EARLY YEARS: New survey shows summer is most expensive season for families

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Beth Klongpayabal is a busy mom of three kids, ranging in age from 11 to 16.

“We are active with sports and pool time and so many activities. They want to go to the mall. It just-- it never stops,” says Klongpayabal.

She’s also a lead researcher in a new study by savings.com of around 1,000 parents across the country.

Over a third of them said summer is their most expensive season.

“We’re all struggling with the day-to-day life of finances, but then it comes to a head in the summer, when you have these expectations that you put on yourself of ‘I want my summer to be this way,” says Klongpayabal.

About 37% of parents surveyed reported serious financial anxiety.

One major reason-- the huge jump in child care costs during summer.

“In our study, the cost went up to around $300 a month, instead of the 70 they were used to for the after-school kind of care. So, they’re balancing a lot,” she says.

Rising costs at the grocery store don’t help, especially with kids home more during the day, consuming more food.

Among money-saving tips from other parents in the survey is having kids help search for food deals.

“And so what they like to do is get the kids involved in the shopping. Look at the flyers that come from the grocery store. Have them plan out a menu, so they’re invested in it,” says Klongpayabal.

According to savings.com, entertainment and travel also take a huge chunk out of parents’ wallets this time of year.

Parents reported spending an average of about $1,000 per month on vacations during the summer.

“Some of that can be avoided by looking for deals, going ahead and using a coupon on an outing,” says Klongpayabal.

And when it comes to deciding where your family goes this summer, Klongpayabal says it’s okay to put some things on hold.

“Limiting their expectations, being able to say no, but we will do this thing in the future, and everybody can look forward to it,” she says.