The recession has affected the way many Americans are saving and cutting back on expenses so much that frugal living could a permanent life change.

According to a survey from firms First Command Financial Services Inc. and Sentient Decision Science LLC, 58% of respondents said the current economic situation will have a long-term effect on their spending behavior. Half said they have decided to embrace frugality as a way of life.

Americans continue to cut back by reducing leisure activities (53%), attempting to reduce utility bills (49%), reducing clothing purchases (48%), shopping at discount stores (48%), increasing their use of coupons (46%), reducing holiday spending (45%), reducing travel (43%) and bringing their lunch to work (40%). Among those who are cutting back, 26% said that it is out of necessity and two-thirds (66%) said that it is “preparatory.”

Thirty-eight percent of respondents said their personal financial situation is stable. Almost half (46%) are “cutting back even though I do not need to.” Thirty-four percent are looking forward to “the economy rebounding so my spending habits can go back to normal” and 10% feel that living paycheck to paycheck “is a perfectly acceptable way to live.”

The firms surveyed approximately 1,000 U.S. consumers ages 25 to 70 with annual household incomes of at least $50,000.