We have another holiday coming up soon and I am looking forward to it. Having these experiences and time away together is really important to us. Sure, holidays are an expense but they are a worthwhile one. We can afford them by living frugally to save up. If you are budgeting for a holiday, or anything else for that matter, you might appreciate these summer money saving ideas.
Ten money saving ideas for the summer
1# Stop using your tumble dryer
When the weather is fine during the summer, dry your laundry on the washing line. I am surprised at the number of people I know who still stick it in the tumble dryer when they could hang it outside to dry for free.
I know it takes a bit of organisation, especially if you work full time. I used to put washing on as soon as I got home from the office and hang it on the line that night. You obviously need to check the weather forecast first!
Line dried washing smells so much nicer I think, as well as saving you lots. It’s better for the environment too. If you don’t have a washing line, it will be a worthwhile investment. I prefer a rotary one such as this one from Amazon
2# Boot sales and garage sales
I couldn’t do a summer money saving ideas round up without including boot sales! I don’t enjoy getting up early, but I do love to find a bargain and boot sales are the place to do it. I buy most of my clothes second hand at boot sales – I don’t care who knows it. Buying second hand is good for your wallet and the environment, as I argued in this post.
Garage sale trails also seem to be increasing in popularity and are great fun. You can have a look around somewhere new whilst you are picking up some amazing bargains.
You can also make money at boot sales, as Emma Drew explained in this post.
3# Pack a picnic
I love to pack a picnic and go to the beach, the country park or for a long walk somewhere when the weather is fine. We are frequently happy to have one to eat whilst looking at people queuing for expensive (and sometimes disappointing) food at various events we have been to!
Don’t just think sandwiches either. You can make salads, quiches, sausage rolls, fruit salads and more. Even if you buy everything from the supermarket, it will still be cheaper than purchasing lunch at a restaurant. Don’t forget drinks either. We always take coffee, and have been known to pack beers and Prosecco too if we are feeling posh.
4# Watch out for free local events
Look out for the What’s On pages on the website of your local newspaper and councils to find free, or very cheap, local events. Facebook can also be great for finding out what is happening in your local area.
The tourist office and local libraries will also publicise events, so keep an eye on the noticeboards.
By searching ‘What’s on Essex’, I found summer exhibitions, a pop festival, a food and craft market, a series of lectures and a couple of fetes – all with free entry.
5# Dust off the barbecue
Instead of eating out with friends or spending lots of money in the pub, host a barbecue. You could keep the costs down by asking everyone to bring something for the barbecue or a salad, plus a bottle of something.
B&M can be good for buying barbecue equipment at reasonable prices.
6# Save on tourist attractions and city breaks
If you are doing a city break, it is worth checking to see if you can buy a tourist ticket bundle. For example, DiscountLondon.com offers five top attractions for £78.65, saving you over £39 on the gate prices. We found similar deals in Barcelona and Amsterdam, saving lots of money.
You can also get brilliant deals on attraction tickets that include accommodation with companies like Buyagift.co.uk, Great Little Breaks and Groupon. Be careful, though – sometimes the tickets are cheaper direct with the attraction bought in advance.
We have also had good value in the past from English Heritage and the National Trust. You only have to visit a few attractions for the passes to pay for themselves.
7# Grow your own food
The summer is the perfect time to experiment in the garden. How about growing some of your own food? There is a lot of satisfaction to be gained from the fresh air and exercise, not to mention the super fresh, unpackaged fruit and vegetables you produce.
We are lucky enough to have a couple of small veggie patches, but even if you only have a patio you can grow herbs, courgettes and tomatoes in pots and grow bags.
You can still get planting, even in July! The RHS website is a mine of useful information about what to plant and when.
8# Remember the simple things in life
Summer is the perfect time to explore life’s simple pleasures. If you have children or grandchildren, water and sand play will keep them occupied for hours. Press and dry some leaves and flowers to make cards and pictures. Make some ice lollies or blow some bubbles in the garden.
A walk in the woods is one of my absolute favourite things to do, especially when it’s hot. You can sit and relax under a shady tree and look at the wildlife.
9# Holidays
When you can afford that much awaited summer holiday, it doesn’t need to cost you a fortune. Read this post about how to have the cheapest holidays.
Airbnb can be a very frugal way to find accommodation. We are moving from our festival to a beautiful looking chalet in someone’s garden. Much cheaper than a standard B&B or a hotel.
10# Don’t forget your cash back
Whatever you are spending your money on, before you make any online purchases this summer don’t forget to check a cash back site. Websites such as Top Cashback and Quidco will give you money back on tickets for venues such as Legoland, Alton Towers and various Sealife Centres, among other attractions, just for clicking through from their site. You can also get cashback on accommodation, travel and car hire.
I get annoyed with myself when I forget to do this, as it is so worthwhile. In fact, I have just withdrawn £100 from Top Cashback! That will go towards our holiday spending money.
I hope you found my list of summer money saving idea for summer useful. What do you do to save the pennies at this time of year?
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Pauline says
One of my favourite frugal ways to keep kids busy on a hot day is to hand them a big bucket of water and some paint brushes. They use these to ‘paint’ the brickwork outside of the house. They love doing this when they are under 7 and can spend hours doing it. Don’t forget the sun hats and sun cream. We often follow this activity with a picnic and admire their handiwork. 🙂
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Mine used to do that too! I had forgotten that one
Julia says
Agree with line drying. I was doing the shopping and hubby had kindly switched over the laundry loads by the time I had got back – and had automatically shoved the first load into the dryer! Trouble with our dryer is, it seems if you don’t let it complete its cycle, it trips the house electrics the next time it’s used – even if it’s several days later!
Always amazed me when we lived in America where the sunny summers were in the mid-high 30sC every single day, how no one ever line dried! There was no ordinance forbidding it like in some areas – which I think is ridiculous in itself! I was the only one in my neighbourhood – and it literally dried within half an hour so the first lot could come in by the time the second lot was ready to go out!
I’m happy to take my own lunch when out and about – you can eat it anywhere and at any time without having to search for somewhere to stop, but sadly hubby isn’t of the same mind! And as Subway tends to be the lunch of choice we end up BUYING sandwiches to carry instead ! Ridiculous!
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Mr S goes with the flow fortunately
VickiEY says
Fortunately, my husband does too as it is virtually impossible for me to find food when we are out that I am not allergic to: importantly also in this weather at least I know I have washed my hands and the ingredients (where necessary!) thoroughly. I also have a compact pouch with a small freezer block which is just big enough for my lunch. My mother bought it for me a few years ago and I always silently thank her for something that has turned out to be so useful when I’m out walking in this heat!
Vicki
Su says
I don’t even have a tumble drier and have never done. I’m a bit sad though, I love pegging out clothes and I even love seeing other people’s full washing lines. My daughter and her boyfriend were truly appalled last summer when they were at friends, who threw the load of laundry in the drier on a magnificent, hot summers day! They were both completely mystified as to why anyone would do such a thing. I love the smell of line dried laundry, it’s one of lifes little pleasures. Crawling into a freshly changed bed of line dried bedding after a night shift is pure bliss!
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Me too – totally agree
sam says
I recently cost calculated what having friends over for burgers, beers , nd roasted veg would cost. It was the same, if not even a couple dollars cheaper than the last time we met up with the same other two couples in a pub. The difference, I priced for all six of us where as the pub was just for my husband and I. Plus, the 24 pack of beers gave us the equivalent of 8 more beers than we had in the pub (to drink or save for later), plus I included chips and salsa and a cake for desert. It’s amazing the difference, and I need to remember this the next time someone suggests going out for a meet up.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
I think these gatherings tend to be more relaxed too, although there is the washing up to consider!
Margaret says
Love your ideas as always, Jane, but I would like to point out that BBQs aren’t really very environmentally good. Indeed, these summer evenings have been plagued with neighbours and their BBQs, the stench and smitch has been truly awful and I’ve had to come in the close the doors and windows. I know some will love the smell of a BBQ but the smell of burning was truly awful. If we were all told we had to go out and cook on an open fire and not use our perfectly good ovens, people would riot! I think they began in countries where people had larger plots of land, so the BBQ could be sited away from the house (and other people) and also they would be held on beaches, certainly not just a few yards from a perfectly good oven. Other than that, great ideas, dear lady, and how lovely it is to line-dry our clothes in summer!
Margaret P
http://www.margarerpowling.com