Palm Beach Atlantic University Inc.

05/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/28/2026 06:01

Summer Stewardship

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"With summertime quickly approaching, longer days, more time with loved ones, and upcoming vacations are just ahead. In this article, Dr. Scott Pearson, associate professor of finance at Palm Beach Atlantic University, shares tips for how families can steward their finances well-while creating memories that will last a lifetime." - PBA President Dr. Debra A. Schwinn

Summer Stewardship

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer? The old song gives us some expectations, but modern life tends more toward the crazy than the lazy, and keeps us on the run all the time. If we aren't careful, it can eat up our resources faster than we can build them back. But we know that God calls us to be good stewards of the time and resources He trusts us with, and we all benefit from stretching the dollar for all its worth. Let's make our summer a time of blessing and growth, instead of a time of stress and burden.

With kids home from school and searching for activities, summer can feel like a challenge, especially when budgets are tight. This year, we may feel it more, with unforgiving inflation and a sudden rise in fuel prices. Here are some simple rules we can all take to help navigate these times.

Rule 1: Live by intention, not by default.

The worst decisions are the ones you let happen unconsciously. It's not about cutting back to nothing, but recognizing that every choice eliminates another option. Make choices that will support your values and build something meaningful. That means making every spending decision a conscious one, where we weigh the options and pick what is most fulfilling to our goals. If they are old enough, involve the kids in choosing what they value. Plan how much you want to spend on summer recreation, and survey their interests. Discuss the price of each and take the time as a family to weigh out the choices. You might be surprised to learn that they'd rather you spend $6 to get hot dogs and go to the park four times rather than spend one day at the $100 theme park. Either way, you can help them learn to think about financial decisions and how to align their choices with their values.

Rule 2: Don't get caught up in the competition.

You don't have to do everything the neighbors do. Our kids will be just as successful reading a few extra books as they will be riding the newest, coolest watercraft or playing the hottest game. Just because their friends are doing it doesn't mean they have to. Instead of hosting a big flashy event, consider a backyard cookout with neighbors or a bike trip in the area. Spend a day at the beach and pack sandwiches. Sometimes the little things are just as much fun as the big ones-and they build great memories.

Rule 3: Look at all the options.

Don't default to the obvious. Check around for freebies and deals. Your local library or park are probably sponsoring a wealth of summer activities worth checking out. Lots of restaurants have kids eat free days. Kidsbowlfree.com offers a summer family bowling pass, and similar deals are available at kidsskatefree.com. Churches often sponsor summer activities for kids, including vacation Bible schools and kids camps, many times at prices far more affordable than you might find elsewhere. And don't miss out on the summer reading programs available with a variety of providers. Moneysavingmom.com offers links to some of the best ones.

Rule 4: Travel when it makes sense.

Often, vacations to faraway places seem like the only option. While it can be an amazing experience, it doesn't always need to be the plan. In years when fuel prices are high, far distances can be expensive. Take advantage of nearby national and state parks. If the big trip seems necessary, shop around. Find out who has deals at times that you can travel. Cruise lines often have last-minute fares (including some where kids sail free); because those ships are going to run anyway, they might as well fill the rooms. Or, if you find places that are close by, you can usually get there for less money. For Floridians, living as close as we do to the Bahamas makes that a quick trip, and summer rates tend to be lower.

Summer can be a time of great reward, if we build it faithfully. Going into summer with a heart and mind of good stewardship makes it feel less restricted, and more like a set of awesome choices. Knowing there are options and aligning them with what's truly important provides us with family memories that are irreplaceable.

Scott Pearson is associate professor of finance at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), where he also serves as director of the Center for Financial Literacy. He also operates Pearson Asset Management, a registered investment advisory firm. He writes and speaks about personal finance for a variety of audiences, helping people find strategies that best fulfill their goals. He teaches courses in financial markets, retirement planning, entrepreneurial finance, and financial literacy, and has served at PBA for the past eight years.

Palm Beach Atlantic University Inc. published this content on May 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 28, 2026 at 12:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]