With the kickoff to summer right around the corner, American consumers are gearing up to welcome the new season by finalizing their summer plans and seasonal bucket lists. To better understand shoppers’ planned activities and spending habits this summer, especially amid rising prices, RetailMeNot conducted a survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults.*

Social Media and Loved Ones Inspire Consumers’ Summer Plans

When it comes to planning their vacations, Americans don’t just look at the destination – they carefully consider the moments that matter most. The availability of family and friends plays a major role, as many travelers coordinate their trips to spend quality time with loved ones. In addition, major festivals, cultural events, and life milestones – such as weddings, graduations, and big moves – often serve as key motivators for travel. 

Key factors that inspire consumers’ travel plans include:

• Plans with my friends or family, 51%
• Timing of major festivals, events, or concerts, 26%
• Timing of major life events (ex: graduation, wedding), 22%
• Seeing summer products out on store shelves, 17%
• Activities I see in entertainment/fiction (ex: TV, movies, books), 17%
• Social media community spaces (ex: Facebook groups, subreddits on Reddit), 16%
• Coupons I see on deal aggregator websites and apps (ex: Groupon, RetailMeNot, Rakuten), 15%
• Television/streaming ads (including YouTube), 15%
• Company social media posts, videos, or discussions, 12%
• Social media content creators and influencers, 11%

Additionally, 46% reported being inspired to visit specific destinations after seeing content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. Whether it’s a stunning travel reel, a recommendation from a trusted influencer, or a viral travel trend, social media has become a powerful tool in shaping where and how people choose to vacation.

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Consumers Plan to Travel and Tackle Home Projects This Summer

Our survey revealed that, this year, consumers are seeking respite from the sweltering summer temperatures by planning vacations centered around refreshing bodies of water such as lakes and beaches. Additionally, many are opting to utilize the warmer months to tackle and complete home improvement projects that may have been neglected during the colder seasons.

To dive deeper into consumers’ anticipated summer plans, we inquired about their upcoming activities.

The top 10 activities consumers have in store for this summer include:

• Going on a vacation/trip, 48%
• Working on a home project (ex: home improvement, reorganization), 39%
• Going to the beach, 39%
• Hosting or attending a cookout or picnic, 36%
• Visiting a nature park or natural wonder, 34%
• Organizing activities with my family, 33%
• Shopping at an outdoor mall or market, 32%
• Attending a craft, food, or other festival type, 30%
• Going to the zoo or aquarium , 27%
• Attending a concert or music festival, 26%

For those traveling this summer, the majority of consumers still favor the comfort and convenience of hotels over alternatives like Airbnb or staying with friends and family.

Consumers’ lodging plans this spring and summer include:

• Hotel, 51%
• Vacation rental (ex: Airbnb, VRBO, etc.), 34%
• Friend/family’s house, 30%

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Consumers Face New Hurdles as Summer Plans Meet Rising Costs

As summer approaches, many consumers are eagerly anticipating their vacation plans and outdoor activities. However, rising prices and tariffs are creating a new set of challenges for some, impacting everything from travel costs to everyday goods. While the excitement of summer adventures remains, these increased expenses are prompting consumers to reassess their budgets and priorities.

In a recent survey, we asked consumers about their current financial concerns. It’s no surprise that the majority (55%) of consumers said that they’re feeling an increased pressure on their overall household budget and 31% said that they’re concerned about affording their summer plans.**

Additionally, many consumers plan to reduce spending in certain shopping categories to better manage their budgets this summer.

The top five categories where consumers plan to cut back on summer spending include:

• Dining out or takeout, 50%
• Clothing and accessories, 49%
• Electronics (ex: phones, laptops, gaming devices), 45%
• Travel and leisure (ex: vacations, outings), 42%
• Home goods and furniture, 41%

As consumers prepare for a busy summer and look for ways to save, RetailMeNot is excited to announce the return of its Summer Checklist savings event, running from June 5-9. This limited-time event offers stackable savings, deals, and cashback offers from top retailers like Expedia, Viator, Ray-Ban, Old Navy, Amazon, Elf Cosmetics and more – just in time to help shoppers get ready for all their summer plans. 

Whether it’s gearing up for a beach trip, hosting a backyard BBQ, or tackling a long-awaited home project, RetailMeNot has everything you need to make this summer a success- without overspending. Starting June 5th, all live deals can be found at RetailMeNot.com/summersavings

Consumers Continue to Budget for Life Stage Events This Summer

Life stage events like weddings, graduations, and family gatherings can be costly, and with summer approaching, consumers are preparing for these expenses. We asked them how much they plan to spend on these milestone events this summer, and, while these events are important, many are keeping their budgets in check.

Life-Stage Event	Propensity of Celebrating	Average Consumer Spend
Graduation	44%	$1,081 (down $89 from last year)
Wedding	45%	$1,894 (down $386 from last year)
Baby Shower	42%	$919 (down $561 from last year)
Move-in/out	46%	$1,652 (up $4 from last year)
Anniversary	63%	$823 (down $647 from last year)

Survey Methodology

*Source: Ziff Davis Shopping Q2 Seasonal Survey among Adults 18+. N=1144. Fielded in February 2025.

**Source: Ziff Davis Shopping Survey Adults 18+. N=1120. Fielded in May 2025.

The post Summer 2025 Spending By the Numbers: Consumers Gear Up for Summer Plans with Smart Savings to Combat Rising Prices appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.

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