How to Save Money During the Summer

1. Minimize electricity use in peak hours

Electricity is getting outrageously expensive, so let’s begin by talking about how to save money on the electric bill in the summer. One great practice is to cut back on using our ovens during peak hours.

In my house, we have decided to stop using our oven between the hours of 12 and 8 p.m. This will help keep our house cooler and save money.

2. Use crock pots outside

The same goes for crockpots or instant pots. If you want to use your Crock Pot or Instant Pot, use it outside. Just put it on your patio table and use an extension cord. This will help keep the energy cost inside your home much lower because it will not be so hot.

3. Use the dishwasher in the evening

Normally, we use the dishwasher in the afternoon because my kids come back from school and do their chores. However, we are going to switch this up for the summer to avoid using it in peak hours. The kids will load the dishwasher after dinner, and we will start it after 8 p.m.

4. Hand washing breakfast dishes

If you have a big family like ours, you could easily run the dishwasher two times a day. To save water and electricity, fill a sink with soapy water after breakfast and hand wash your dishes. And in the evening, you can run the dishwasher for your lunch and dinner dishes.

5. Line drying

Laundry is a big one, too. To avoid overspending on electricity, we are line-drying our clothes outside this summer. I typically run a small load of laundry every day, and then I hang them up on our back patio to dry.

Of course, I get my kids to help, which makes this much easier. It saves us money and keeps the house cooler, which is the goal this summer.

6. Library

Going to the library is a very fun summer activity for the entire family. It is a great excuse to get out of the house, and oftentimes these libraries will offer a free lunch program. It is a free meal for your kids, and there is always some sort of fruit or vegetable with the meal, so check if your library offers this.

Moreover, obviously, you get to check out some amazing free books. They got audiobooks and DVDs as well, and I always recommend checking out some new cookbooks for yourselves.

7. $1 movie

Many regular movie theaters offer a $1 movie program, which is always a great activity for the family. Other wonderful summer activities include going to a local museum or the free water spray parks.

8. Premade food

Kids come home from school and they are always hungry. To make sure you are not tempted to buy those overpriced Uncrustables, have premade food ready to go in the freezer. There are so many great options, including freezer peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, English muffins with a little pizza sauce and cheese, and breakfast burritos.

9. Meatless Monday

Have a day where you eat no meat the whole day. There are a plethora of other protein sources than just meat, and it will fill your body with so much fiber that meat does not have. Eat some beans, eat some soy curls, and you will feel fuller and save money.

If you are looking for ideas, I suggest oatmeal pancakes for breakfast, a Portobello mushroom sandwich with Montreal steak seasoning, tomatoes, avocado, and lettuce for lunch, and a taco salad for dinner.

10. Potluck

I am sure that you know like-minded families that want to save money this summer. So schedule a once-a-week get-together, go to each other's houses, plan the meals, and you are going to save money just by implementing that along with Meatless Monday.

11. Buy in bulk

Every family has those items they buy consistently, be it ketchup, flour, or applesauce. Whatever your household staples are, find a company that sells those in bulk for a decent price, and save money. Check out Azure Standard and Bread Beckers, and obviously do some research of your own.

12. Save on produce

If maintaining a garden is not an option for you but you need to save money on produce, check out your local grocery stores. You might be used to only shopping at Walmart, but remember: other grocery stores want you to shop there. This is why they offer discounts on produce, typically one day a week, Wednesday at our store. Check out their mailers for great deals.

13. Exercise for free

Going to the gym can be quite costly, so I have found that the cheapest and most effective way for me to exercise is simply by managing my home cleaning, and walking outside.

I also have resistance bands that I use for arm-strengthening workouts, and YouTube is a great resource for working out. I got my kids to do yoga with me, too.

14. Simplify your wardrobe

Shopping is something we might be tempted to do out of boredom in the summer months. This is essentially blowing money that we do not have on clothes we do not need. Instead, I have decided to follow the Madame Chic method for simplifying my wardrobe.

I have taken all the clothes for other seasons out of my closet, so all I see is what I have to wear in the summer. I love my slim new wardrobe, because I do not have to worry about what I am going to wear - I just pick from what I have and throw it on for the day.

In my household, we have all simplified our wardrobes, and we stick to a monthly clothing budget, which makes our lives so much easier. 

How to save money during the summer

These are all the tips I have for you today. How have you changed your habits to save money on electricity, groceries, and other major expenditure items? Let me know in the comments!