I cope by economizing, paying off and/or avoiding debt, and exploring the various low-cost and free alternatives.

This also works on a psychological level. Parks, forests , museums and libraries are all free, quiet, relaxing, and a good place to meet people. If you trade services or work special offers right you can get free coffee at many local coffee shops and can take a date for coffee and a danish for all of about $2 and spend a relaxed evening sipping coffee on the veranda.

Using a bicycle is low cost and good exercise. The exercise is a good counter for stress. Cutting cost removes pressure from the wallet and this further cuts mental stress.

Riding a bus is also good. Instead of stressing out over traffic riding gives you time to think, meditate and read. It gives you a chance to decompress and meet people.

Meeting a wide cross-section of the population also relieves stress. Sure there are the occasional dorks and duds but the great majority of people, of all colors and class, are decent. This removes a lot of uncertainty. Seeing a huge, rough looking biker dude patiently and politely holding the door for the frailest old black lady I have ever seen tells me that people aren't stereotypes. That even scary looking people can have a good heart.