Americans Are Spending Nearly $400 Every Summer Weekend—Here's Where the Money Goes

Summer is all about making memories, but those memories are coming with a hefty price tag.

A new survey commissioned by DailyPay and conducted by Talker Research found that the average American is spending nearly $400 every weekend on summer activities. While people are eager to spend more quality time with family and friends, many are finding it increasingly difficult to balance fun with their finances.

Summer Fun Isn't Cheap

According to the survey of 2,000 Americans, 50% say they spend the most money socializing during the summer months, while 60% are making a conscious effort to spend more face-to-face ("IRL") time with loved ones instead of staying glued to screens.

The most popular summer activities this year include:

•  Dining at restaurants (40%)
•  Spending the day at the beach, park, or lake (34%)
•  Going to the movies or hosting movie nights (33%)
•  Parties with family and friends (32%)
•  Road trips (27%)

The Cost of Staying Social

Unfortunately, enjoying those activities isn't getting any easier.

The survey found:

• 60% say having a social life is becoming too expensive.
• 73% feel their income is preventing them from doing everything they want this summer.
• 57% say financial concerns are keeping them from spending quality time with loved ones.
• 55% admit they've had to sacrifice their social lives because of money.

To keep up, more than half of respondents (53%) said they've picked up extra work or side hustles just to afford summer activities.

Financial Stress Is Affecting Friendships

Money problems aren't just hurting wallets—they're impacting relationships as well.

The survey revealed:

• 42% say they've lost friendships because they couldn't afford to keep up socially.
• 48% admit they've made excuses to avoid plans instead of telling friends they simply couldn't afford to go.

Where Americans Are Spending Their Money

The average spending over a typical summer weekend breaks down like this:

•  Dining out: $61
•  Hosting gatherings or bringing food and drinks: $60
•  Celebrations and gifts: $59
•  Entertainment (movies, concerts, amusement parks): $57
•  Outdoor activities: $55
•  Self-care and wellness: $54
•  Transportation (gas, rideshares, parking, etc.): $51

Altogether, those expenses add up to nearly $400 every weekend.

The Top 10 Summer Activities of 2026

According to the survey, these are Americans' favorite ways to spend time together this summer:

1. Going to restaurants
2. Visiting the beach, park, or lake
3. Movie nights or trips to the theater
4. Parties with family and friends
5. Road trips
6. Picnics
7. Weekend getaways
8. Cooking together
9. Game nights
10. Concerts

Quality Time Still Matters Most

Despite the financial pressures, people continue to prioritize spending time with those they care about.

Nearly 72% of respondents said being around family and friends is important to them, while 62% believe socializing is essential for their overall well-being. On average, Americans say they need about 10 hours of in-person time with loved ones during a typical weekend to feel refreshed and recharged.

Interestingly, younger adults—especially Gen Z and millennials—are making the biggest effort to spend time offline with friends and family, but they're also the generation most likely to overspend on social activities.

As summer continues, many Americans are proving that while making memories may be priceless, the cost of creating them certainly isn't.

The Fantastic Four Invisible Woman cups are blue and the Human Torch cups are red in color.  The Captain America helmet containers are navy blue and silver and about 85 ounces with an opening at the top to store popcorn.  (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Marvel Popcorn Buckets and Movie Cups Recalled Nationwide Over Battery Hazard

If you bought one of those collectible Marvel popcorn containers or character cups at the movies last year, it might be time to check your cabinets.

More than 55,000 Fantastic Four and Captain America-themed cups and popcorn containers sold at movie theaters across the country have been recalled because their button-cell batteries can be easily accessed by children.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the products violate federal safety requirements for items containing button or coin batteries. If a child swallows one of these batteries, it can cause serious internal chemical burns, severe injuries and even death.

Which Marvel products are affected?

The recall includes two different types of movie-theater collectibles:

Fantastic Four Invisible Woman and Human Torch Drinking Cups
These LED-lit cups were sold at AMC Theatres nationwide from March 2025 through April 2025 for about $15.

Captain America Popcorn Helmet Containers
These LED-lit popcorn containers were sold nationwide from February 2025 through August 2025 for about $30 at AMC and a number of other theater chains, including Cobb Theaters, Harkins, Maya Cinemas, Reading, West Wind and others.

The products were designed as collectible movie merchandise, but the battery compartments can reportedly be opened too easily, creating a serious hazard for young children.

What should you do?

The CPSC says consumers should stop using the recalled products immediately.

Golden Link, the manufacturer, is offering a full refund of the purchase price. Customers will be asked to dispose of the product and send a photo showing proof that it has been discarded to productrecall@goldenlinkinc.com.

So, before you toss that old Marvel movie collectible into the dishwasher—or hand it to the kids to play with—take a closer look. That Captain America popcorn helmet sitting in the cupboard could be part of the recall.

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Fluffy Coke Is the New Dirty Soda—and It’s Somehow Even Better

Just when we thought the dirty soda craze had reached peak creativity, TikTok has come up with another bizarre—and surprisingly delicious—way to upgrade your favorite soda.

Meet Fluffy Coke, the latest drink trend that combines Coca-Cola with something you probably never thought belonged in a cup of soda: marshmallow fluff.

And yes, it sounds weird. But the internet is obsessed.

So, What Exactly Is Fluffy Soda?

The concept is incredibly simple. Instead of adding syrups, cream or other traditional soda mix-ins, you coat the inside of a cup with Marshmallow Fluff, fill it with ice, and then pour in your favorite soda.

The result is a sweet, creamy, marshmallow-covered soda that looks almost too good to drink.

The trend exploded on TikTok after creator @not.eg shared a video making “Fluffy Coke” with her grandmother, Memama. The video took off, and before long, people were experimenting with their own versions using everything from Diet Coke to Dr Pepper.

Apparently, grandma knows her stuff.

How to Make Fluffy Coke

The recipe is almost ridiculously easy.

Start by coating the inside of a glass with Marshmallow Fluff. Add ice—nugget ice is especially popular—and pour in your soda of choice.

That’s it.

Coke is the original viral version, but there’s plenty of room to experiment. Orange soda, root beer, Dr Pepper and even a Fluffy Shirley Temple all sound like worthy candidates.

Some TikTok users recommend letting the drink sit for a few minutes before stirring it with a straw. That gives the marshmallow fluff time to mingle with the soda before you take your first sip.

One important warning: make sure you use Marshmallow Fluff, not marshmallow creme. They may look similar, but fans of the trend insist Fluff is the way to go.

Want to Take Fluffy Coke to the Next Level?

This is where things can get really fun.

Soda enthusiasts can customize their fluffy creations with flavored syrups, a squeeze of lime juice or other mix-ins. Basically, think of it as a dirty soda—but with a giant marshmallow twist.

You could even go all-in with the presentation. Use your favorite glass, throw it in the freezer beforehand to get it nice and frosty, add some fancy ice and finish it with a fun straw.

And apparently, soda isn't the only thing getting the Fluff treatment. Some people have started experimenting with coffee, which honestly sounds like a pretty tempting combination.

Is Fluffy Coke the Next Dirty Soda?

Maybe.

Dirty sodas became a massive trend because there are endless ways to customize them, and Fluffy Soda seems to have the exact same appeal. Once people start experimenting, you know we're going to see some truly wild combinations.

Whether you think marshmallow in your Coke sounds amazing or completely ridiculous, there’s only one way to find out.

Grab a jar of Fluff, crack open a Coke and see what all the fuss is about.

Because apparently, regular soda just isn't weird enough anymore.