Ever reach Sunday night with three bucks left in your wallet and no clear memory of where the rest went?
Apparently, that is very normal.
A new report finds that the average American spends $397 on summer activities every weekend. That does not include the serious grown-up bills like rent, mortgage payments, car payments or utilities. This is just the cost of going out, seeing people and trying to enjoy summer before it vanishes into the cornfield mist.
Where the Money Goes
Here is the average weekend breakdown:
- $61 on dining out, including restaurants, coffee shops and bars
- $60 on hosting gatherings or bringing food and drinks to someone else’s party
- $59 on celebrations and gifts, including weddings and birthdays
- $57 on entertainment, such as movies, concerts, shows and theme parks
- $55 on outdoor activities, including camping, boating, hiking and fishing
- $54 on self-care and wellness, such as haircuts, spas and beauty services
- $51 on transportation, including gas, parking, public transit and rideshares
Add it all together, and your “casual weekend plans” suddenly have the budget of a small municipal project.
Face-to-Face Fun Is Making a Comeback
The report says more people are choosing to spend time with friends and family in person instead of online.
That is good news for relationships, but rough news for checking accounts.
Staying home and scrolling is cheap. Meeting everyone for dinner, driving to the lake, buying concert tickets and somehow ending up responsible for the cooler is another story.
Restaurants Are the Most Popular Meetup Spot
The number-one thing people like to do with friends and family is go out to eat.
That is followed by visiting a park, beach or lake.
Other popular choices include:
- Movie nights
- Parties
- Road trips
- Picnics
- Weekend getaways
- Cooking together
- Game nights
- Concerts
Summer memories may be priceless, but the parking, snacks, gas and matching event T-shirts definitely are not.
