Though South Africa dodged the downgrade bullet last week, citizens will still have to save more and spend less.Figures from credit bureau Compuscan show that consumers are already battling to make ends meet, with almost 3 million of them in arrears of three months or more.Compuscan data analyst Jacobus Eksteen said a possible downgrade by Fitch Ratings tomorrow could push the country into a recession, meaning there would be no new jobs."The risk is that consumers will be faced with greater levels of debt. Consumers should, therefore, brace themselves for a tougher financial situation, begin saving and adopt wise habits when it comes to spending on credit," he said.Eksteen said people could benefit from paying extra on car or bond instalments, using less electricity and water, cutting cellphone bills and using cheaper entertainment options. He also suggested making at least one day in a week a "no spend" day.Financial adviser at FC Financial Services Fanie Jansen van Vuuren said a downgrade to junk status "will put further strain on already debt-strapped citizens and food and commodity prices will increase"...