It's the land of the free and this year the home of the big spenders.

People around the Valley told NEWS9 Saturday this 4th of July has been more expensive than years past.

"Our milk's going up, our eggs are going up. So, it seems like the price of everything is going up," one Valley man said.

"I've always set a budget for what I'm going to do each year, and the budget I've had for several years just doesn't get as much as it used to," another local man said.

People say that now on the holiday of the red, white and blue it's the red they're seeing most, because their in it!

They say this Fourth of July weekend has been so expensive with the food, the parties and, of course, the grand finale of fireworks.

For instance, just from last year, national statistics show that bakery buns are up nearly 20 percent. Potato chips are up 19 percent. Cheese slices are up 12 percent, and hot dogs are up 9 percent.

Some people say they've battled through this holiday weekend, and with proper planning they managed to claim their independence from the growing cost of life.

"My wife saves coupons, she's a big coupon saver, and she made a menu for everyday, and we bought only for what we had on the menu," a local man said.