The Best Ways to Save Money in Summer – If the summer is taking a toll on your budget, it’s time for you to try out these ways to save money in the summer! The summer savings tips can really go a long way!
The Best Ways to Save Money in Summer
Summer is the most expensive time of the year for many people. The little ones are out of school, summer camps are in full swing, summer vacations are completely necessary, and everything else that goes on when it gets hot… all of these things means that you’re spending more money than you normally would.
It doesn’t always have to be that way, though!
For my family, we’re always looking for ways to get our summer savings in check to make sure that we find all of the best and easiest ways to save over the summer
Here are the best ways you can save money in summer so that you can enjoy the time as a family without worrying about when your next paycheck is going to come in!
1. Put your lights on a timer
I forget to turn my lights out all the time. This eats up electricity and it makes the house hotter. By setting lights on a timer, you can make sure that you’re never leaving lights on overnight or turning them on too early in the day.
This is especially helpful in kids’ rooms. My sons forget to turn their lights out in the morning, and when we go into their rooms at bedtime, their lights have been on all day!
2. Turn your AC up!
If you really want to see a drop in your monthly expenses, set your AC to 72 or even 74. I know, it’s hot outside. But for me, the $300 electric bill isn’t worth keeping the AC at 68 all summer! Even if you can bring your AC
Even if you can bring your AC up to 72 degrees, you’ll see a difference in your energy bill quickly. You could be looking at a 10% or more savings on your bill!
Give it a try. Increase your thermostat by 2 degrees and see how it affects your bill, but also your comfort level!
And don’t forget to set the AC higher when you leave the house and at night! Getting a programmable thermostat makes keeping track of your house’s temperature easy. It’s absolutely worth the small investment to save a lot of money on your energy bills in both summer and winter.
3. Combine car rides
Gas is expensive! If you find yourself going out one or more times a day for small errands, you might need to rethink the way that you go out.
Wait until you have more than one thing on your to-do list before you take the trip in the car. Doing errands like this saves you valuable time and it’ll also save you in your gas money as well!
If you are looking for a pretty easy way to save money and time, this may be a good way to help. If something can wait, then save yourself time and money by combining your errands and getting multiple things done at the same time.
4. Black out the sun
We started using blackout curtains in our house and we’ve never gone back. The difference in the room’s temperature without the curtains never ceases to amaze me.
Closing the curtains and using the blackout curtains on all of the windows in the house has been so helpful in keeping our home cooler in the summer (and warmer in the winter).
5. Use a programmable thermostat
If you haven’t yet, you should buy a programmable thermostat for your house. Depending on all of the bells and whistles that you want (you can even get some that you can set from your phone), you can get one for around $50.
When you get a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature to exactly what you want it to be at different times during the day. That way, you never have to worry about forgetting to set it to 80 degrees when you go to sleep. It will automatically change the temperature for you.
6. Be aware of “vampire appliances”
It’s a silly name, but seriously, they’re everywhere! These are things that eat electricity without you even thinking about them. Things like your internet router, oven, microwave, laptop charger, everything that it’s being used actively but stays plugged in is a vampire appliance.
By getting a power strip with an on/off switch, and plugging these appliances into it, you can make sure that you’re turning off their power when you’re not using them. It’s easy enough to turn off your wifi when you sleep and then flip the switch back on when you get up. By the time that you’ve made your coffee, the internet is up and running without you ever knowing it was off.
7. Use your oven sparingly
When the oven is on it gives off heat. It sounds elementary, and you’re probably saying “duh” right now, but avoid using the 400-degree oven in the heat of the summer. Stick to the slow cooker!
Crockpot meals are a lifesaver at all times of the year, but when it’s ungodly hot outside, they’re the only way to have a warm meal without feeling like you’re living in a furnace.
If it feels hot in your kitchen, it’s probably tricked your thermostat into thinking it’s hotter everywhere else too. This makes the AC kick on a few more times and it really can add up.
And never overlook the use of the grill! Maybe it’s just me but all food just tastes better on the grill. Plus, you can turn that baby up all the way and still not have it affect the temperature of your house.
8. Go to the library
Free AC, books, movies, and activities? Sign me up!
The library is more than just borrowing books. It’s a great way to escape the heat and have some fun. Most The library can be a great way to catch a break from the heat (they are always so cold!) and find a good book to read or movie to watch.
Most libraries offer family activities ranging from story time for little ones to guest speakers or authors reading their books. It’s also the only way that we rent movies!
9. ONLY Shop second hand
It’s yard sale season! Yay!! If you are looking for something to buy this summer, check out a yard sale before you run off to the store.
And don’t forget to check out your local thrift stores, too! You can find brand-name clothes for pennies on the dollar. This is a great way to stock up on back-to-school clothes without the crazy price tag!
10. Try a Staycation
If you’re looking for a vacation but you can’t afford it, try out a staycation. You never have to leave your house, but you can still have a lot of fun and spend a lot of time relaxing.
There are “rules” to a staycation though! You can’t just stay at home for a week and call it a “staycation.” You need to take a real break from life and just spend the time relaxing and enjoying life the same way that you would on a real vacation. But trust me, you’ll be glad you set these rules!!
11. Find free or cheap activities
If you’re looking for fun things to do with the whole family, you need to check out the 50 free or cheap ways to have fun with your family. There are plenty of things to do during the summer months that require little to no spending!
Summer really can be the most expensive time of year for some people. But if you can lower your spending in other areas, you can really make up for the extra expenses. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather spend my time having fun than worrying about overspending!
What ways are you saving money during the summer?
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