Feel like you need to give up traveling because your finances are stretched so tight these days? A lot of us are watching our spending more than ever as the cost of just about everything keeps climbing, but that doesn’t mean you have to skip out on trips. According to new research, some people are making their travel dreams possible by making big financial sacrifices in other areas.
A new survey from “USA Today” finds that half (51%) of the 3,156 American adults polled say they’ve cut back on spending over the last year so they could keep traveling. That includes 31% who say their budget cuts have been “somewhat significant” and 20% who say theirs have been “significant.” But most don’t mind and say the sacrifice is worth it, especially for the 55% who say going on trips is the way they want to use their vacation days at work.
But having a limited budget can limit the kind of getaways you can go on. According to KAYAK’s new 2026 What the Future report, the cost of trips is the biggest factor in how often Gen Z and millennials get to travel. For 70% of the 2,029 respondents, the price tag is the most important thing when deciding whether or not they take a trip. And a lot of them aren’t giving up, they’re just getting creative so they can pack their bags and go, including a third who are willing to use installment plans to afford trips.
Source: USA Today
Scott's Thoughts:
- If packing your lunch for a few months means you get to take a vacation this year, why not?
- I can save the money, but with my job, finding time to vacation is the challenge.
- I have had to cancel plans for money reasons.