Most of us will be getting a three-day weekend next week, thanks to the Fourth of July, and a new survey looks at how people will be spending the holiday. This year, the celebrations may be a little smaller, as a result of tighter budgets, and some people just aren’t feeling up to flag waving.
According to the survey of 1,000 U.S. adults:
- A third of Americans (33%) don’t plan to celebrate at all this year.
- The biggest reasons for skipping the holiday fun are that they’re just not feeling patriotic (46%), and are feeling disconnected from American culture right now (44%).
- But a quarter (24%) admit they just don’t enjoy the holiday and 21% say they never celebrate it.
- For the two-thirds who are celebrating Independence Day, they feel the holiday brings loved ones together (60%), they enjoy the fireworks (58%) and the tradition (56%).
- The average American expects to spend just under $500 for the Fourth, including $200 on travel, $100 for fireworks, $80 for food, $50 on drinks and $40 on decorations.
- About 16% say they’re spending “significantly less” this year on celebrations because of inflation and rising costs, while 18% will be spending less than last year and 11% won’t be spending any money on the Fourth of July at all.
- Millennials are the generation most likely to spend less on the holiday this year (20%), followed by Gen X (18%) and Gen Z (16%).
- Baby boomers are the least likely to cut back, only 9% of them say they’ll be spending less.
- They’re also the age group most likely to skip celebrations this year, with 38% saying they’ll be opting out. Gen X is second (36%), followed by millennials and Gen Z, with around 31% of both not planning to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Source: Coupon Follow
Scott's Thoughts:
- Go ahead and skip those celebrations! There will be more room for us at the fireworks show!
- I will be at the Salem Fair on the 4th!
- How could you not be patriotic? This is the greatest country in the world! You don't have to be political to be patriotic!