Americans Plan Big Cuts to Travel and Entertainment Spending in 2025, Survey Shows

Over fifty percent of Americans anticipate to
spend less
On enjoyable expenditures — such as amusement, traveling, and dining out — this year, based on a recent poll.

The Bankrate poll,
published earlier this week,
found about 54 percent of respondents said they plan to slash their nonessential spending in 2025, up from 49 percent last year.

Ted Rossman, the senior industry analyst at Bankrate, stated the
pandemic-era trend
The trend of “doom spending” — indulging in distinctive and thrilling experiences due to the belief that life was fleeting — is coming to an end.

“We’re finally starting to see boundaries for the ‘you only live once’ mentality driving excessive spending,” Rossman stated.

The survey indicated that 38 percent anticipate a reduction in their
travel spending
, and 39 percent expect to spend less on dining out and live entertainment.

President Trump’s
latest tariffs
have stoked
fears of a recession
, and household debt reached an
record $18.2 trillion
In early 2025, as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

A significant majority of U.S. voters, 82 percent, have concerns about a
potential recession
during the Trump administration, as per an official document
unique NewsNation/Decision DeskHQ poll
conducted in April.

“

The combined impact of inflation and elevated interest rates has been putting pressure on families, leading to unprecedented amounts of credit card debt and resulting in
consumer sentiment to plummet

,” Rossman said.

On the other hand, one-third of those surveyed indicated their intention to increase discretionary spending this year, with 22 percent choosing to allocate funds for travel, 19 percent for eating out, and 15 percent for entertainment activities.

According to Bankrate, the price of traveling has decreased compared to last year. This encompasses the
price of gas
, car rentals, flight tickets, and accommodations.

However, survey responses indicated that financial constraints may not be the only factor preventing people from enjoying experiences. Although 65 percent mentioned affordability as an issue, 23 percent stated they have little interest in traveling, and 16 percent found the process too cumbersome.

The Bankrate study, which included data provided by YouGov, was carried out between April 2nd and April 4th among a sample of 2,484 American adults.

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