With higher fuel and food costs, many families may be feeling stressed by vacation plans this summer.
“There is a broad pressure to do something special during the summer, and it can be overwhelming,” said Brittney Schrick, extension associate professor and family life specialist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “People who are in middle- and high-income areas, school districts, communities or jobs are going to feel more of that pressure.”
Schrick said parents who spend a lot of time on social media are also subject to extra pressure.
“Research shows that people who are high-volume users of social media tend to have more of this social comparison mentality and tend to be less content with their own lives and less confident in what they can bring to the table,” Schrick said. “They tend to think more about what they don’t have, as opposed to what they do have. Social media can make this worse.”
Rising travel costs
With high gas prices and increased food costs, what was once an affordable trip has become unfeasible for many families. According to the Travel Price Index, travel prices in April 2026 rose at more than twice the rate of overall inflation, with motor fuel prices rising 29.1 percent year over year and airline fares rising 20.7 percent compared with April of last year.
“Doing a road trip used to be a cost-effective alternative for going somewhere far, or with a large family,” Schrick said. “You could drive for the cost of one or two plane tickets. Now, the cost of driving is potentially going to limit people from going.”
Schrick said that missing out on vacation can be “disappointing and frustrating,” and that it can be tempting to take on additional debt.
“It can feel really heavy, especially for parents who already may be struggling to meet regular needs, like feeding their family and making sure their kids have appropriate clothes to wear,” she said.
Have honest, age-appropriate conversations
When it comes to speaking with children about family budget limits or changing plans, Schrick said the way parents frame the conversation is key.
“If the parents focus on what they can’t afford or make a big deal about not being able to do something — rather than emphasizing what they are able to do — then kids are going to act that way, too,” Schrick said.
For younger children, Schrick said it is okay to share that a planned trip is going to cost more than anticipated, but she suggested parents follow up with excitement about alternative possibilities. This could include camping, visiting Arkansas’ state parks, spending time at a local body of water or finding every playground in the county.
“Try to make it something that would be an activity that your kid would still want to do and talk it up as being exciting, without having to come up with some elaborate reason why you’re not going,” Schrick said. “You don’t have to focus on the disappointment part. And if you put on the excitement for your child, you’ll probably start to get excited, too. You can frame almost anything as an adventure.”
With older kids, Schrick said honesty — within reason — can be the best policy.
“You don’t have to overwhelm them or tell them anything that makes it feel like they’re taking on a burden, but being honest with them about what things cost can actually be really helpful,” Schrick said. “For a lot of kids, when they see those raw numbers, they’re going to be blown away, especially teenagers who have a job or have had to buy things on their own.
“Kids are smart,” Schrick said. “If they have some experience with how money works, they will be understanding. It doesn’t mean they won’t be disappointed, but they won’t be confused, either.”
A lesson on limits
It is natural for parents to feel guilty, either for forgoing a trip to avoid financial strain or for taking on the additional financial burden of a vacation.
“It is a juggling act that is unwinnable,” Schrick said. “You must decide for your family what sacrifices you are willing to make. Are you willing to have your kids be disappointed for a little while, but then not be in a worse financial situation? Or are you going to consciously make the choice of taking on additional debt?”
“If you do decide to do this, make sure it is an active choice,” she said. “Don’t just do it because it’s something you think you’re supposed to do.”
Having appropriate conversations about financial limits can teach children about a family’s priorities. For example, if a family prioritizes the cost of a child’s year-round activities, such as sports, it can help to explain how that choice impacts the ability to pay for a summer vacation.
“When families pull back the curtain just a little bit — without burdening a child — they’re helping their kid understand that money is not limitless, that choices have to be made and those choices have consequences,” Schrick said.
For more extension family life resources, visit the Personal and Family Well-being page on the Cooperative Extension Service website.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
