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New York Post
27-06-2025
- New York Post
‘Destination dupes' are this summer's hottest low-budget vacation hack, travel experts say — here's how it works
If you can't go with the flow, go with the faux. Rather than breaking the bank, visiting voguish vacation locations, a staggering 63% of pennywise sightseers are taking cost-friendly trips to 'destination dupes.' 'With travel prices soaring, many Americans are rethinking how and where they vacation,' explained study authors for CouponFollow, a discount travel hub, in a recent report. Advertisement 6 The 'destination dupes' movement is rising as a cost-cutting trend among travelers on a budget. ViDi Studio – 'Instead of chasing the usual bucket-list destinations, they're turning to designation dupes,' said the experts, 'affordable alternative locations that deliver similar charm without the hefty price tag or large crowds.' Insiders surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults, ranging in age from 18 to over 55. The poll revealed that frugal folks have saved an average of $2,262, exploring less popular lands, like Liverpool and Croatia, as reasonable substitutes to haute hotspots such as London and Italy, respectively. Advertisement So long, Lake Cuomo, hello Schitt's Creek. The money-saving movement is picking up steam among travel enthusiasts worldwide, as chichi cities like Venice have started hitting tourists with entry fees, and residents in Barcelona have begun attacking outsiders. So, to avoid the drama and the trauma, tightwads are doing the dupes. 6 Thrifty globetrotters are forgoing expensive trips to Italy for wallet-friendly alternatives. travnikovstudio – Advertisement 6 The study found that 63% of frequent trippers prefer destination dupes to luxury vacations. Pixel-Shot – 6 Croatia has been hailed as an affordable alternative to Italy. puhhha – The top knockoff spot of 2025 is the Azores. It's a group of volcanic islands belonging to Portugal that's become the next best thing to a costly escape to Hawaii, per CouponFollow. Taking the second-place slot for the best second-rate stay is Liverpool, England. Rather than blowing big bucks to visit London, jet-setters can soak in Liverpool's similarly rich cultural scene, historic landmarks and vibrant nightlife. Advertisement Third in the ranking is Croatia as a make-do swap for Italy. The humble country reportedly offers stunning coastlines, historic architecture and Mediterranean charm with fewer crowds and more cash-conscious accommodations — which is of utmost importance to globetrotters. 6 According to CouponFollow's report, travelers expect to spend 20% to 30% less on a destination dupe than the original hotspot. Andrii Iemelianenko – 'The biggest factor driving this trend was affordability, with 73% of travelers saying lower costs were the top reason why they chose a dupe,' said the researchers. 'Over half (53%) also went to these destinations to enjoy fewer crowds. More than 1 in 4 believed these swaps were trendier and cooler than traditional luxury trips.' But a destination dupe can't be a dud. 6 Destination dupe enthusiasts prefer taking low-cost trips over high-priced getaways. Guajillo studio – A whopping 61% of respondents preferred their cut-rate experiences over the oohs-and-ahhs they might have had on a pricier holiday. But to make the downgrade worthwhile, roughly 4 in 10 travelers said the bargain retreat needs to be at least 20% to 30% cheaper than the original location. 'For anyone looking to stretch their travel budget, the perfect trip might not be the most obvious one,' the travel masters advised. 'It could be a well-chosen alternative that offers more for less.'
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
What parts of your Fourth of July barbecue will cost more, less? We explain.
Your Fourth of July barbecue essentials are going to be slightly more expensive this year – that is, if you even plan to celebrate. The Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute analyzed costs for hosting a classic Fourth of July gathering for 10 people and found that consumers can expect to pay $130 for the food and beverages. That's up 2.2% from the cost for the same gathering a year ago. USA TODAY got an exclusive look at the report. But in another survey by Coupon Follow, only 1 out of 3 people plan to celebrate Independence Day at all. How much will the typical Fourth of July cookout cost? Wells Fargo took a look at the costs for hosting the classic Fourth of July gathering using data from NielsenIQ, which tracks food scanned at retailers across the U.S. While the cost of $130 for a gathering of 10 people is 2.2% higher than last year, the devil is in the details, said Wells Fargo: in particular the costs of beef and eggs are higher this year. The menu priced includes barbecued chicken breasts, beef sliders, hotdogs, fresh fruit, vegetable platter, potato salad, corn bread, cake, apple pie, ice cream, beer, wine soda and flavored sparking waters. Here's how those main menu items fare: How are costs for Fourth of July side dishes? Here's how side dishes will fare: Price increases?: How will Trump's tariffs affect grocery store prices? We explain. Why 1 in 3 don't plan to celebrate Americans' plans for the holiday depend on their age, location, and how they're feeling about the country in 2025. Close to half of Coupon Follow survey respondents say they won't celebrate Independence Day this year because they aren't 'feeling patriotic' and 44% said they feel 'disconnected from American culture right now.' National pride has dropped for some respondents, with 22% saying they feel less patriotic now than they did in recent years. However, 11% said they feel more patriotic, and 40% said their feelings about the holiday have not changed. A quarter said the holiday 'doesn't feel inclusive' to them. Price is a factor for 10% of respondents who say they can't afford to celebrate this year. The top reasons Americans gave for celebrating on July 4 are that it brings people together, they enjoy fireworks or summer events, and it is tradition. Younger generations are more likely to participate in this year's festivities. Only 31% of Gen Z and Millennials say they are opting out, while 38% of Gen X and 38% of Baby Boomers say they plan to sit out celebrations, the survey found. The holiday is most popular in the Midwest, where only 26% of Americans plan to skip it. At 40%, southerners are most likely to opt out. In between is the West and Northeast, where 31% say they don't have plans to celebrate. How much Americans plan to spend celebrating About 1 in 6 Americans say they will spend significantly less on the holiday this year due to inflation and rising costs. Clay Cary, senior trends analyst at Coupon Follow, told USA TODAY inflation is a large reason why 2025 appears to be a less busy year for July 4 travel. Only 9% of survey respondents plan to head out of town. For those who are celebrating, Coupon Follow estimates Americans will spend an average of $200 on travel, $100 on fireworks, $80 on food, $50 on drinks, and $40 on decorations. The survey found American's most popular cost-savings measures this year will include bulk shopping or using coupons, skipping decorations, and hosting a smaller event than usual.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Ways Recession Fears Have Impacted America's Spending Habits
Fears of a looming recession have cast a shadow on the U.S. economy for much of 2025, largely due to President Donald Trump's wide-reaching tariff plans. Those worries eased somewhat following a recent trade deal between the U.S. and China that brought hopes an all-out trade war can be avoided. Be Aware: Find Out: However, many financial and economic experts continue to issue warnings of a possible economic slowdown — including J.P. Morgan. A month ago, the investment banking firm put the probability of a recession at 60%. It has since lowered that probability to a 'toss up,' Fortune reported. Even so, J.P. Morgan Chief U.S. Economist Michael Feroli warned in a note that 'recession risks are still elevated.' The prospect of a coming recession has already changed some of the country's spending habits, according to a new report from CouponFollow, which helps shoppers save money by offering verified coupon codes and deals from thousands of online retailers. CouponFollow surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. adults to gauge how they're responding to economic uncertainty in 2025. One thing it found is that more than half (56%) of Americans have already started cutting back on spending due to recession concerns. Here are five ways recession fears have impacted American's spending habits, according to the survey. While 56% of respondents said they have already cut back on spending to prepare for a recession, another 21% said they plan to cut back and 9% said they might. Items they have cut back on include clothes, travel, transportation, medical/dental care, streaming services and fitness memberships. Read More: More than four in ten Americans (43%) have either bought fewer groceries or limited quantities of the groceries they normally buy. Forty percent have switched to store-brand products, while 38% are using coupons or discount codes more often. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Americans have dined out less often or ordered less takeout due to recession fears. More than half (54%) are cooking at home more often. More than one-quarter (26%) of those surveyed have been 'pretending' to spend normally, even though they're cutting back. Gen Z consumers are the most likely to do this, at 40%. In order to cover everyday expenses, 29% of Americans have withdrawn money from their savings over the past six months. Here's how it breaks down by generation: Gen Z: 28% Millennials: 28% Gen X: 33% Baby boomers: 21% More From GOBankingRates The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing The 10 Most Reliable SUVs of 2025 Sources Reuters, 'Brokerages scale back recession odds after U.S.-China trade truce' Fortune, 'JPMorgan lowers its recession odds as Trump strikes a temporary deal to drop tariffs on China' CouponFollow, 'Recession Money Mindset Report 2025' This article originally appeared on 5 Ways Recession Fears Have Impacted America's Spending Habits Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Ways Recession Fears Have Impacted America's Spending Habits
Fears of a looming recession have cast a shadow on the U.S. economy for much of 2025, largely due to President Donald Trump's wide-reaching tariff plans. Those worries eased somewhat following a recent trade deal between the U.S. and China that brought hopes an all-out trade war can be avoided. Be Aware: Find Out: However, many financial and economic experts continue to issue warnings of a possible economic slowdown — including J.P. Morgan. A month ago, the investment banking firm put the probability of a recession at 60%. It has since lowered that probability to a 'toss up,' Fortune reported. Even so, J.P. Morgan Chief U.S. Economist Michael Feroli warned in a note that 'recession risks are still elevated.' The prospect of a coming recession has already changed some of the country's spending habits, according to a new report from CouponFollow, which helps shoppers save money by offering verified coupon codes and deals from thousands of online retailers. CouponFollow surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. adults to gauge how they're responding to economic uncertainty in 2025. One thing it found is that more than half (56%) of Americans have already started cutting back on spending due to recession concerns. Here are five ways recession fears have impacted American's spending habits, according to the survey. While 56% of respondents said they have already cut back on spending to prepare for a recession, another 21% said they plan to cut back and 9% said they might. Items they have cut back on include clothes, travel, transportation, medical/dental care, streaming services and fitness memberships. Read More: More than four in ten Americans (43%) have either bought fewer groceries or limited quantities of the groceries they normally buy. Forty percent have switched to store-brand products, while 38% are using coupons or discount codes more often. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Americans have dined out less often or ordered less takeout due to recession fears. More than half (54%) are cooking at home more often. More than one-quarter (26%) of those surveyed have been 'pretending' to spend normally, even though they're cutting back. Gen Z consumers are the most likely to do this, at 40%. In order to cover everyday expenses, 29% of Americans have withdrawn money from their savings over the past six months. Here's how it breaks down by generation: Gen Z: 28% Millennials: 28% Gen X: 33% Baby boomers: 21% More From GOBankingRates The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing The 10 Most Reliable SUVs of 2025 Sources Reuters, 'Brokerages scale back recession odds after U.S.-China trade truce' Fortune, 'JPMorgan lowers its recession odds as Trump strikes a temporary deal to drop tariffs on China' CouponFollow, 'Recession Money Mindset Report 2025' This article originally appeared on 5 Ways Recession Fears Have Impacted America's Spending Habits
USA Today
12-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
How much should you budget for Valentine's Day? Gen Z plans to the spend most.
How much should you budget for Valentine's Day? Gen Z plans to the spend most. Show Caption Hide Caption Watch now: Last-minute Valentine's Day gifts on Good Day NY Get same-day flower delivery and create a bae basket with Valentine's Day gift ideas from USA TODAY Shopping. See all these products on our Amazon live shopping event Feb. 11. Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance, love, Saint Valentine - and gifts. Americans in relationships plan to spend an average of $155 on Valentine's Day this year and Gen Z leads the pack, budgeting $235 for the holiday, with one in 10 admitting to overspending, a CouponFollow survey found. Men are twice as likely to feel financial pressure surrounding Valentine's Day as women, and women expect their partners to spend 25% more on the holiday than men, the survey found. However, respondents reported the gifts they most desire are those that are sentimental, not expensive. Clay Cary, a senior trends analyst for CouponFollow who helped design the survey said that people in their 20s spending the most on Valentine's Day was the most surprising finding. "It seems the younger you are, if you're in a relationship, the more pressure there is to make it memorable," Cary told USA TODAY. "Whether that's through spending a lot of money or through some handmade gift that took you hours." More: Shop Valentine's Day gifts: Last-minute deals you can order in time from Amazon How much do Americans spend on Valentine's Day? The survey found the average amounts people plan to spend on Feb. 14 vary widely by generation, with younger Americans planning to go all out for the romantic holiday this year in comparison to older people in relationships. Baby Boomers, age 61 to 79, and Gen Xers, age 45 to 60 are budgeting the least for the holiday, planning to spend $53 and $95 respectively. Millennials, age 28 to 44, plan to spend a significant amount more, budgeting $176. Adult members of Gen Z, or people age 18 to 29, plan to spend the most at $235. "That's the cohort most likely to be dating so maybe they feel more pressure versus people that are married," Cary said. Single respondents estimated they will save an average of $110 by skipping Valentine's Day this year. Most will use the money they would have spent on the holiday on daily expenses and bills or redirect it to their savings, the survey found. Best and worst Valentine's Day gifts Survey respondents reported the most desired Valentine's Day gifts are: Sentimental gifts such as handmade cards and personal experiences, with 38% saying they would like to receive those. Classic Valentine's Day gifts including chocolates and flowers, with 22% reporting that's what they'd prefer. Practical gifts, with 18% saying they would like to receive them. No gifts, with 14% reporting they wouldn't mind forgoing the present exchange altogether. Luxury gifts such as designer jewelry or clothes, with 9% saying they would like to get that type of present. Survey participants also reported their Valentine's Day deal breakers. They are: Clearly re-gifted gifts, with 25% labeling them a no go. No gifts due to forgetting Valentine's Day, which would upset 25% of respondents. Gag gifts, with 16% considering them a deal breaker. Generic gifts, which would bother 8% of participants. Gifts without monetary or sentimental value, which would be a deal breaker for 5% of respondents. Still looking for a Valentine's Day gift? USA TODAY has you covered with our favorite last-minute Valentine's Day gift ideas. Reach Rachel Barber at rbarber@ and follow her on X @rachelbarber_
