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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/14/2020
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Hi,
Is there an expression, a phrasal verb or otherwise, that means "to switch to a less advanced, expensive, etc., product or service" probably because one is financially embarrassed?
I'd appreciate your help.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/8/2010
Posts: 23,388
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In general to spend less money is to economise. That would involve switching to cheaper products, if you can't do without them. Quote:economize
verb [ I ] (UK usually economise)
UK /iˈkɒn.ə.maɪz/ US /iˈkɑː.nə.maɪz/
to try to save money by reducing the amount that you are spending:
You could economize on food by not eating in restaurants all the time.
A lot of companies are trying to economize by not taking on new staff.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/14/2020
Posts: 320
Neurons: 1,958
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Thank you, but I'm looking for an expression whose object refers to a less expensive product or service.
E.g. He decided to ____ the service because he doesn't earn as much money as he used to.
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 9/19/2019
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Location: Jämsä, Province of Western Finland, Finland
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Not exactly what you are looking for, but you could use the word affordable in your sentence
affordable
adj.
considered to be within one's financial means.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/8/2010
Posts: 23,388
Neurons: 94,875
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I don't really think their is anything.
He decided to switch to a cheaper service...
The company can do something to the service, but you can't.
I have seen a thread on 'downsize' which is to move to something smaller - eg sell your house or car and buy a cheaper one.
To go downmarket is perjorative - that implies something is not just cheaper but inferior - not just cheap but tacky and tasteless.
It is not a term you would use when you are just talking about spending less money, because you can still buy things for an appropriate quality for the price you pay.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 9/12/2011
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Location: Livingston, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Well - if one changes to a better, more expensive service or product, one "upgrades".
So the opposite is "downgrade".
However, that has the same unfortunate implications that thar mentioned - in fact the word "downgrade" is used a a synonym for debase, degrade, demean.
Like the others, I can't think of a good single word.
"Reduce" might work in some cases, but "He decided to switch to a (lesser/cheaper/more basic) service . . ." seems more natural to me.
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