Check out these 10 ways to live frugally this summer to stretch your budget a little further.
Summer is one of the hardest seasons for many people financially. Electric bills rise as do water bills. It is also hard to fit vacations and summer activities into the budget. Kids are at home for all three meals of the day. This is the perfect time to live frugally!
10 Ways to Live Frugally This Summer
Here are some simple ways you can live frugally this season.
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 sustainably and frugally. Plus, you don’t know fresh until you taste veggies you grew yourself! You can find gardening tips here. If you can’t garden, keep an ear open for anyone who is trying to get rid of their surplus vegetables. Each Sunday at our church, people bring in vegetables and fruit so that it doesn’t go to waste.
Skip the car wash and clean your cars at home.
You will use less water than you think if you use a bucket with soapy water and only a rinse at the end. It is much lower in cost than going to 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 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 so 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 popsicles and you can make them with so many things from pudding to yogurt. Sometimes, I just pour fruit juice into the molds. A set of molds costs less than $10 and you may even be able to find them at your local Dollar Store. Here are 10 cool popsicle recipes. This is also a fun activity to do with kids.
Drink more water.
Thirst kicks into high gear in the summer and that means you may find yourself wanting to spend more on drinks. Carry a water bottle everywhere you go and drink water more often and you won’t spend as much on bottled drinks. 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. Some libraries even have games you can check out. Plus, it’s free air conditioning!
Network and save.
Ask your friends for their best money saving tips for your area. You might discover free events and stores with great discounts. You can also trade skills. Does your neighbor have a green thumb and you are great with kids? Trade services with each other to help each other out.
Do a staycation.
A staycation is a great way to save money and still have fun. You can be a “tourist” in your local area, as well as plan fun activities 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.
More Frugal Living Tips
10 Tips for Staying on a Budget
Money Saving Tips from the Great Depression
Save Money by Living an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle
How to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
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