Financial Planning Memorial Day Shopping and Travel Secrets Of a Consumer Advocate Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this: Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Written by Mint.com Published May 16, 2013 3 min read Advertising Disclosure The views expressed on this blog are those of the bloggers, and not necessarily those of Intuit. Third-party blogger may have received compensation for their time and services. Click here to read full disclosure on third-party bloggers. This blog does not provide legal, financial, accounting or tax advice. The content on this blog is "as is" and carries no warranties. Intuit does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the content on this blog. After 20 days, comments are closed on posts. Intuit may, but has no obligation to, monitor comments. Comments that include profanity or abusive language will not be posted. Click here to read full Terms of Service. One of the busiest days of shopping is just around the corner. And if this Memorial Day is anything like last year, chances are you’ll be heading to the mall or out of town on a trip. Either way, you’ll spend a lot of money. An IBM survey of social media sentiment found a 46 percent increase in the amount of conversations about Memorial Day travel compared to the previous year, for example. It tracked a similar sentiment when it came to spending, a finding businesses almost certainly took to heart. Since travel and consumer spending are two areas I specialize in, I thought I’d take a minute to spill the beans on how this consumer advocate spares his family and himself the indignities of Memorial Day. Make it a commerce-free holiday Pie in the sky? For some families, maybe. But making Memorial Day about cook-outs and togetherness takes the emphasis off the commerce. It’s a classic distraction maneuver, and I’m here to tell you that it works. If you can persuade your family they’re better off skipping the mall and heading to the park for a barbecue, then you’ve covered a likely money pit. Good for you! Set a budget If your family is hell-bent on visiting the shopping center during the Memorial Day weekend, then set reasonable boundaries and manage your family’s expectations. Just because that $899 dress is on sale for half-price doesn’t mean your teenage daughter has to have it. OK, maybe it does, but if you set a $200 spending limit (that’s a hypothetical number, by the way) then she’ll know it’s off-limits. One word: Staycation Memorial Day is considered the first day of the summer travel season. That’s three months! It’s not a race. Plan your summer getaway during the little lulls that come after the holidays, like the week after Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. You won’t have to share the beach with a million other people, and you might get a deal, too. Instead, stay close to home and plan a day-trip or two, an activity known as the “staycation.” Do free stuff Instead of heading to the local amusement park on staycation, consider this: Many towns have parades and festivals that take place on Memorial Day weekend. These events generally don’t cost anything and when you plan a picnic or barbecue afterwards, they’re super easy on your budget. When it comes to planning their Memorial Day, many readers get unnecessarily stressed out. They try to squeeze a mini-vacation into the long weekend, which forces them to spend more money than they want to and adds to the pressure. By staying close to home and avoiding the traps that ensnare consumers at this time of year, you can relax and recharge your batteries before heading back to work the next week. Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate who blogs about getting better customer service at On Your Side. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook or send him your questions by email. Previous Post Finances After “I Do” – Taking a Peek Into Newlyweds’… Next Post Just How Big are the Profits Behind Student Loan Interest… Written by Mint.com More from Mint.com Browse Related Articles Mint App News Intuit Credit Karma welcomes all Minters! Retirement 101 5 Things the SECURE 2.0 Act changes about retirement Home Buying 101 What Are Homeowners Association (HOA) Fees and What Do They Cover? Financial Planning What Are Tax Deductions and Credits? 20 Ways To Save on Taxes Financial Planning What Is Income Tax and How Is It Calculated? Investing 101 The 15 Best Investments for 2023 Investing 101 How To Buy Stocks: A Beginner’s Guide Investing 101 What Is Real Estate Wholesaling? Life What Is A Brushing Scam? Financial Planning WTFinance: Annuities vs Life Insurance