It’s Your Last Chance to Take a Summer Vacation

#Summer 2025 is passing quickly! The long days and warm weather will soon be a memory, and the time to take advantage of them with a summer #vacation is dwindling. Nonetheless, there’s still time to schedule a getaway.

Time off is crucial to preserving one’s physical and mental health, says AFC Urgent Care. Those who skip #vacations are at a higher risk for heart attack, anxiety and depression. And those who take vacations are often less stressed and more attentive to their own well-being.

You might be worried that the stress and expense won’t be worthwhile, but “a memorable summer vacation doesn’t require months of planning or thousands of dollars,” says Yahoo! “With a little creativity and flexibility, you can find affordable ways to explore new places.”

Depending on your tolerance for car travel, roadtripping can be one of the cheapest ways to enjoy a change of scenery. Pack the car, the family and a few snacks, and you can be somewhere new in a matter of hours. Check Google Maps for places within a preferred distance from your home base, or visit Roadtrippers.com to access complete planning tools. A simple search can help chart your route and highlight points of interest, restaurants, hotel accommodations and campsites, and more.

Another way to have a cheap #getaway is to share costs with friends. Split multiple ways, an Airbnb or VRBO rental can make even exclusive locations affordable. Start texting your travel companions; you never know who might be willing to take a few days off.

With schools starting earlier every year, crowds start to ease at the end of August, Frommer’s says, and you may be able to save on flights and hotels during the “shoulder” season. Or you might be able to land a cheap flight to a fully off-season location in Mexico or the Caribbean.

Don’t despair or wallow in the fear of missing out. There’s still time to set aside a day or three to see something new, take a hike, go to the beach and otherwise shake off the same-old, same-old routine. Your health will benefit!

Shop for Back-to-School Supplies Before Clothing

This year’s elementary #school supply list typically includes Post-it notes, glue sticks, headsets and other tech accessories, according to The New York Times. Add basics such as paper, facial tissues and plastic storage bags, and the tally can easily reach nearly $200. To economize, shop for needed supplies first (accepting generic brands), budgeting expert Andrea Woroch says, and look for #back-to-school clothing as growth and need dictate: “Don’t assume you need a brand-new wardrobe on Day 1.” You can always find quality used goods to fit your growing child at the #thrift and #secondhand shops supplied by #donations to ClothingDonations.org. #BackToSchool #Inflation

Consumers Tighten Belts at Back-to-School Time

A survey performed by the Mall of America recently asked more than 500 consumers how they plan to handle the #back-to-school #shopping season, finding that more than half (51%) will focus on deals rather than labels when making purchase decisions. Three out of 5 (61%) say they plan to spend less this year due to economic concerns, though a greater majority (70%) estimate their spending will be in the $100-$499 range. And even in the days of AI-fueled bargain-hunting, the vast majority of respondents said they would do at least some of their shopping in person at a physical store. #BackToSchool #Inflation

When It Pays to Wait on Back-to-School Shopping

The early bird doesn’t necessarily get the worm when it comes to #back-to-school #shopping, says Go Banking Rates. Plan on hitting the stores right before school starts, says consumer finance expert Austin Kilgore, to take advantage of retailers’ clearance prices. “It may sound counterintuitive, but sometimes there are supplies on the list that kids won’t need right off the bat,” he says. “If you can wait to purchase one of these, clearance sales usually begin right after school starts. And with so many different start dates, it pays to keep your eye out for these sales.” #BackToSchool #Inflation

Five Ways to Save on Back-to-School Shopping

With #tariffs increasing costs on a wide variety of essentials, many parents are wondering how to stretch their back-to-school dollars — 85%, in fact, according to U.S. News & World Report. Mom.com offers five ways to save this season: Shop back-to-school sales and clearance racks for kids’ clothing, but concentrate on the basics at larger retailers because better discounts may be on the way. State sales tax holidays can help save, especially on high-dollar items such as computers. But perhaps the best way to save is to go used at a clothing swap, consignment store or thrift supplied by donations to ClothingDonations.org. #BackToSchool #Inflation