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10 METRO Monday, July 7, 2008 D

We’ll tighten the belt, literally

Less is more:Respondentsto our surveysay the firstthings to cutback on areeating out,going out,entertainmentand shopping– especiallyfor clothingand footwear

Picture: Rex Features

What is Urbanlife all aboUt?Urban Life is Metro’s innovativestudy of ‘Urbanites’ – young,full-time working professionalsin Greater Dublin. Every yearwe research the opinions of2,000 Metro readers, askingfor their views on everythingfrom current affairs to must-see movies.

n What do I get out of it?We’re giving away €27,000 inprizes – hundreds of €30 HMVvouchers and €1,000 in cashafter each survey. If youcomplete five or more of oursix surveys, you will be enteredinto our €3,000 prize draw.

n What’s involved?The survey is sent to UrbanLife members every six to eightweeks. All surveys are onlineand only take 15 minutes.

n Sign me up nowVisit www.myurbanlife.ie/join orFREE TEXT to 50400. TextTNS (space) first name (space)e-mail address to register yourinterest in taking part.

iRELAND has gone from theexcitement of bounding CelticTigers and explosive economic

booms, to the doom and gloom ofrecessions and belt-tightening.While it gives us something

different to moan about (other thanthe weather), what exactly does therecession mean to Urbanites?Metro asked our Urbanite panel: if

you had less spare cash to spend,which of the following areas wouldyou cut back spending on?And it was eating habits that

became the first victim: Almost two-thirds said they would eat out inrestaurants less, while more thanhalf said they would cut down onbuying expensive food items.Some 45 per cent said they would

go out to pubs and clubs less, 40 percent would attend less concerts, and22 per cent would cut down oncinema tickets. While 43 per centsaid they would buy fewer clothes –24 per cent on footwear in particular,31 per cent said they would takefewer trips abroad, and 16 per centwould do less domestic travelling.With a construction sector collapse

a key factor in bringing about therecession, Urbanites appear to behappy to wait and see just how farproperty prices will fall.

When asked if they were intendingto buy a property this year, 76 percent said No, and only 15 per centsaidYes – the remainder wereundecided.However, almost three in every five

Urbanites claim that the currenteconomic climate has not madethem defer their decision to buy ahome in Ireland.

Despite being the flavour of themonth at the peak of the propertyboom, 100 per cent mortgages seemto have fallen out of favour – morethan 50 per cent of Urbanites wouldnot take one on if it was offered by alender.In fact, 45 per cent of Metro’s

Urbanite panel – made up of youngprofessionals working in the capital

– believe that the changes in theproperty market are being over-hyped in the media.As for the man who – according to

Opposition parties – led us into thisrecession, 42 per cent believeTaoiseach Brian Cowen is right for thejob. Some 22 per cent disagree, while36 per cent said they would wait andsee before drawing any conclusions.