A prediction of snow had Sharon Nichols, 53, of Cranston, limiting her plans to an early dinner out. Here, she’s having her nails done at L.A. Nails in Cranston.

CRANSTON — Whether Jayson and Stacey Lavers spend a quiet night at home tonight or an exciting night out has little to do with the holiday or the economy. The Johnston couple are expecting their first baby on Jan. 9, and for all Jayson knows they could be at the hospital greeting their new daughter and the new year at the same time.

Money does factor into the celebration plans of salon owner Deborah Dreyer, 44, and her boyfriend, Gary Furtado, 45. Dreyer, who owns A NU-U Salon at 861 Reservoir Ave., in Cranston, and goes out on the town three nights a week, said she and Furtado usually spend about $200 on their New Year’s evening. This year, they’ll be doing their ringing at home. He just gave her a diamond.

Tonya D’Ambra, 31, of Richmond, a mother of three who was drying her polish yesterday in a L.A. Nails salon at Reservoir and Park avenues, said she and her husband and five other couples usually travel out of town for the weekend. This year, she said, the weekend was downsized to a dinner in Providence, although it’s at the upscale Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Meanwhile, a check of some spiffy restaurants in the Providence area found many of them adapting to the economic straits of their customers.

“Every restaurant up here has been affected,” said Carmela Natale, manager of Walter’s on Federal Hill. Some diners decide to have a drink at home before going out, she said, while others have cut down on their frequency from once a week to once every couple of weeks.

At the Bluefin Grill at the Providence Marriott, however, “there has not been any downfall with us,” said manager Christopher Agostino. He said reservations have shown no decline, and the restaurant plans a busy evening with a live band and a package that includes hotel rooms, champagne, hats and streamers.

Bruce Tillinghast, proprietor of New Rivers Restaurant said, “We have noticed our per-person check average has dropped a little bit, but we do not have fewer people coming through the door.” He described the holiday season as “a little quieter than usual,” but said the week before Christmas seemed “pretty brisk.”

At Restaurant Cav in the Jewelry District, owner Sylvia Moubayed said she noticed that companies that book space at Cav for holiday parties have moved more to lunch and brunch, which are cheaper than the cost of a traditional dinner party. “This is a hard time for our guests,” Moubayed said, “and we want to do something more special for them but be totally aware of the economic situation. We know people can’t spend more.” A new item on the Cav menu is a hamburger, a half-pounder with French fries. At Everyman Restaurant, a new venture in the American Locomotive Works complex off Valley Street, owner-manager Leah Reynolds said people seem to be going out less and spending less, she said.

“They are still going to go out, but they will pick and choose,” she said. “But we are social animals and they are still going to go out.”

Most people who said they were staying in were staying in for reasons other than the economy.

A prediction of snow had Sharon Nichols, 53, of Cranston, limiting her plans to an early dinner out.

Jamie Berman, 37, of Cranston, was inviting friends and family over to her house. “I have 6-year-old triplets,” she said. “We don’t travel out often.” Her menu will feature franks in blankets, pizza, chicken nuggets and an ice cream sundae bar, she said.

Steve Johnson, 53, of Johnston, usually stays home with his family “because there are too many people out drinking.” He usually stays up for midnight, he said, and he’s usually the only one. “Even the college kids go to bed before me,” said the father of two.

Angelica Garcia, 38, a phlebotomist, is staying in this year with a couple of friends. “I’m getting older,” she said. “I need quieter.”

Bruce Joaquim, 28, of Providence, said he and his wife would probably take in some of Bright Night in Providence.

Paola Mata, 18, and Sindia Mata, 16, getting their nails done, planned to have a ball in Providence, literally. They and their families were to attend a ball where there would be dresses and dancing.

Maral Sarkisian, 46, and her daughter, Talen, 16, were getting their polish refreshed for a celebration at their church, St. Vartanantz Armenian Church on Broadway in Providence, where events were planned until 2 a.m.

For some, a festive occasion means extra work. At Ballooney Tunes, on Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence, owner Bill Wright said he’d be delivering balloons almost up until midnight. Yesterday he had two drops to deliver to the Alpine Country Club, where blue, black, silver and white balloons will spill from the ceiling at midnight, and six drops to Twin River in Lincoln, which ordered gold and white balloons.

In the balloon world, New Year’s Eve rivals Valentine’s Day for busiest day of the year. Jessica Garriepy, 36, and Nick Amesbury, 19, expected to work through today filling balloons either with air and possibly confetti for the big moment, or with helium so they’d float over tables and dance floors.

dnaylor@projo.com