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Maybe you ordered pizza this weekend. But did you get toppings and enough to have leftovers? What about a salad or other sides?

If you stuck to a plain cheese pie, you’re part of a growing trend, according to Slice, a company that provides ordering and payment services to independent pizza shops. Slice’s data shows Americans are ordering smaller pizzas with fewer toppings to keep their costs down.

“People still value pizza enough to find ways to keep it part of their week,” Slice wrote on its blog last month. “What’s changing most is the order itself.”

While pizza has long been an inexpensive go-to for many Americans, inflation-weary consumers are forgoing add-ons and sometimes delivery now that the cost of a standard-sized pie is $17. That’s been the median price for the past two years or so, but it was $13 only five years ago, according to Datassential, a market research firm for the food and beverage industry. Independent pizza shops paying more for labor, delivery, and ingredients like cheese have had to pass those costs on to their customers, according to Slice.

So what?

This Plain Cheese Economy is a signal that the middle class is making choices. It’s not a full retreat from spending, but a tactical pullback from certain conveniences and non-essentials. Order a larger pizza or a few $3 toppings and it’s easy to find yourself with a $30+ bill. Then delivery and service fees can tack on at least a few more bucks.

If money is tight, identifying the pepperoni equivalents in the rest of your budget can help you cut back while protecting your lifestyle. In other words, don’t skip your favorite things, just simplify them.

Here’s how you might apply a bit of a topping strike to other parts of your life:

•  Subscriptions: Is your Netflix subscription $24.99 because of 4K and extra member add-ons? Moving to the $7.99 ad-supported tier might be the financial equivalent of a plain cheese pizza. You still get to binge Stranger Things, but you save $204 a year.

•  Travel: Basic Economy is the Plain Cheese of the sky. You’re not going to cancel your weekend trip, but maybe ditch having a choice of seat and bring a carry-on instead of paying for checked baggage?

•  Shopping: The equivalent of skipping delivery might be looking for your favorite brand at a consignment store or on Facebook Marketplace.

•  Fitness and personal care: You definitely don’t want to quit the gym (unless you don’t go) but maybe you don't get the personal training sessions. Or instead of complex nail art you go with a basic manicure. It keeps the ritual intact while bringing the price back down to earth.

•  Other food: Eating out can be important for your social life or a necessary part of a busy routine. But there are lots of ways to trim the bill: Share an appetizer or dessert, get one drink instead of two, or meet friends for lunch rather than dinner.

•  Conveniences: Maybe you pay for someone to clean your house, wash your car, or mow your lawn. DIYing at least one could save you considerable cash, and chances are some are more critical than others.

Related Reading

America Is Falling Out of Love With Pizza (The Wall Street Journal)

Why Bread Baskets Are Slowly Vanishing From Chain Restaurants (24/7 Food Recipes via MSN)

5 Money Moves to Start the Year Off Strong (SoFi)

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