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Higher
Prices
Make
Labor
Day
Weekend
More
Expensive
for
Families
Charles
Mosley -
Business/Economy/Money
Tell Us
USA News
Network
DETROIT
Labor
Day
weekend
may be
the
countrys
unofficial
farewell
to
summer,
but for
many
American
families,
the
price of
celebrating
it
depends
less on
the
holiday
itself
than on
how far
they
decide
to
travel.
Costs
can
range
from a
modest
backyard
cookout
to a
getaway
that
climbs
well
into the
thousands
of
dollars.
For
households
staying
close to
home, a
three‑day
Labor
Day
budget
can be
relatively
manageable.
A lean,
home‑centered
weekend
for a
family
of four
can run
about
$250 to
$350,
while a
more
typical
mix of
groceries,
a
cookout,
a
restaurant
meal and
a local
outing
often
lands
between
$450 and
$700. A
practical
middle‑ground
plan
averages
around
$550,
including
roughly
$150 for
groceries,
$125 for
restaurant
meals,
$75 for
gas and
parking,
$125 for
entertainment,
and a
cushion
of $75
for
unexpected
expenses.
Food is
one of
the
easiest
areas to
control.
A basic
holiday
cookout
hamburgers,
chicken,
side
dishes,
fruit,
ice
cream
and
beverages
can
cost $30
to $40
for four
people,
depending
on the
menu and
where
families
shop.
Additional
snacks,
breakfasts
and
leftovers
add to
the
total
but
remain
far
cheaper
than
dining
out.
Travel,
however,
is where
budgets
can
shift
dramatically.
Driving
remains
the most
affordable
option,
though
fuel
prices
still
matter.
A round
trip of
about
300
miles in
a
vehicle
averaging
25 miles
per
gallon
uses
roughly
12
gallons
of gas.
At
current
prices
about
$3.30 to
$4.14
per
gallon,
depending
on the
region
families
can
expect
to spend
$40 to
$50 on
fuel
before
parking,
meals or
activities.
Lodging
is the
real
cost
driver:
even a
two‑night
hotel
stay can
add
several
hundred
dollars
to a
trip,
pushing
a
driving
getaway
with
meals
and paid
attractions
into the
$700 to
$1,500
range.
Flying
raises
the
stakes
considerably.
Average
domestic
round‑trip
airfare
for the
Labor
Day
period
sits
near
$750 per
traveler,
putting
flights
for a
family
of four
close to
$3,000
before
hotel
rooms,
meals,
rental
cars or
entertainment.
Total
spending
for a
fly‑away
weekend
can
easily
exceed
$4,000,
and
cruises
while
bundled
still
require
families
to
factor
in
travel
to the
port,
gratuities,
excursions
and
onboard
charges.
For
families
watching
their
budgets,
the
least
expensive
celebration
may be
close to
home: a
shared
cookout,
a
neighborhood
gathering
or a
free
community
event.
Buying
food in
advance,
dividing
grocery
costs
among
guests,
choosing
day
trips
instead
of
overnight
stays
and
avoiding
peak
travel
times
can help
keep the
holiday
festive
without
stretching
household
finances.
Labor
Day may
be a
final
summer
break,
but the
cost of
enjoying
it
varies
widely
from a
few
hundred
dollars
for a
simple
weekend
at home
to
several
thousand
for
those
chasing
one last
summer
getaway.
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