Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with family and friends, and relax. Unfortunately, it’s also easy to overspend during the warmer months.
With that in mind, here are 17 of the best ways to save money in Summer:
Live On A Zero-Based Budget
A zero-based budget is a budgeting method where you plan out how you’re going to use every dollar of your income down to zero. In other words, every dollar you earn is allocated to a specific expense. This system ensures that you’re not spending more money than you have coming in.
To start creating your own zero-based budget, we recommend averaging out your income over the last three months.
After that, you determine how much money you’d like to give and save. And finally, you plan out the rest of your monthly expenses to fit your giving and savings goals.
This might seem a little backward, but it is how wealthy people handle their money. By prioritizing your savings before your living expenses, it will ensure you live within your means and meet your financial goals.
If you really want to save money this summer, living on a zero-based budget is one of the most essential steps you can take.
Install An Attic Fan
If you live in a hot climate, an attic fan can save you a lot of money on your energy bills.
An attic fan is designed to pull outside air into your attic and push your warmer attic air back outside in order to keep your attic as cool as possible.
In turn, this reduces the strain on your air conditioner, which uses a lot of energy and can be expensive to run.
The best news is that you can purchase a solar-powered attic fan that runs automatically when your attic reaches a pre-determined temperature. That way, you don’t have to worry about turning it on, or paying for the electricity to run the fan.
Oh, and to top it all off, attic fans aren’t very expensive, and they’re not too difficult to install yourself. As long as you’re comfortable getting up on your roof and using a reciprocating saw, you shouldn’t have too much trouble.
Just remember to exercise caution and be safe. After all, a trip to the emergency room will cost a lot more than having a professional install your attic fan for you.
Keep Your Blinds Closed
This one is simple. During the day, keep your blinds closed to keep your home cooler. The less heat that comes in, the less you’ll have to run your air conditioner, and thus, the lower your energy bill will be.
At night, open up your windows to let the cool night air in.
This natural ventilation will reduce the load on your air conditioning unit, and help you save money this summer.
Have A Garage Sale
Saving money isn’t always about cutting expenses. In fact, one of the best ways to add to your savings is to host a garage sale and sell anything and everything you no longer want or need.
Not only will you clear out some clutter, but you can also make a decent chunk of cash in the process.
Just be sure to save any money you make from your garage sale so that you don’t end up spending it on something else you don’t actually need.
Take Advantage Of Free Activities In Your City
There are probably a lot of free activities happening in your city or town that you don’t even know about.
A quick Google search should reveal all sorts of events, from concerts in the park to festivals and fairs.
So before you spend money on entertainment this summer, be sure to check out what’s happening for free in your town.
Oh, and if you can’t seem to find any events going on in your town, I recommend checking the social media accounts of some of the local real estate agents. Since real estate agents like to sponsor these kinds of events, they will usually post about them on their Facebook pages.
Cook At Home More Often
Dining out is always tempting, especially when it’s hot and you don’t want to cook.
But if you’re trying to save money this summer, cooking at home is one of the best things you can do.
Not only will it cost less than eating at a restaurant, but you can also take advantage of leftovers, which can drastically reduce your food spending.
Seriously, whenever my wife and I are planning our weekly meals, we try to plan at least 2 or 3 meals that will leave us with leftovers. There’s nothing quite like turning 1 meal into 3 to boost your monthly savings.
Use A Grill, Not Your Oven
If you’re going to be cooking at home more often this summer, take advantage of the weather and use your grill.
This will keep your house cooler since you won’t have to turn on your oven, and it will give your food a summery flavor that you can’t get any other way.
Oh, and just so we’re clear, you can grill more than just meat on your grill. If you aren’t much of a carnivore, you can grill vegetables, pizzas, and even cookies on your grill.
Don’t Buy New Clothes
One of the easiest ways to save money this summer is to simply not buy new clothes.
I know it can be tempting to treat yourself to a new summer wardrobe, but resist the urge and stick to the clothes you already have. Or, if you really feel like your summer clothing choices are limited, take a look at your local thrift store or second-hand clothing store.
Not only will this save you a ton of money, but it will also help reduce the amount of unnecessary clothing you own.
Find Cheaper Ways To Get Around Town
Depending on where you live, summertime can be a great time to save money on transportation.
For example, if you live in a large city with good public transportation, take advantage of it and save your gas money for another day. After all, when you don’t have to bundle up and wait for a bus or light rail, taking public transportation won’t seem like such a big deal.
Even better, if you don’t have a long way to go, you can take advantage of the warmer weather and ride a bike or walk. This is not only good for your wallet, but it’s also good for your health.
So before you spend money on gas this summer, see if there are any cheaper or more efficient ways to get around town.
Take A Staycation
If you really want to save money this summer, consider taking a staycation instead of a vacation. Sure, staying at home, or at least close to home, might not seem quite as thrilling as a beach vacation, but it will definitely cost you less money.
If you do choose to take a staycation, I recommend treating it just like a regular vacation. In other words, take time off of work, put down your cell phone, focus on relaxation, and recharge your battery.
Start A Side Business
Summer is the perfect time to start a side business. And if you want to save extra money this summer, running a business is a great place to start.
Not only is this a great way to boost your summer savings, but it will also give you something to do during those long summer days.
There are all sorts of businesses you can start, from mowing lawns and walking dogs to selling handmade jewelry or crafts. You could start an online store using a platform like Etsy, or you could even operate a booth at your local Farmer’s Market.
Another great option is to start a blog or YouTube channel; both of which can be a great way to make money pursuing your favorite hobby or passion.
These days, there are a seemingly endless number of side business options. And summer is a great time to get started.
Insulate Your Garage And Attic
If you want to save money this summer, one of the best things you can do is make your home more energy-efficient. And one of the best ways to do that is to insulate your garage and attic.
By doing this, you’ll keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, which will save you money.
Spend More Time In Your Basement
If your home has a basement, chances are you don’t spend a lot of time down there during the summer. But if you want to save money this summer, I recommend spending more time in your basement.
The reason is that basements are typically cooler than the rest of your house, which means you won’t have to use your air conditioning quite as much.
Air Dry Your Laundry
Another great way to save money this summer is to air dry your laundry. Similar to running your oven, your dryer can put off a lot of heat. And in the warm summer months, that can put extra strain on your air conditioner, and thus, your electric bill.
So instead of using your dryer, take advantage of the warmer weather and air dry your clothes on a clothesline.
Doing so will both save you money, and keep your clothes smelling extra fresh!
Manage Your Own Pest Control
If bugs and critters don’t give you the heeby-jeebies, save some money this summer by handling your own pest control. You can find traps and chemicals at your local hardware store for a fraction of the cost of hiring an exterminator.
You should also take steps to keep pests out in the first place, such as sealing cracks in windows and doors, storing your food properly, and filling gaps around pipes under your sinks with steel wool.
Simple steps like these are a great way to save money on pest control this summer.
Grow Your Own Produce
With a little time and effort, you can save a lot of money on fresh fruits and vegetables by growing your own. If you have the space, consider planting a garden in your yard.
As long as you keep your gardening expenses low, this can be a great way to reduce your grocery bill–especially if you eat a lot of vegetables.
The best news is, that you don’t have to be a master gardener to grow a successful garden. There are quite a few YouTube channels out there that will teach you everything you need to know!
Do Your Own Lawn Care
If you’re looking for a great way to save money this summer, do your own lawn care. This includes mowing, trimming, and fertilizing your lawn.
While it may take a little bit of time to learn how to do these things properly, once you get the hang of it, it’s really not that difficult.
Plus, there are about a hundred different YouTube channels that will teach you everything you need to know about lawn care. Personally, my favorite lawn care YouTube channel is Ryan Knorr Lawn Care. Seriously, this guy’s lawn looks like the fairway on Augusta National.
Final Thoughts
Warm weather provides you with quite a few ways to put some extra cash into savings. As long as you make savings a priority, stick to your budget, and utilize a few of these 17 tips, you’ll be well on your way to saving money this summer.
Now get out there and enjoy the warm weather!
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