Rising unemployment and the economy in general have Americans penny pinching. A recent CareerBuilder survey of close to 4,500 employees and 2,534 hiring managers reveals that three-quarters of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.

Last year, half of respondents cut back on leisure activities and used more coupons and shopped at discount stores, to cope. Other things they did to survive:

- cut back on driving
- cancelled cable and other subscriptions
- created and maintained a budget
- cut back on 401 contributions
- dipped into savings to get by.

How about you? Have you used any creative methods to cope in these times? Do share with us!