Over the years it seems to me that Memorial Day weekend has developed a second identity.
Officially, Memorial Day — this year on May 25 — is a day of remembrance.
Unofficially, it’s the kickoff to summer. A three-day event that requires burgers, new patio cushions, a cooler full of drinks, and at least one last-minute trip to the big, crowded store (you know the one) where everything comes super-sized and costs more than it did a week ago.
That’s where things get expensive. Not because Memorial Day itself is costly, but because we tend to treat it like a deadline.
Suddenly there’s pressure to “get ready,” which often means buying things quickly instead of thoughtfully. That’s when markups quietly sneak in.
I’ve learned that the easiest way to avoid that is to stop treating the weekend like an event you have to prepare for — and start treating it like a regular weekend with slightly better weather.
That one shift changes everything.
Take food, for example. Memorial Day has become synonymous with grilling, which is lovely — until everyone else has the same idea at the same time.
Sure, you’ll see a few loss leaders, but overall, prices on popular items climb.
But there’s no rule that says you have to buy what everyone else is buying.
If ground beef suddenly looks like a luxury item, cook something else. Chicken, sausages, even a simple pasta salad can carry a meal just as easily. Better yet, look at what you already have and build a meal around that.
The goal is to eat, not to perform.
The same goes for side dishes. Instead of buying premade trays or specialty items, a few simple things from your own kitchen often work better anyway: a bowl of cut fruit, a basic salad, something easy that doesn’t come from the pricey “holiday display” section.
Then there’s the outdoor setup. Memorial Day has a way of making people feel like their yard needs an upgrade.
Suddenly the patio furniture seems tired, the table isn’t quite right, and there’s a strong temptation to fix all that before Monday. This is where it helps to pause.
Most gatherings don’t depend on matching chairs or new cushions. They depend on people having somewhere to sit and a place to set a plate.
Pull out what you have. Mix and match. Borrow a chair from another room if you need to. No one remembers the furniture — they remember how the day felt.
And then there are the things that get bought “just in case.”
Extra drinks. Extra snacks. Extra everything. It’s easy to walk into a store thinking you’ll grab a few things and walk out with a cart that suggests you’re feeding a small community.
Planning helps here, but not in a complicated way. A simple head count and a rough idea of what people will actually eat is usually enough. Most of us already know, deep down, that we tend to overestimate.
Finally, there’s timing. Last-minute shopping is where markups do their best work.
The closer you get to the weekend, the more likely you are to pay more for less — simply because it’s convenient and you’re out of time.
A little planning earlier in the week, or even just a quick look at what you already have, takes that pressure off. What all of this comes down to is intention.
Memorial Day doesn’t need to be bigger, newer or more expensive to be enjoyable. In fact, it usually works better when it’s simpler.
Less rushing. Less buying. Less trying to match what everyone else seems to be doing.
Enjoy the weekend, my friends!
