Burgers, Backroads, and Budgets: How Idahoans are navigating a pricier 4th of July
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Fourth of July plans are seeing increased costs for both cookouts and travel this year, with inflation affecting family budgets.
Smart Substitutions at the Grill
The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates the average cost of a 10-person cookout in the West at $73.82, or about $7.38 per person, reflecting the highest price seen in a decade. Jesse Smith of Fred Meyer in Idaho Falls suggests substitutions could be the key to stretching your dollar.
“Let's say you don't want to do ribeye right. Ribeye is a little bit spendy...But if you don't want to part ways that much, maybe stick with just hamburgers!” Smith said. He added that hamburgers can be just as delicious and are often easier for children to eat outdoors.
To keep costs down, Smith recommends Fourth of July shoppers look for discounts, coupons, digital deals, and store-brand items.
Record Travel Despite High Pump Prices
Meanwhile, travel plans also face increased costs due to high gas prices. Despite the costs involved, AAA projects that 72 million Americans — including over 400,000 Idahoans — will travel for the Fourth of July weekend, setting a new record for holiday travel.
"It's going to be very busy no matter how you go," said AAA spokesperson Matthew Conde.
Conde explained that while the current average price of gas sits at $4.06 a gallon, travelers are comparing it to the record highs of recent years.
"Just four years ago, it was $5.25 a gallon. That's the highest we've ever paid," says Conde. " And so you can imagine that now, looking at $4.06... Our pain thresholds kind of move with the inflation."
According to AAA, vacationers are now prioritizing the journey over minor holiday extras.
"People are a lot less fickle based on what the pump prices are doing; they still go. And if that means one fewer firework or one less, you know, Rocket Pop, they're going to go ahead and spend the money on the gas. That's the lifeblood of the trip. The rest will take care of itself."
AAA recommends several strategies to make every gallon count, for example, lightening your vehicle's load. Every 100 pounds of extra cargo can cause a 25% decrease in fuel efficiency on the interstate. For more information, click HERE.
