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10 Money-Saving Summer Budget Tips

How to have fun in the sun this summer without taking on extra credit card debt.

A summer budget can help your family enjoy a summer vacation without debt

Summer has officially kicked off, which means that it’s a good time to set a summer budget. A summer budget can help you maintain stability over the next few months, so you can avoid credit card debt. With that in mind, the experts at Consolidated Credit have some tips that can help you build a budget that will help you stay on track this season. We’ve also included some free resources that can help you save even more.

#1: Review your budget to adjust for seasonal costs

Summer is usually a time when many of the flexible expenses in your budget change. Flexible expenses are any expenses that are necessary in your budget, but have no fixed costs. This includes bills like your electric bill and water bill, as well as necessary expenses such as groceries and gas.

All those expenses we just mentioned tend to increase in summer.  Electric bills increase with higher A/C use. Water bills go up in summer as you water your grass more and particularly if you have a pool to fill at your house. Gas for your vehicles tends to be more expensive per dollar during summer. And if you have kids, your grocery bills can also increase since the kids are home during the day.

To make things easy, look at how much your bills increased from May to June of last year. Review your checking account transaction statements and total up expenses in each of these categories. This will give you a measure of how much you can expect your costs to increase this year.

#2: Save up for summer vacation spending money

If you’re taking a trip this summer, you hopefully already have your flights and accommodations booked. If not, then you need to book soon or you can expect to pay higher rates. In general, the sooner you book reservations, the less you can expect to pay.

Outside of reservations though, start setting money aside out of each paycheck to use as spending money for the trip. This will give you several rounds of saving to generate cash, so you can avoid pulling out credit for every expense on your trip.

Statistics show that 90% of us rely on credit cards to cover vacation costs. But that means you end up with credit card debt to pay off after your relaxing getaway… which just increases your stress right back up again. The more you can save to pay for daily vacation expenses and souvenirs in cash, the much happier you’ll be this summer.

#3: Look for smart ways to reduce the cost of your trip

In addition to saving up for your trip, it’s important to find ways to cut costs.

  • If you haven’t booked your accommodations yet, consider getting a room with a kitchenette so you can cook some of your meals yourself. Covering breakfast and some lunches on your trip can significantly cut the cost of food on your trip.
  • Take as much as you can with you, so you can avoid higher prices at the hotel. You can take snacks so you can avoid vending machines and, if you’re driving, take things like floats and pool toys to avoid rentals.
  • Look for deals on excursions, either through apps or in a destination coupon book. You should also look into local events going on during your trip to find fun (and often free) local entertainment.

#4: Set aside some cash for back-to-school shopping

If you have kids, then statistically the back-to school shopping season is your second most expensive time of year. The only time of year that’s more expensive are the winter holidays. So, you need to start saving early for the back-to-school shopping.

Again, review your budget to determine how much money you have to set aside every month for savings. Then, you can split that amount up between all your summer needs – vacation savings, back to school shopping and your regular emergency fund. If possible, set up a recurring transfer for the amount you want to save. That way, the money gets moved automatically into your savings account so you ensure you save effectively.

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Average Back-to-School Costs on the Rise Again

Inflation has increased back to school costs. We look at some key statistics for average back to school shopping and find ways to save….

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#5: Start looking for sales and discounts on school supplies and clothes now

As you set money aside for back-to-school shopping, also be on the lookout for sales. From school supplies to clothing, anything you can get at a discount should be purchased when it’s priced right.

Most children come home with a school supply list of what they’ll need for next year. First, take inventory of anything that you have left over from last semester. Then, consider signing up for email coupons and savings alerts from your favorite office supply stores. You can also do the same for clothing. Hitting sales throughout the summer will help you avoid credit card debt in August.

#6: Give your vehicle some much-needed maintenance

As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, vehicle gas prices invariably go up in the summer. Prices tend to increase by 50 cents or more, on average. So, you need to give your vehicle some love to maximize the miles per gallon that you can travel.

  • Get an oil change and have all your fluids checked to make sure your vehicle is in top working order
  • Check your tire pressure to ensure it’s in line with the manufacturer’s recommendation for your car. (Check the vehicle’s recommended tire pressure and not the pressure listed on the tire itself.)
  • Clean out any clutter in the trunk or your back seat to the lighten the load

These tips will help you increase your miles per gallon as much as possible. Then, use the right type of cooling when you drive this summer. Go with windows up and A/C on for highway driving to reduce drag. Then switch off the A/C and roll down the windows for stop-and-go city driving.

Cutting Car Costs: Finding Smart Ways to Keep Transportation Costs Low
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Cutting Car Costs

Money Management

Whether you’re buying new, buying used, or leasing, the cost of owning a car can be a serious budget drain. The average family spends over $10,000 per year on transportation costs. That’s 17 percent of the household budget. This guide helps you learn practical ways to cut car costs, so you can save money.

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#7: Ask your electric company for an energy audit or assessment

Electric bills can increase greatly during summer with the A/C running all the time, especially if you live in the southern United States. But even though you can expect your bills to increase, you can still take steps to keep them as low as possible. A good first step is to check with your local electric company to see if they provide a free energy audit or assessment.

This assessment will help you identify places in your house where you may be losing or using too much power. They can tell you if your A/C is running at peak performance and if any appliances are draining power. You can use the results of the assessment to shore up your home against leaks and power drains that drive up your bills.

Save Energy Save Money
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Save Energy, Save Money

Money Management

The average family spends up to $2,000 per year on energy bills according to Energy.gov. This guide helps you find practical ways to cut costs without spending a lot of money. Learn how to heat and cool your home effectively, run all your electronics, and conserve water so you can save money.

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#8: Get your finances ready for disaster season

Whether you face hurricane season starting in May, storm season in Tornado Alley or wild fires on the West Coast later this year, take some time at the beginning of summer for disaster prep. These tips can help you avoid debt out of a natural disaster this year:

  1. Buy supplies, such as canned food and water, early so you avoid rushes at the store and higher prices.
  2. Prepare a waterproof folder with important documents, including titles and deeds, insurance policy information and wills.
  3. Put cash in the same waterproof folder in case ATMs are not operational during a crisis.
  4. Take pictures of any property of value so you have current pictures of anything that could be damaged during a major event.
  5. Also create a list of price estimates of your property and keep it handy with contact information for making insurance claims.
  6. Check your insurance policies to make sure you’re covered for any type of damage that you may encounter; know what your policies cover and what they wouldn’t.
Disaster Planning: Minimizing Financial Losses from Natural Disasters
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Disaster Planning Guide

Financial Planning

Natural disasters can derail even the best laid financial plans. Whether you live in a hurricane, tornado or flood zone, or an area prone to wildfires or winter storms, it’s crucial that you get prepared to keep yourself, your family, and your finances protected during the storm. This guide teaches you how to prepare, so you can minimize financial losses.

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#9: Take advantage of money-saving apps

There are plenty of apps that can help you save money, not only during the summer, but year-round. However, these apps can be invaluable during summer, when people tend to drive more and need more entertainment options for the family.

Consider getting:

  • A good gas locator app, such as Gas Buddy, so you can find the closest cheap gas anywhere you are.
  • A social outing discount app, such as Living Social or Groupon, so you can get the best discounts on local entertainment and attractions.

If you like concerts, also consider getting a ticket app, such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation. Becoming a member of these services can get you access to valuable presales and exclusive money-saving offers.

#10: Don’t wait to consolidate

When the Federal Reserve raised interest rates earlier this year, they indicated it would not be the only increase this year. In fact, they expect rates to rise twice before the end of 2018. That means now is the time to get financing, particularly if you want to consolidate existing debt.

Debt consolidation allows you to refinance existing debt at a much lower interest rate. You want the rate to be as low as possible, making it easier and faster to pay off your debt. So, if you plan on consolidating this year, it’s best to do it early before the Fed raises rates again.

Can’t qualify for low interest rates on consolidation yourself? Talk to a certified credit counselor to see if you qualify for a debt management program.

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