Coco Wen took advantage of China¡¯s consumer subsidies to buy herself a new iPhone for about two thirds of the original price. At the same time, she¡¯s cutting spending on other things.

¡°I usually celebrate my birthdays with a fancy meal, but this year I skipped that,¡± said the 31-year-old, who works for a tourism agency that pays her less than before the pandemic as Chinese people cut back on overseas travel.

¡°Our family¡¯s spending habits have changed to only buying what¡¯s necessary,¡± said Wen, who now cooks at home instead of dining out.