Retirees Outspend Younger Travelers 50% Per Trip in SKI Trend
Retired couples are spending 50% more per trip than younger travelers as the 'Spending the Kids' Inheritance' mindset gains traction.
A travel trend called SKI — short for "Spending the Kids' Inheritance" — is gaining momentum among American retirees, with retired couples outspending younger travelers by roughly 50% per trip, according to new data released from St. Petersburg, Fla., in September 2026.
The SKI mindset represents a notable shift in how retirees approach their accumulated wealth. Rather than preserving assets for the next generation, adherents prioritize spending on experiences and travel during their active retirement years, while health and mobility allow it.
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The trend carries broad implications for both the travel industry and personal finance planning. Retirees operating under the SKI philosophy are emerging as a high-value demographic for travel companies, hospitality providers, and luxury service sectors, given their demonstrated willingness to spend at premium levels compared to younger age groups.
Financial planners and estate attorneys may increasingly find clients wrestling with the tension between legacy goals and the desire to enjoy wealth during one's lifetime — a conversation the SKI trend appears to be pushing further into the mainstream. The data suggests this is no longer a fringe attitude but a measurable behavioral pattern among today's retirees.
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