Sanitation: Is it time to rethink vacation plans?

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On the Money

By Lauren Young, Digital Special Projects Editor

Are you rethinking vacation plans due to the economic outlook?

Economists say the tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on trading partners along with escalating trade tensions with China will weigh heavily on the U.S. economy and could spur inflation in the months ahead.

With retirement and investment accounts shrinking, many budget-conscious Americans appear to be hesitant about discretionary spending, particularly on travel, industry experts say.

I am traveling a lot in 2025, mostly due to a confluence of family events, including weddings on both coasts, a March trip to visit our kid studying abroad in Copenhagen along with an April jaunt to see another son who is living in Washington, DC.

But we are still on the fence about fall travel, given the state of the economy. Do you have any big trips planned or are you putting them on the backburner? Write to me at onthemoney@thomsonreuters.com.

P&G is betting on premium products to weather the economy. REUTERS/Timothy Aeppel

Smile cents

Would you pay $380 for an electric toothbrush?

P&G is betting that tariff-wary consumers will continue to spend on premium products that clean teeth, dishes and homes better. The company also is leaning on price hikes to weather the economic storm.

I take dental hygiene very seriously. I brush my teeth twice a day with a sonic toothbrush, I always floss before bedtime. I also use dental picks along with a prescription fluoride toothpaste.

So, what makes the $380 toothbrush so special? Do I need one? If you use a pricey toothbrush, I'd love to hear what makes it worth the price! Write to me at onthemoney@thomsonreuters.com.

Read, watch and listen

Video of the Week

Trump 100 days. In the chaotic first 100 days since Trump's return to office, he has waged an often unpredictable campaign that has upended parts of the rules-based world order Washington helped build from the ashes of World War II. Reuters experts examine how the start of Trump's second term has gone.

Watch here.

When family messes up your retirement plans

Are you risking your retirement savings for family? REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Nearly three quarters (73%) of Sandwich Generation respondents (people aged 40-59) to a recent survey by Athene say they have adjusted their retirement goals to support adult children or aging relatives.

What is especially surprising: 22% say they are using retirement funds to support their family (!), while 9% say they are not planning to retire at all.

I recently met with Mike Downing, Athene's chief operating officer, to discuss the data. Downing is a member of the Sandwich Generation himself.

We had a long chat about the value of fixed-index annuities, which don't typically offer as much upside protection as stock investments. But fixed annuities also generate a guaranteed income, which helps smooth out the bumps, especially in volatile markets.

"It's never about hitting home runs," Downing says.

And here is some surprising data: According to Athene, 31.5% of fixed-index annuity buyers are under 60 years old.

If you own a fixed annuity, I'd love to hear from you? Why did you buy it? Write to me at onthemoney@thomsonreuters.com.

5 facts I learned reading Reuters this week

Travel insurance is a hot commodity. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

1) InsureMyTrip, which sells travel insurance, said purchases of policies including the "Cancel for Any Reason" benefit increased 30% in March compared with the same time last year.

2) The UK has lost about a quarter of its pubs and bars over the past 20 years, but the good news is that there are still more than 3,000 to choose from in the capital.

3) About 43% of Spain's energy comes from wind and solar power, with nuclear accounting for a further 20% and fossil fuels 23%, according to energy think tank Ember.

4) In March, there were 1.02 job openings for every unemployed person in the U.S., slightly down from 1.06 in February. Economists said businesses were wary of letting workers go after experiencing difficulties finding labor during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

5) There are over 400 mountain peaks in Nepal which are open to expeditions – of them, 74 are higher than 7,000 metres, according to tourism department data.

A$k Lauren

Are you trying to build an emergency fund? Do you need help evaluating a college financial aid package? Send your personal finance questions to onthemoney@thomsonreuters.com, and I'll tap my extensive source network and braintrust for expert advice.

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