Some Lincolnites skipping out on Memorial Day cookouts to save money

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Memorial Day weekend is here, but not every family is cooking out.

As prices at the grocery store strain budgets, some families in Lincoln are choosing to step back this holiday.

“It definitely has gotten a little bit more expensive,” Lincoln mom Mickenna Shannon said.

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Meat, produce and other staples have seen price hikes that are hard to ignore for families on a tight budget.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for a family of four, the average monthly costs of groceries is about $500.

A recent study by Civic Science finds that only 61% of Americans plan to celebrate Memorial Day this year, which is a decrease of two percentage points from last year.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln drivers pumped over lower gas prices ahead of Memorial Day

Shannon is one of those skipping the cookout.

“With everyday meals, it’s definitely a, ‘Let me see what I have in the cupboard and build off from that,'” she said. “And unfortunately, meals like that don’t really scream cookout.”

She also said it’s hard enough to feed her own family, let alone any guests.

“It just feels a little silly to just, like, host something and everyone to come for a few hours,” Shannon said.

She said Memorial Day is not a big holiday for her family, so she’d rather save for the future.

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