Summer is traditionally seen as a season of vacations, family activities, and plenty of outdoor fun, but for many people, this period has now become one of the most expensive times of the year.
To understand more, we wanted to investigate what consumers are spending each summer to manage the additional costs that summer brings.
From essentials to activities for the kids, we surveyed 2,000 Americans from across the country to understand the bigger picture across the country.
Summer Spending Is Rising Across America
Our research found that seven in ten (70%) Americans surveyed spend more during the summer months, with household budgets increasing by an average of 14.3% to cover a range of seasonal expenses.
From added energy bills to increased gas usage, families are spending more money with the kids at home for the summer, and almost one-third (32%) say that they are not financially prepared for summer.
Our research found the average American surveyed spends an additional $143 per week in total, just to cope with the increased cost of living across this period.
When combined across a typical 13-week summer, this works out to $1,859 extra that Americans need to spend.
The impact is even greater for parents, who report steeper increases in spending during summer. As a result, summer has become a major seasonal financial milestone for many households, requiring careful planning and budgeting well before summer arrives.
Why Summer Budgets Can Put Pressure on Households
For many Americans, the increase in summer spending isn't driven by luxuries – it's driven by rising essential costs.
When asked which summer costs are harder to manage, Americans surveyed pointed to several overlapping expenses, with energy bills, groceries and gas topping the list. Because respondents could select more than one answer, totals exceed 100%.
The Biggest Summer Costs for Americans
- Increased energy bills – 41%
- Higher food and grocery spending – 40%
- Higher gas costs – 35%
- Travel or vacation costs – 30%
- Added spending on outings and entertainment – 21%
- Seasonal purchases – 17%
- Summer costs are not hard to manage – 17%
- Hosting more – 15%
- Giving children extra allowances – 9%
- Summer camp or activity fees – 9%
Our research found that the increase in energy bills was the biggest stressor for Americans’ finances, as over four in ten (41%) cite this cost as their biggest pressure.
Higher food and grocery spending was next on the list, which two-fifths (40%) identified as their hardest cost to keep up with over the summer.
Interestingly, only one in six (17%) Americans appear to be fully prepared for summer finances, not identifying any summer costs that they find harder to manage.
This means that 83% of Americans struggle with at least one summer expense, highlighting the financial pressure the season places on households.
Why Do Parents Face an Even Bigger Financial Challenge?
Our study found that being a parent increases the amount spent during the summer period.
On average, parents surveyed are spending 20% extra to cope with the demand for essentials while factoring in caring for children over the summer period.
This works out at $174 extra per week. Overall, this works out to $2,262 over a typical 13-week summer period.
For parents, much of the extra spending is driven by children being home from school during the summer break, and the extra associated expense that can come along with that.
Higher grocery bills, childcare costs, entertainment spending, activity fees and summer camps all contribute to increasing summer expenditure.
Are Americans Prepared for Summer Costs?
While many of the expenses associated with summer happen every year, our research found that a significant proportion of Americans surveyed still feel caught off guard by the demands that summer brings.
Overall, almost a third (32%) say they are not prepared for higher summer spending or emergency expenses.
Preparation levels vary wildly between different age groups. Among parents aged 45-54, two in five (40%) say they feel unprepared for the increase in spending, showing the challenges of balancing rising household costs with extra responsibility.
With multiple expenses increasing for most Americans at the same time, even families who anticipate higher costs can find their budget stretched further than expected.
How Are Americans Adapting to Higher Summer Costs
Rather than simply absorbing the added expense, our research found that many are actively changing their financial habits to make the summer period more affordable.
Overall, four in five (80%) plan to take some form of action to offset higher summer costs. Because respondents could select more than one answer, totals exceed 100%.
Top Strategies Americans Are Using to Save Money
- Looking for discounts, deals or coupons – 39%
- Cutting back on eating out – 32%
- Choosing free or low-cost activities instead – 25%
- Nothing in particular – 21%
- Setting strict spending limits or budgets – 20%
- Cutting back on clothes shopping – 19%
- Delaying large purchases until after summer – 17%
- Choosing cheaper travel options – 16%
- Taking on extra work or side income to cover costs – 16%
- Cutting back on groceries – 16%
The most common strategy used by Americans is through searching for discounts and coupons. Two in five (39%) of those surveyed say that they rely on deals to help reduce costs through the summer.
Another common method is cutting back on eating out, which a third (32%) say they do over summer.
Which age groups are seeing their costs rise the most?
Of those surveyed, individuals between the ages of 25-34 years old see their costs rise the most during summer, at an average of $177 extra per week compared to a typical week.
Those aged 55+ see their summer costs rise the least, with their costs rising by just $108 per week.
Summer rise in weekly cost of living (by age group):
- 18-24-year-olds: +$139
- 25-34-year-olds: +$177
- 35-44-year-olds: +$169
- 45-54-year-olds: +$134
- 55+ year-olds: +$108
Strangely though, just a quarter (25%) of 25-34-year-olds say that they are ‘unprepared’ for summer costs, with 55+ year olds more likely to feel unprepared (30%) despite the lower rise in cost of living.
How does the data differ between states?
Of those surveyed, Utah residents indicated that they are budgeting $302 per week extra over the summer – working out to $1,300 extra per month over the summer, more than twice the national average.
In comparison, Maine residents budget just $54 per week extra and the lowest amount in the USA, and almost six times less than Utah.
Delaware residents are struggling with energy bills more than anywhere in the US, as seven in ten (70%) cite electricity as a key challenge compared to just two in five (41%) nationally.
Around half of the state of Indiana (45%) are unprepared for summer expenses, whereas the national average sits just under a third (32%).
Conclusion
With summer bringing longer days and more opportunities to socialize, travel and keep children entertained, it’s no surprise that household budgets come under added pressure.
What’s striking, however, is just how significant that seasonal spending can be, particularly for families who may already be balancing higher everyday living costs.
Building a simple seasonal budget and reviewing regular monthly expenses can help solve these spikes. Summer should be a time to enjoy, not a source of financial stress, and taking proactive steps can make a real difference to overall financial well-being.
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