Summer is a fun time for all of us with warmer weather and lighter evenings, but the increasing number of activities in our social calendar can lead to a decrease in money in our wallets. It can be tempting to go all out in summer, but it is important that you have money leftover when autumn comes. There are ways that you can ease the strain on your bank account and make sure that you are not overspending, without sacrificing any summer fun. We’ll explore below how you can keep on top of your finances this summer.
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Set limits
Setting yourself or your family’s limits in advance can help when prioritising spending. If you have a budget that you’re trying to stick to, see if your summer plans can fit in with this. If they don’t, see if you can make changes to your original budget to make them fit. By doing this, you can work out whether your summer spending is important enough to try and include it in your monthly spending. If you can’t make it fit, or you can’t remove anything else from your budget, you should consider if it is necessary.
Focus on free activities
Summer doesn’t have to mean spending. During the summer holidays, there are lots of free, local events and fairs around, as well as markets. Good, sunny weather is a fantastic time to get outside and explore nature that is right outside of your front door and costs nothing! Use this time to explore the space around you and soak up the rays at the same time.
Use cash instead of a card
This can be a great way of limiting your spending. Often, using your card can seem like you aren’t really spending anything, so why not take out a set amount of cash and keep it in your purse or wallet when going out to socialise or when you’re attending an event? Leave your card at home and you can control exactly how much you’re spending whilst still sticking to your budget.
Plan a staycation
Choosing a staycation can be a great alternative to a summer holiday abroad, allowing you to save a little bit of extra cash. You’d not only be saving yourself money but also time. We all know how stressful it can be flying and navigating in a city or country we aren’t familiar with. Using the same currency is advantageous when keeping an eye on your spending as it is less complicated than working out exchange rates. Why not save a certain amount of money for the summer and see where it can take you?
