Cutting Back on the "Extras" is Costing Local Businesses

TYLER-Stacy Ackerman is spending more of her days at work just sitting because for a manicurist, business is slow.

"Makes it hard to sit here and do nothing all day," Ackerman says.

She says since October she's noticed her customers leave more time between their visits.

"Their nails are coming in once a month instead of every two weeks...trying to cut back where they can or they just quit coming all together," Ackerman says.

Rocio Neill says getting her nails done is one thing she now lives without.

"I don't do that anymore. I can do that at home as well," Neill explains.

But Abby Stone says life at her massage school is actually pretty good.

"Actually in the last two or three months it has picked up," Stone says.

She's talking about the number of people enrolling in massage therapy classes. She says more people are interested in making extra money, so they're turning to massage therapy for a way to pick up more cash.

East Texans say to relieve some money worries they are being more cautious in their spending.

"I'm just being smarter about my spending. I probably won't spend less, but I'll maybe get more for what I'm spending," Michele Bradshaw says.

Until the economy gets steadier, Ackerman says she'll just have to ride out this rough patch like everyone else.

"There's really nothing you can do except offer free services," Ackerman jokes.