By Kevin Theissen
Over the past year, scientists raced to develop effective Covid vaccines, and governments and companies worked to make vaccines available. There are now multiple vaccines approved in most countries around the world. More than 2 billion doses have been administered, and over 10% of the world’s population has been vaccinated. It’s a remarkable achievement.
The United States is ahead of the global vaccination curve. In early June about 42% of Americans had been fully vaccinated according to the CDC. If the rollout continues at the current rate, estimates suggest 75% of the U.S. population will be fully vaccinated by July 2021.
While there is a lot of work left to do, restrictions across the country are being lifted. The result has been a surge in social activities we used to take for granted. According to the latest Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index: “Americans’ reemergence is moving full steam ahead. A majority have dined in a restaurant or visited friends and relatives in the past week, and these numbers continue to climb each week…At the same time, Americans are reporting small improvements to their mental and emotional health.”
There is a lot of built-up demand
One unexpected side effect of the pandemic is Americans spent less and saved more than normal. As a result, credit card balances are lower and personal finances have improved for many.
Americans are ready to spend some of their savings. While some remain reluctant to venture far from home, others are ready to travel. The 2021 Summer Travel Index showed:
63% of survey participants planned to take a trip in the next three months
74% planned to travel in the United States
13% will travel abroad
29% have weekend jaunts planned
28% will be traveling for 10 or more days
Top travel destinations include Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, and Nevada.
People who aren’t ready to travel are spending, too. Morning Consult asked Americans what they were excited about doing as the economy reopens and found almost half (46%) were “very excited” to return to a normal routine. The list of activities included:
- Eating in a restaurant
- Socializing in public
- Attending a party or wedding
- Going to the movies
- Attending a concert or sporting event
- Visiting an amusement park, museum, or gym
That’s great news for a lot of businesses around the world.
While having extra money inspires many people to splurge, it’s important to keep a level head. Spending has risen sharply during 2021. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, spending increased:
- 20.6% in January
- 14.7% in February
- 27.7% in March
- 14.9% in April
- While the idea of “revenge spending” may be appealing, very few household budgets can withstand sustained increases in spending without significant increases in income. So, as you break free from pandemic restrictions, it may help to keep some basic principles in mind:
Decide which savings habits you’d like to keep. During the pandemic, Americans saved a lot of money. The average household saved about $245 by not going out to eat, $1,400 by not vacationing, and almost $5,700 by not making major purchases, according to the Covid-19 & Finances Survey.
Be aware of how much you are spending. When people have extra money saved, it’s just fine to splurge on something fun, especially after a long stretch of missing out on traditional everyday activities. So, decide the amount to spend and then track how much has been spent.
Eliminate things that are not needed. During the last year, many people prioritized spending differently. Optional expenses, like dry cleaning, house cleaning, commuting, and happy hours, were eliminated. In some cases, the result was an increase in savings and wealth.
Many people experienced financial insecurity during the pandemic lockdown. As a result, emergency savings accounts and saving and investing for the future have become more important. Spending less and saving more may help you build wealth and improve financial security.
Kevin Theissen is the owner of HWC Financial in Ludlow.
