Joseph P. Buchanan, 56, of Providence, a former caseworker for a homeless shelter, is unemployed and is careful about his spending.

The Providence Journal / Frieda Squires

PROVIDENCE — Even with yesterday’s chill in the air, Kay-Lynn Roderick refuses to turn the heat on in her home.

It is one of the ways she is dealing with the economic downturn. Faced with higher prices for food, clothing and other items, she said she is trying to trim expenses.

Roderick, 34, of Providence, a banker, said she has covered her windows with plastic sheets and has taken other steps to stay warm, keep energy prices in check and help her household budget.

She was among several people interviewed yesterday in downtown Providence after it emerged that Rhode Island’s unemployment rate of 8.8 percent is the highest in the nation.

The news was another stark reminder that the state is in the grip of recession, and several people said they have found ways to help cope.

Roderick, for example, said she is shopping at less expensive stores for food, buying clothes at secondhand outlets and looking for bargains.

She said she has no alternative. “I feel as though we’re paying for bad decisions that [were] made by our leadership” at the state and federal levels, she said.

Joseph P. Buchanan, 56, of Providence, said he lost his job as a caseworker at a homeless shelter as a result of budget cuts.

In response, “You have to cut back on spending,” he said. So he does not dine out at restaurants as much, and does not go to the movies as often, he said.

Buchanan blames federal policies that have resulted in too much spending on wars and on bailouts for big Wall Street firms. “Some of these people should be in jail,” he said, referring to executives of financial firms that are being rescued with federal backing.

Lee Hudson, 29, of Warwick, a marketing and events planner, said the recession has not affected her family “in a huge way yet.”

But in response to gasoline prices, which until recently were at record levels, and because of other price increases, she said she plans to reduce her holiday spending.

Lower spending for Christmas is also on Louise Kodzis’ agenda. “We’re planning to do less and get back to basics,” said Kodzis, 59, of Hope Valley, a school administrator.

There will be fewer Christmas presents, fewer vacations, and more careful spending for her household, she said.

Ronald Siravo, 70, of Providence, is retired. “I get a good pension,” he said, so he does not feel squeezed.

Nevertheless, he said he takes the bus to shop for groceries, and regularly patronizes a Price Rite store in Providence to save money.

To reduce spending, Angela Thomson said she shopped around for another carrier to obtain homeowner’s insurance and auto insurance policies.

She said she wound up switching carriers and saved $900 a year as a result — with no loss of coverage.

Thomson, 50, of Lincoln, a financial planner, said she is also wearing sweaters more often at home to keep warm and reduce heating costs.

“I haven’t turned the heat on yet. … My goal is November 1st,” she said.

ndowning@projo.com