reduce spending — to decrease the amount of money spent; to cut expenses

a mother sits at the kitchen table sorting through various bills and receipts with a concerned expression. She holds a red pen and crosses out several items on a shopping list while her calculator shows the savings. Her teenage daughter sits beside her, watching as her mom eliminates unnecessary purchases from their budget. The mother points to expensive items they can live without while keeping only essential groceries and bills. Their faces show relief as the final number on the calculator becomes much smaller. the family actively decreasing the amount of money they spend by cutting unnecessary expenses