Best 7 Tips for Saving Money During Summer

There's no doubt about it: It can be harder to save money in the summer. What with the kids needing entertainment (or childcare), wanting to take advantage of nice weather with a vacation, the heat waves that make your A/C work overtime, and the rising costs of gas and food — it's not surprising many Americans see their bank accounts taking a dive during the summer months.

The good news is, you can enjoy the summer without draining your bank account. If you are looking for the best ways of saving money this summer, we have you covered. From saving money on childcare to making your home run more efficiently (and lots in between), these 8 how to save money tips will get you (and your savings) through the summer.

Save Money with a Staycation

While at first the thought of swapping out your beach plans for something closer to home may make you cringe, it turns out you can have tons of fun right in your own hometown and save a ton of money too.

Consider camping by a nearby lake or river, exploring all your city has to offer (museums, parks, free outdoor concerts, amusement parks, fairs, special exhibits, and shows), or creating a "theme" for each day you are vacationing (waterpark day, outdoor movie day, sleepover, etc.).

You could also splurge a little and rent an Airbnb or VRBO in a different part of the city you've always wanted to explore. Get creative! 

Home Efficiency Saves Money

Run your house more efficiently. The cost of cooling your house to stay comfortable during summer's oppressive heat can seem overwhelming. There are many ways to beat the heat at home though, including hanging blackout curtains, sleeping on the lowest floor of your home, and using ice packs to cool down. For more ideas, head on over to our popular post for staying cool in the summer.

Exercise Outside & Save

Put that gym membership on hold or cancel it altogether — if ever there was a time to take advantage of all the great outdoors has to offer to keep your workout routine going strong, it's summer.

Want to get your heart rate pumping? Walk, run, ride a bike, rollerblade, kayak, or skateboard your way through a cardio session. Many park trails have simple gym equipment placed throughout the trail with instructions as to how to use it to stretch or get in some strength training. These are all great how to save money tips for staying in shape this summer.

Save Money By Saving Energy at Home

Run your dishwasher or do laundry at night when energy costs are cheaper. Wash your clothes in cold water and hang them out to dry on nice, sunny days. Use the air conditioner when you need it most and turn it off (or up) during other times of the day. Hang blackout curtains. If your budget allows, consider upgrading to energy-saving appliances (like a programmable thermostat or an updated refrigerator). 

Save on Childcare

Create a childcare co-op. Finding someone reliable and trustworthy to watch your kids while you work in the summer can be a daunting (and expensive) task. Consider joining together with other like-minded parents to take turns watching one another's kids during the work week or going in together on hiring a babysitter. The sitter could take turns watching all the kids at different houses to vary up the routine and give everyone a break to get some work done.

Save Money on Food

Plant a garden. With the rising cost of food, it only makes sense to try growing your own this summer. All you need is a small space in your yard or you can grow veggies in pots on your patio or in window boxes. You can purchase seeds inexpensively just about everywhere (even the dollar store). Give your plants light, water, and some decent soil and you can be eating out of your own garden in just a few weeks. For more tips on saving money on groceries, click here.

Cookout more often. We probably don't have to twist your arm on this one as summer is a great time for grilling out. Don't turn on your stove or oven and heat up your house, take the heat outside to the barbecue. Bonus points for dining outside too just because it's fun!

Save on Gas Money

If you have to run errands, consider doing them all on the same day to save money on gas and to save money by heading to the store often. Oftentimes, you go for one item and end up purchasing a few others on a whim too. Making a list and sticking to it and planning your route efficiently is one of the best ways of saving money this summer.

Of course, even if you try all these tips for saving money this summer, there can still be times when you need extra cash. When that happens, a good way to get cash fast is to apply for an installment loan with Check 'n Go.

If you're not familiar with installment loans, they are a kind of loan that allows borrowers to pay back the loan over time. Let's say your refrigerator is old and sucking up too much energy and you could save money getting one that's more energy efficient, but to get the fridge, you need a loan. You could borrow the money as an installment loan, then pay it back in increments throughout a set amount of time over the coming months. Installment loans have longer terms and can come in higher loan amounts.

Installment loans are one kind of personal loans that can help you out in a pinch, so long as you pay back your loan on time and at the agreed-upon payment amount. Installment loans can also help if you have bad credit. They add a variety of credit to your credit mix and can prove to your creditors that you are a trustworthy lendee.

For more information on how installment loans with Check 'n Go can help you with your summer money needs, head here.