yet. Sure, many are slowly making changes for environmental ones, but the pocket books don't seem overly hit.

I wonder if actual usage rates have dropped, not just self perceived usage.