High temperatures, small budgets
When the weather gets hot and sticky, temptations to spend abound: There’s the appealing beach trips that come with pricey hotels, the organic fruit and vegetables that are suddenly in season and the clothes and shoes. But summer doesn’t have to be expensive; in fact, it can be quite frugal. Here are some summer savings ideas generated by the U.S. News Frugal Shopper bloggers:
Visit the thrift store.
The higher temperatures might leave you wishing for a new wardrobe, and you can have one — just consider visiting the local thrift store before hitting up the department stores. Spring cleaning often leads to an influx of high-quality items at secondhand shops, which means you can pick up the still-nice (and discounted) items, suggests BeFrugal.com founder Jon Lal.
Workout on the cheap.
Since the warm weather draws many people outdoors for their workouts, Lal suggests checking out the discounted prices sometimes offered by gyms. You can often score special rates that are only available in the summer, he says.
Update your home goods.
Retailers often mark down big-ticket appliances like refrigerators this time of year, as well as indoor furniture and cookware, Lal says. Even though you might be planning on spending as much time outdoors as possible, you can spruce up your indoor environment, too.
Plan travel with online tools.
Lisa Koivu, founder of ShopGirlDaily.com, recommends turning to online comparison tools and travel websites before buying any plane or hotel tickets this summer. She suggests checking out Venere, Airbnb, Jetsetter and CheapOair because coupons and discounts are often readily available, especially for last-minute travelers.
Buy your produce in bulk.
The summer harvest often means an abundance of locally grown fruit and vegetables, and supporting local farmers is a great cause. To protect your budget at the same time, consider signing up for a CSA, or community-supported agriculture program. You’ll get a box of fresh produce regularly, and as long as you avoid waste by experimenting with new dishes, it can be a frugal deal.
Grow your own food.
You can also get to work in your own backyard and plant seeds for some summer veggies or herbs of your own. Visit your local gardening store for ideas and tips on what to plant; if you got a late start, you can always buy seedlings that have already sprouted.
Stick with generics.
John Schmoll, founder of FrugalRules.com, recommends buying store-brand items instead of pricier labels when you’re shopping for organic goods. At Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s, for example, the store brand usually costs less.
Host a summer bash.
Mel Bondar, blogger at brokegirlrich.com, says as long as you take a DIY approach to party decorations, and perhaps even take the potluck approach, then hosting a party can be a frugal summer entertainment option. It certainly costs less than tickets to the hot summer concert.
Cut your gas costs.
Look for opportunities to carpool to events with friends or stick with public transportation to reduce your need for gas. If you own a car, then make sure the tires are properly inflated and it’s running as efficiently as possible. Emptying out your trunk so the car is lighter can also help cut your gas needs.
Clean out your home.
If you put off spring cleaning, then take the opportunity to clean out your basement, garage and other areas that tend to collect old items. Host a garage sale to earn some quick cash, or sell the more valuable items online. You might even find summertime goodies, like an old beach chair, that can be used again this year.
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10 Summer Savings Tips originally appeared on usnews.com
