10 Ways To Live Frugally This Summer

Summer is one of the hardest seasons for many people financially. There are so many fun things to get out and do as well as BBQ’s, kids at home for all three meals of the day and vacations to take. This is the perfect time to live frugally! Living frugally in the summer is so easy compared to other seasons simply because of the weather so here are some simple ways you can live frugally this season.

10 Ways to Live Frugally This Summer

Grow your own food. While this is not an immediate solution to your grocery budget, it is one way you can use the summer weather to your advantage. Even if you can only grow a few tomatoes and some lettuce, you will be helping yourself live more sustainable and frugal. Plus, you don’t know fresh until you taste veggies you grew yourself! You can find gardening tips here.

Skip the car wash and clean your cars at home. You will use less water than you think if you use a bucket with soap water and only a rinse at the end and it is much lower in cost than doing it at the car wash-even the self serve bays.

Line dry your clothing. You will not only save money on your electricity bill, but summer offers great weather for doing this and leaves your clothes smelling fresher than you can get from any fabric softener!

Use fans and open windows to cool your home. Living in apartments with no AC has taught me how to keep my home cooler without it. Using an AC can suck a lot of power and it is unnecessary most of the day such as in the morning and at night. Just open windows to allow the cool of the night in and leave them that way until it starts to heat up in the early afternoon. If you use your AC, Use fans to circulate the cooler air sop your AC doesn’t have to work so hard. Tips for saving money on utilities in the summer.

Make your own popsicles. It is practically free to make your own and you can make them with so many things from pudding to yogurt and even fruit juice. A set of molds costs less than $5 and you may even be able to find them at your local dollar store. Here are 10 cool popsicle recipes.

Drink more water. Thirst kicks into high gear in the summer and that means you may find yourself wanting to spend more on drinks. Drink water more often and you won’t spend as much. If plain water bothers you, make iced tea or infuse your water with fruit.

Use your local library. Your local library has a plethora of free entertainment options from movies to books as well as community events. Plus, it’s free air conditioning!

Network and save. Does your neighbor have a green thumb and you are great with kids? Trade services with each other to help you both benefit.

Do a staycation. A staycation is a great way to save money and still have fun. Be a “tourist” in your local area as well as plan fun stuff with your neighbors and share the cost.

Don’t buy new summer clothes. Instead, make a promise to only buy used summer duds from garage sales and thrift stores for max savings. Since summer clothes are only worn for a short period and your kids may not even fit them by next year, don’t pay full price. Here are tips for saving money on your summer wardrobe.