Hey everyone! Happy Monday. I know a lot of you have tried visiting my site and it hasn’t been working. Well, everything should be up and good to go know. Sorry if I wasted anyone’s time because I know a lot of you emailed me to let me know that my site wasn’t working. There shouldn’t be any more problems, at least not for a while! Make sure to come back tomorrow for my monthly extra income update.
In the summertime, I always find that I spend much more money than usual. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. There are always so many more things to do in the summer it seems like. There are plenty of weddings, BBQs, holidays like 4th of July and so on. Summer is definitely my favorite time of the year, and I LOVE it.
There is a giveaway for $480 below, so you can ignore my post and just scroll down if you would like 🙂
Vacations
I went to St. Thomas in May (yes, I do realize that is not summer, but it is close), and that was some money spent. I’m also going to Chicago for a bachelorette party this month. In August, I am also going to New Orleans for a week, and I know for a fact that this trip will be a money sucker.
Air conditioning
Our air conditioning expense has gone up, but that’s only normal because it gets hot here.
Lawn care
We recently hired someone to take care of our lawn. We spend less than $100 per month for them to mow our lawn, which seems like a good deal to me. I hate doing it and so does W. We will probably take over next year though. With the summertime, also comes increased water usage because all of the grass would die quickly if we didn’t water it in the heat.
Wedding
I bought my wedding dress on Saturday! I spent a little over $1,600. I know, not the most frugal, but I fell in love with it. The place I went to was awesome and it seemed like they only had the prettiest of dresses. It was hard to choose since I loved everything. I did stay under my dress budget of $2,000 and am happy with that. She also measured me and said that I should fit into the dress perfectly when my size comes in, and that I should have very minimal alteration costs, if any. WIN!
We also spent money on engagement photos, but those were well worth it to me as well. I’ll be posting those either this week or next on my blog. I did post some on my Twitter, so you can get a quick glimpse there too.
Do you tend to spend more money in the summer?
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Alexa says
$1600 may not be frugal for a wedding dress, but I don’t think it’s ridiculous either. You are going to look beautiful on your day! I saw your engagement pictures on Twitter, they are very sweet and you guys look great.
Michelle says
Thanks Alexa!
Elizabeth says
I have to admit my jaw dropped when I saw the price of the dress, but I’m not married so I really have no clue what these things cost. When I was younger, I think I would have been willing to spend more on a wedding. Now that I’m mid-thirties, my financial priorities are very different. Some of my friends have opted for house down payments rather than weddings. People should do what works for them and their loved ones 🙂
Best wishes to you!
Michelle says
The dress is definitely one of the biggest expenses of the wedding so far. We have been saving for quite some time. And we already have a house together 🙂
Meghan says
Mine did too! I am one to throw a party and do the wedding at the courthouse. That’s not because I’m frugal though. Some women just don’t do weddings. 😀
Sheila Cooper says
I would definitely use the cash on paying down my student loans!
Michelle says
Good luck 🙂
Leanna says
My best friend is getting married this fall and winning this giveaway would cover my plane tickets for the bachelorette party and wedding.
Michelle says
Good luck Leanna 🙂
Matt Becker says
I don’t think we spend too much more in summer than other times. We try to take advantage of free activities like the beach and the park. We travel year round, so there’s not really anything extra in the summer. Probably the biggest increase is in our ice cream bill!
Michelle says
Haha yes we have definitely been spending more on ice cream as well!
Liv says
I live in the south – the bump in the air conditioning cost is definitely worth the comfort it provides! We always budget that in too.
Michelle says
I agree! Definitely worth it.
Tina says
Definantly, the kids are out of school and so we tend to do more activities
Michelle says
Hope you win!
Sicorra says
Congrats on finding a wedding dress that you love! I don’t think you spent too much at all. Enjoy your trip to New Orleans. A friend of mine just came back and loved it.
Michelle says
Thanks Sicorra 🙂
petra says
So far I’ve spent the most money on tuition, but usually my big summer expenses are travel and home repairs.
Michelle says
We’ve been spending more money on our house as well.
Allison says
I think that’s pretty reasonable!
Michelle says
Great 🙂
Katie C. says
Ha, May totally counts as the summer! It’s funny. Eight years after graduating from high school, I still measure the seasons by the school breaks. So, summer starts when school lets out in May! 😉
Gas expenses go up for me since I travel home to spend time with the family on the lake quite a bit. Air conditioning costs go up because we don’t use the AC any other time, but overall, electricity costs usually go down because air conditioning is cheaper than heating. Yay!
Michelle says
Haha I agree! I measure seasons the same way 🙂
Chelsea W says
I think that is a decent price for a wedding dress! My sister-in-law bought hers secondhand and it was $250, and GORGEOUS, but then again, it’s secondhand. My cousin bought her gown and it came close to $8,000. So, it can really come out to any range on the scale. $8,000 is WAY above anything I would want to spend personally.
I spend more money during the summer because we go on vacation and I like to treat myself, but also because I’m spending money on books I need for the next semester, which is where most of this money would go if I won.
Michelle says
$8,000 is crazy. But if you have the money, then who am I to judge? I could never spend that amount!
Amanda says
We definitely spend more than normal on vacation – but that’s why we save up!
Michelle says
Vacation spending is never a bad thing 🙂
CeCe @Pink Sunshine says
I’d give it to my husband as a graduation present.
Michelle says
Good luck!
Jess Green says
I’d use the cash to pay off our credit card! During the summer I think we spend the most on eating out for sure.
Michelle says
Good luck!
Morgan says
My boyfriend insisted on getting an air conditioner this summer so our power bill will definitely be going up! Not sure of the increase yet but hopefully it won’t be too much!
Michelle says
Hopefully it’s not too much 🙂
Christina neumann says
Absolutely we spend more. There plants, yard stuff, house projects and on and on. Thanks for the generous giveaway.
Michelle says
Good luck 🙂
Kendal @HassleFreeSaver says
Super cute photos! How exciting that you found your dress. Coming in under budget is awesome. I definitely spend more in the summer thanks to vacations, yard improvements and outdoor entertainment. I’m okay with it because I look for deals and avoid going into debt by paying everything off quickly. I love this time of year!
Michelle says
Thanks Kendal 🙂
One Frugal Girl says
I actually tend to spend less in the summer. I think it’s too hot to go out and about as much so I tend to find a nearby pool or stick inside in the shade.
Rachel says
Congratulations on finding your wedding dress!
In the summer it seems like traveling is the biggest money suck, for weddings and events as well as vacations. Having several friends get married in the same summer is really expensive!
Crystal says
Yep, we spend more during the summer too. We are taking a 4 day weekend to San Antonio at the end of this week that will run around $500-$750 total. Then we have a $1500 cruise in August. Plus the extra water and electricity at home. But we also have board game conferences in November and December that cost $500-$750 each too.
Glad you found a dress you love!
Stefanie says
I can’t get over how expensive it’s going to be to go to all the weddings I’ve got lined up, not just this year, but over the course of the rest of my life- thousands and thousands of dollars for gifts, travel, hotels, etc. It admittedly gives me anxiety.
Dolly says
$1600 for a wedding dress is not bad at all! I have seen some that cost $25,000 +.
Michelle says
Thank you Jennifer! And I am so happy that I don’t need alterations.
Michelle says
I bought a Wtoo? Never heard of it before Saturday haha
Budget and the Beach says
Can’t wait to see the dress! I have no idea where that falls into the “average’ cost of a wedding dress. I’m not sure if I spend more to be honest. I know I DID when I was doing tournaments and then eating out after. I think if anything that’s the hardest thing to resist is eating out, but because my freelance income tends to go way down in the summer, it’s especially important for me to keep spending in check. I’d probably use the money and treat it as “regular income” and/or savings. I know, boring right? 🙂
Kelly says
Always spend more… and it’s usually all on ice cream.
Kayla @ Drowning My Debt says
There are a lot of summer birthdays and events, like graduations, in my family that make summer more expensive! Pairing that with increased A/C costs, weekend getaways and trips to see family, and having to update the ol’ wardrobe, and summer is definitely more expensive than most other times of the year! I think Christmas is the only thing that can compete!
Holly@ClubThrifty says
Have fun in New Orleans….its definitely an expensive city to hang out in…but it’s sooooooo worth it. You’ll have a blast!
Michael @ The Student Loan Sherpa says
I think I spend less money in the summer. Camping is cheap and the heating bills are what really run up our utilities.
Greg @ Thriftgenuity.com says
We generally spend more on money in the summer because of vacations and DIY projects. I am happy to say, however, that all of our projects are done, so less spent this year!
tracy says
I spend more in the summer because I love to go on vacation and at the same time i am spending less because i like to bargain hunt on some things that i like. I would use the money to pay some bills or just help my sister with her college supplies.
Susah says
I definitely tend to spend more money in the summer! i love walking around outside, so that naturally leads to spending more money on cold drinks, snacks, eating out, shopping etc.
thepotatohead says
I definitely spend way more in the summer. I’m always grilling and partyign with my friends during the summer, so there is alot of money spent on burgers and beer. There’s also a ton of weddings to go to. I went to 3 last summer and was invited to 2 this summer. As you know, weddings are expensive even for the guests, especially if you have to travel.
Christina neumann says
My wedding dress was my great grandmothers afternoon tea dress. Cost 0.
Pauline @ Make Money Your Way says
ooooh congrats on the dress, exciting! I spend more in summer if I go home. Going out with friends, extra activities add up quickly. Otherwise here, it is always hot and sunny, so we spend about the same, safe if we have friends over, we treat them to a good meal or something.
Melissa says
This extra money would be super helpful for school!
gina says
with 3 kids summer is very expensive! boy scout camp, weblos camp, camping, lost supplies, pool passes, etc. It is all worth it in the end!
Andrew@LivingRichCheaply says
I definitely think that we spend more during the summer because we go out more often. When it is colder we tend to be home bodies and don’t spend much outside. And as for air conditioning, that cost will definitely be high because my wife is pregnant and she is always hot! I’m under the covers with the AC on and she’s still fanning herself because it’s not cold enough.
Dana says
I would put the money towards student loans.
eemusings says
Glad to see you back up and running!
I’d use the cash to further our travel budget, for sure. Berlin has been the only European city where we’ve managed to stay on budget 🙂
Would love to see the dress; I’m sure it’s beautiful! And as long as it’s in proportion with your overall wedding budget, that’s the main thing.
Erin S. says
I would put the money towards a credit card bill.
$1600 is reasonable for a wedding dress. It’s your day and you’ve been working hard.
DC @ Young Adult Money says
I spend money on AC because my allergies are so bad I really shouldn’t leave the windows open in our house – kind of unbelievable!
Whitney says
In the summer, I don’t necessarily spend more money, it’s just that I earn less money, since I work as a substitute teacher during the school year, thus, earning more money. I struggle to make ends meet during the summer, which sets me back in the school year. Any suggestions? Also, a small giveaway of money would be handy for paying my bills this summer.
Thanks!
Holly Wert says
i spend a lot on gardening supplies in the summer
Doreen Lamoureux says
Perhaps buy some new clothes.
Lynne says
Sorry if this is a duplicate…my computer and I aren’t getting along well tonight. I would definitely use the money to pay off credit card debt. Thanks!
Ptise says
So many patios, so little time. Summer is a money sucker.
Cindy Merrill says
I would use the money to help repair our roof, we have a leak, very annoying when there’s water dripping during a heavy storm.
Chelsea says
The money would {sadly, haha} go towards my student loans.
Tina says
If I won I would use this money to buy my son clothes for when school starts. Thank you for the amazing and so very generous giveaway!!
Alice @ Earning My Two Cents says
I think in the summer I tend to spend more money on eating out and other social activities. I have relaxed a but about that and while its fun, its really eating into our budget!
Crystal Warren says
I spend more money in the summer just trying to keep my kids from dying of boredom (their words not mine) p
Also I think ky two boys have black holes for stomachs and will eat evetything in sight…how do they make it more than 15 minutes without eating when they go to school??????
munchkin says
I don’t know a LOT about wedding dresses but I think that is considered a reasonable amount to spend. I can’t wait to see your dress!!
Trish F says
Hello, well this summer we cut out our week house rental at the shore, so we will be saving money this year. Any extra money I get will be going to pay for doctor or lab bills. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Rachel says
I don’t think you spent too much on your wedding dress. I read through some of the comments and it really is a personal choice whether or not a wedding is important or not to you. I recently got married in September 2012 and we spent $20,000 on our wedding. Yes we could have used that as a mortgage payment on our house (we already lived together/owned a house together) but it was important to us to bring both of our families together. To answer your question, I think it is easier to spend more money in the summer. You feel the impulse to travel, eat out more, and alcohol costs can go up. Nothing like a cold beer on a hot day!
Gen Y says
$1600 is a little expensive for a dress, but not way over the top. Hope you guys have a fantastic wedding day! Can’t wait for photos.
Anna says
I would use the money and go on a small family trip 🙂
Jayden H. says
I would put some of it in savings and use the rest to buy my son’s birthday present! He will be 7 on August 25 🙂