Making Sense Of Cents

Learn how to make extra money, how to save money, how to start a blog, and more.

JOIN OVER 300,000
MONTHLY READERS!
  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • Make Money
    • best online jobs
    • passive income ideas
    • paid online surveys
    • How To Make $100 A Day
    • 80 side job ideas
    • More Extra Income Ideas
  • SAVE MONEY
    • Free Amazon Gift Cards
    • 16 Alternatives To Cable TV
    • best rewards credit cards
    • How I Paid Off My $40,000 Student Loans
    • More Money Tips
  • Categories
    • Income Reports
    • How To Save Money
    • Extra Income Ideas
    • Blogging Tips
    • Career Advice
    • College
    • Pay Off Debt
    • Retirement
    • Self-Employment Tips
    • Travel
  • BLOG COURSES
    • AFFILIATE MARKETING COURSE
    • MAKING SENSE OF SPONSORED POSTS
    • HOW TO START A BLOG
  • Contact
    • About
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Recommendations

How To Save Money In The Summer And Still Have Fun

Last Updated: May 7, 2022 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 36 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

1674 shares
  • Facebook461
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Looking to learn how to save money in the summer? Today’s blog post is full of money saving tips for the summer months.

Looking to learn how to save money in the summer but still have fun? Summer is an expensive time, but you don't have to go broke in order to have fun!School is almost out for children, and the weather is starting to warm up, which means the summer can be the most expensive time of the year for many people. Between paying for extra summer activities, daycare, vacations, higher electricity bills, and more, the summer means you may be spending more money than usual.

However, that doesn’t always have to be the case!

For us, the summer months are actually some of our most affordable months. We are already fairly frugal people, but there are many things that happen in the summer that make it even more affordable for us, such as better weather for fun outdoor activities and free festivals to attend.

In today’s blog post, I am going to talk about the many different ways you can save money in the summer, so that you can truly enjoy the season without letting your spending get out of control.

How to save money in the summer:

 

Enjoy the outdoors.

In many places, the summer can be a great time to enjoy the outdoors.

But, even if you live in a place that gets very warm, by just waking up and getting outside a little bit earlier you can enjoy the outdoors before it heats up too much.

Getting outside is always a great way to save money in the summer, no matter where you live. There are plenty of outdoor activities that you can enjoy, like going for a hike, setting out for a camping trip, walking your dog, riding your bike, going for a swim, going on a run, having a BBQ, and more!

The options are endless.

 

Combine your errands.

I’m the type of person who regularly combines all of my errands, no matter what the season is. If I need one thing, I will wait until there are more things on my to do list.

This is good because it saves me valuable time, and I’m not wasting money on transportation.

However, I know that not everyone is this way. I know many people who will go out of their way to get one small item, even if they don’t need it right away.

If you are looking for a way to save money in the summer, or even time, this may help. If something can wait, then you might as well save yourself some time and money by combining your errands and getting multiple things done at the same time.

 

Ride your bike to do errands.

If you have errands to run, you may want to ride your bike to complete them. This is a great way to save money in the summer because you can get in a good workout, enjoy the weather, and complete an errand all at the same time.

So, strap some baskets on your bike or purchase a saddle bag and set out to complete your errands. While you may not be able to carry much, you’ll be much more mindful of what you buy, while saving money on transportation.

Remember though, always bring a bike lock so that your bike is safe! And, of course, wear a helmet and use any other safety precautions that you deem necessary.

 

Cancel your gym membership.

If you aren’t using your gym membership, then you may want to think about canceling it and saving your money.

There are many summer activities that can provide a great workout. And, if it’s too hot to get outside, you can still work out in your home for free. Plus, that AC you are already paying for will keep you cool! For some people there are positives to paying for a gym membership, but the majority of those with a gym membership do not get their money’s worth.

 

Travel on a budget.

Summer is a popular time for most families to travel because children are out of school. Before you think that you have to break the bank in order to go on a fun family vacation, here are some tips for saving money in the summer while traveling on a budget:

  • Be flexible with your flights.
  • Travel in the mid or off season.
  • Earn free budget vacations by using credit cards. I recommend reading this How To Take A 10 Day Trip To Hawaii For $22.40 – Flights & Accommodations Included.
  • Stay in an Airbnb for budget travel.
  • Ask for a discount at your hotel.
  • Find free campsites.
  • Eat like a local.
  • Buy groceries and eat out less.

Read more at How To Travel On A Budget And Still Have The Time Of Your Life.

 

Turn your AC up a few degrees.

The summer means it’s hot outside for most of us. I know this.

But, you may be able to save a little on your utility bills by turning your AC up just a few degrees.

I couldn’t find information about what the average person sets their thermostat at, but I always see social media posts about what people set their AC at during the summer. Many of the commenters say that their AC is set below 72 degrees and sometimes even as low as 65 degrees!

To save money, I recommend setting your thermostat at 76 to 78 degrees when you are home. When you are going to sleep, or if no one is home, then you may even want to raise it a few degrees more.

Doing this can save you around 10% or more on your next electric bill.

Related: If You Live In California, You Can Make Extra Money By Cutting Your Electricity Use

 

Block out the sun.

Our RV heats up quickly, so on hot days we make sure to block out the sun by closing all of the curtains. This keeps a lot of the heat out and helps our RV stay at a better temperature.

This can even help you if you live in a “normal” home 🙂

It may sound like a simple thing, but blocking out the sun can really help if you are trying to figure out how to save money in the summer. You may want to shut the shades, close the curtains, close your front door, and more in order to block out the sun and contain the cool air conditioning.

 

Use a programmable thermostat.

If you haven’t yet, a programmable thermostat is something you may want to invest in. They are relatively affordable and you will most likely make your money back within a year, maybe even just a few months.

With a programmable thermostat, you can set exact temperatures for different times of the day. It automatically changes on a set schedule, meaning you won’t have to think about it.

For example, your AC can automatically turn up when you leave for work so that you don’t waste electricity or money cooling a house that no one is in. You can also program it for while you are sleeping, for the weekend, when you are on vacation, and so on.

I did a simple online search, and I was able to find plenty of programmable thermostats for less than $50, well worth the small investment.

 

Hot foods can make your house hot.

It’s hot in the summer, I don’t have to say that twice.

If it gets too hot where you live, you may want to be careful when it comes to what you cook for meals. Instead of using your oven for a lot of meals, you can try making something that won’t heat up your home or cause you to sweat while cooking.

Cooking meals in your slow cooker, your InstaPot, outside on the grill, and more can be great alternatives to using the oven. This can also help you save money in the summer because you won’t have to turn down the AC when the oven heats up your house.

We haven’t used the oven a whole lot, and if we do, we make sure that it’s not scorching hot outside. After all, we live in an RV, so using the oven heats up our entire home.

Instead, we try to use our slow cooker when it’s hot outside. I love a good crockpot meal because they are so easy to make.

Related: Energy Ogre Review – How To Save $800+ A Year On Your Electricity Bill

 

Get rid of cable.

The average monthly cable bill is around $120. By the year 2020, the average cable bill is expected to be around $200 a month.

Instead of paying for high cable bills, you may find it easy to save money in the summer by cutting your cable and heading outside for less expensive entertainment.

You can read more about cutting cable here and how to save money by doing this. I recommend getting a digital antenna so that you can receive local channels for free!

 

Head to the library.

The library can be a great way to catch a break from the heat (they are always so cold!), while finding a good book to read or movie to watch.

Your local library can offer many frugal ideas for you and your family.

You can borrow books or movies, which you can then bring home and have a fun night in with friends and/or family members.

 

Start meal planning.

Meal planning is something that has completely changed our lives. We eat healthier than ever, we are saving money, and we have less food waste.

Did you know that the average person wastes over 40% of the food they buy? Yes, 40%!

If you have trouble eating at home, then try the $5 Meal Plan. It’s only $5 a month, and you get meal plans emailed directly to you along with the exact shopping list you need in order to create the meals. This allows you to save time because you won’t have to meal plan anymore, and it will save you money as well! If you are interested in joining for free, click here.

Learn more about weekly meal planning at The Power of Weekly Meal Planning.

 

Shop second hand.

The summer means it’s garage sale and flea market season, so if you are looking for something to buy this summer, you may want to first search around at garage sales, flea markets, and more.

This can also be a fun way to spend your morning while allowing you to save money in the summer on the things you need and want to buy. I have many friends who love going to garage sales and flea markets, and because things are so cheap, it may be worth it to you.

 

Find free fun.

Free fun is probably the best way to save money in the summer. I recommend checking out your town’s calendar and website to see what free attractions and events are offered. In many towns, there may be free festivals, free concerts, and more.

Also, if you live near a national park, you may want to find out when their free entry days are. They usually have a few each year, which can be a great way to save money while enjoying amazing views. The free entry days for 2017 are August 25, September 30, and November 11-12th.

How are you saving money in the summer? Do the summer months tend to be expensive for you or not?

Related Posts

  • Bask Bank Review: Earn Airline Miles For Saving MoneyBask Bank Review: Earn Airline Miles For Saving Money
  • How Much We Spent To Visit All 50 States In One YearHow Much We Spent To Visit All 50 States In One Year
  • How My Family of 4 Flies Free 6 Times Every YearHow My Family of 4 Flies Free 6 Times Every Year
  • How I’ve Traveled Full Time For 20 Years (And Make/Save Money)How I’ve Traveled Full Time For 20 Years (And Make/Save Money)
  • 24 Best Ideas To Vacation On A Budget24 Best Ideas To Vacation On A Budget
  • How we moved a family of 5 to one of the most expensive countries in the world (with no income)How we moved a family of 5 to one of the most expensive countries in the world (with no income)
1674 shares
  • Facebook461
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

36 Comments
Filed Under: Budget Tagged With: Budget, How to save money in the summer, Travel

About Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog about personal finance and traveling. She discusses how her business has evolved in her side income series. She paid off $40,000 in student loans by the age of 24 mainly due to her freelancing side hustles. Click here to learn more about starting a blog!

Comments

  1. Mustard Seed Money says

    May 17, 2017 at 5:22 am

    My wife and I actually like to walk to the grocery store in the Summer months. We love the exercise benefits plus the winter is often way too cold to lug groceries 🙂

    So we try to take advantage as much as possible.

    When it comes to travel we actually try not to travel during the summer months. We like the shoulder seasons of April/May and Sept/Oct. We found that you can save a ton of money on flights and hotels plus not having to worry about the summer crush from kids out of school.

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:07 pm

      Yes, walking to the grocery store is great 🙂

      Reply
  2. Dave @ Run The Money says

    May 17, 2017 at 6:33 am

    With our son, we try to shop at second hand stores from time to time. He’s an active 19-month-old, so he’s dirtying up his clothes all the time. Makes no sense to buy brand new. Plus, he’s growing like a weed. God love him.

    I’ll have to try that AC tip. We set ours in the high 60s, low 70s. It just gets so hot with all the commotion at home. But, I’ll have to give it a shot. One thing we have done is get a small AC unit for the bedroom. We turn on the home one and just use that one at night. Makes a world of difference and doesn’t cost as much.

    Great advice, Michelle.

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:08 pm

      Thanks Dave!

      Reply
  3. Owen @ PlanEasy says

    May 17, 2017 at 6:34 am

    These are all great ideas. Camping and being outdoors is one of my favorite frugal activities in the summer.

    One I’d like to add is starting a garden. Even something as simple as a pot with some fresh herbs.

    Gardens are fun, frugal, and delicious. A perfect summer activity. We’ve got tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, arugula, spinach, green beans and a bunch of herbs in our garden. Awesome stuff to add to a summer BBQ.

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:08 pm

      Yes, gardens are great! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Nicole says

    May 17, 2017 at 6:47 am

    Great list! My kids love the library. We will probably be there a lot this summer. The library has lots of activities and interactive story time!

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:08 pm

      Yes, for sure!

      Reply
  5. Money Beagle says

    May 17, 2017 at 7:11 am

    I agree with many of these but the A/C one is a little tough. First, 76-78 is pretty stuffy and the system doesn’t run enough to remove enough of the humidity that the A/C typically helps with. Also, we actually set ours a degree or two lower at night, otherwise it won’t run at all. $5-10 more a month is well worth actually being able to sleep!

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:08 pm

      It’s all personal preference 🙂

      Reply
  6. Ms. Frugal Asian Finance says

    May 17, 2017 at 10:23 am

    These are all great tips. Thanks for sharing! When it’s above 80 degrees outside during the day, I honestly just want to enjoy the AC at home or at the office. It’s just exhausting to walk in the heat. But I’ve realized that if we go to a national park where there’s lots of shared, the experience can be quite enjoyable! 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:09 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Anita says

    May 17, 2017 at 11:10 am

    In Germany nearly nobody owns an AC.
    Solar panels would be perfect to run AC.
    When the sun is high, the most current is produced.

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:10 pm

      How hot does it get there? Just wondering, there are many places in the US that don’t have ACs either.

      Reply
  8. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

    May 17, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    Welcome!

    Reply
  9. Christine from The (mostly) Simple Life says

    May 17, 2017 at 1:11 pm

    We do a bunch of these! I rotate the curtains throughout the day to keep the intense heat out and avoid turning the oven on at all costs 🙂

    When we go somewhere fun for the day, I make sure to pack a cooler with drinks, snacks, and maybe a picnic. That way we don’t have to spend money on food.

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:50 pm

      Awesome!

      Reply
  10. Lily @ The Frugal Gene says

    May 17, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    Great article Michelle! I think there are local government issued rebates on programmable thermostats. My husband got a NEST (usually $200) on sale + rebate for $50. Total steal! 😀 We’re from Seattle. Check with your county for rebate programs!

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:51 pm

      Wow, awesome!

      Reply
  11. Michelle says

    May 17, 2017 at 1:20 pm

    Great tip on canceling cable for the summer! In fact, with so many low cost subscription services now like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, you may not even need cable anymore! My husband and I have gone without for over a year now, and honestly don’t even miss it!

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:52 pm

      Yep, we don’t miss it at all!

      Reply
  12. The Savvy Couple says

    May 17, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    Great list! Summertime can be the best, but also expensive.

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 1:52 pm

      Yes!

      Reply
  13. Ashley says

    May 17, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    Hey!

    We live in our camper and struggle with keeping it cool, we are in MS for my hubbys job so it is so hot. Any tips or tricks for keeping the camper cooler? I feel like our ac isn’t very good.

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 17, 2017 at 2:29 pm

      We just move the RV when it gets too hot because RVs usually can’t handle super hot weather. That makes it hard for more stationary people like you – can you park under some shade?

      Reply
  14. Marie Jackson says

    May 17, 2017 at 6:34 pm

    Great list! We save money with our garden in the summer, great for the budget and tastes better 🙂

    Reply
  15. Young and Finance says

    May 17, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    Perfect timing. Kids tend to eat a lot when home for the summer so any way to save money is going to be beneficial

    Reply
  16. Cameron says

    May 17, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    We love looking at maps of local city parks and having picnics! We can usually make sandwiches cheap and our 15 months old lovers being outside!

    We have also found so many free festivals and museums in the summer. We can walk through the free museum and steal their AC if we need to!

    Camping is also a wonderful vacation idea that can be done so cheap! It could be easy to find a barely used tent at a garage sale and find a great state park to enjoy a weekend in. I have so many camping memories that I am cost very little since we ate basically hot dogs and fruit all weekend.

    Great article as always!

    Reply
  17. Jason says

    May 18, 2017 at 10:12 am

    Free fun is the best. There are a lot of free things to do in Atlanta. I could go out every weekend if I wanted to.

    Reply
  18. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

    May 18, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    Interesting! There are many places in the US that are the same way. I’m from St. Louis and everyone has AC – it just gets way too hot and humid there to not have it haha.

    Reply
  19. Betsy says

    May 18, 2017 at 6:55 pm

    Great list! I always try to plan out my errands efficiently so I’m not back tracking or wasting time.

    Reply
  20. Durga says

    May 18, 2017 at 11:35 pm

    Hello Michelle,

    Your ideas for saving money in summer were really great. Great not only in the sense of saving money, but also the best way to enjo the super with less expenses.

    Reply
  21. Kitty Thomson says

    May 19, 2017 at 1:05 am

    Me and my friend always start to go Library. We will probably be there a lot this summer. The library has lots of activities and interactive story time!

    Reply
  22. Alexis @FITnancials says

    May 22, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    J.D. and I are trying to get better at meal planning. We eat like poor people (lots of beans and rice) but we also love making Korean food at home, which can get pretty expensive!

    Reply
  23. Colin says

    May 31, 2017 at 5:52 pm

    Couldn’t agree more with these tips! I love the free summer activities! I have recently started shopping second hand as well. Thanks for the extra tips!

    Reply
  24. Anna Romanelli says

    November 28, 2018 at 12:34 pm

    One way I save money is buying my supplies for the summer in bulk so I won’t be needing to go out to get them. I buy things like extra shampoo and conditioner at bed Bath and beyond using their coupons and buying my toiletries for travel too. I also look up free printable for scavenger hunts since I live next door to a park to do. I live in a state with a $0.05 deposit on cans and bottles so I cash them in and save up for movie tickets and the like. I print out free coloring pages and do chores around the house to be productive. I mostly stay home during the summer.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Making Sense of Cents welcome page photo
Hello and welcome!
My name is Michelle and I'm the author/owner of Making Sense of Cents. Learning how to save money and make more money changed my life. It allowed me to pay off $40,000 in student loans, start my own business, and I now travel full-time.

As Seen On

as seen on
How To Start A Blog
making sense of affiliate marketing for bloggers
My Monthly Online Income Reports
My Student Loans Are Gone - How I Paid Off $38,000 In Student Loans
How To Prevent Financial Fraud From Happening To You
Buying a House at 20 (How I did it)
How To Make Money Blogging Picture
How To Save 50% Or More Of Your Income Picture
How I Graduated From College In 2.5 Years With 2 Degrees AND Saved $37,500
75+ Ways To Make Extra Money

 

HOME
ABOUT
CONTACT
FREE FB GROUP

PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS OF USE
DISCLAIMER / EARNINGS DISCLAIMER
Copyright © 2011 - 2023. All Rights Reserved.

© 2023 Making Sense of Cents
Design by Swoon & Co. Creative