By Longer days, family gatherings and trips to the beach – summer has a lot going for it. Unfortunately, summer can be pretty expensive too. It’s easy to find yourself spending more money on events, travelling and air con!
The good news is, there are plenty of clever ways to keep the costs down over summer. And they don’t have to be hard. A few simple changes can make all the difference to your wallet.
Here are some great tips for saving money this summer.
Plan free activities
There are so many opportunities to have fun for free over summer with the warm weather and longer days. Instead of eating out at a restaurant, have a picnic in the park with your friends. Go for a hike in the hills, head down to the beach or visit your local library.
Many cities host free events over the summer that bring the community together. From food markets to concerts in the park and water playgrounds – you’ll find free activities for all ages. Check out online forums and local event pages to see what free events are on near you.
Say goodbye to the gym
Summer is all about getting outdoors. Consider cancelling your gym membership and finding free ways to get active outside. Whether that’s jogging with friends, cycling around the river, swimming at the beach or kicking the footy in the park – there are so many ways to stay active when the weather is great.
Get smart about cooling
If you’ve got refrigerative air con, it can be tempting to blast it all day, every day during the summer. But that’s not so kind on your wallet or the environment. Do everything you can to make your air conditioner more energy efficient.
Start by sealing off the room you’re trying to cool by shutting the doors and placing a towel or door sealer at the base of the door. Set your thermostat a few degrees higher – you’ll hardly notice the difference but it’ll reduce your energy consumption significantly.
Turn off any appliances that you’re not using as they can emit unwanted heat. When possible turn off the air con and use nature’s air con by opening up the windows and letting the breeze in.
Get your air con serviced
It might seem counterintuitive to spend money on an air con service in order to save money, but a faulty air con can eat through electricity like no one’s business. If you haven’t had your air con serviced in a while, it’s probably not running as efficiently as it could be.
If you notice that your air con isn’t putting out cool air, has limited airflow, is leaking or smelling nasty – you’ll want to get that looked at as soon as possible. Your inefficient system could give you a nasty surprise on your next power bill. Call up your local air conditioning repairs in Mandurah and get your air con back in top shape.
Drip dry your laundry
Make use of the hotter, sunny days and drip dry your laundry outside instead of using the dryer. It costs nothing and won’t even take long on the hot days. If you live in a rental property that doesn’t allow you to hang your laundry outside, place your wet clothes on a clothes horse near the window instead.
While you’re at it, optimise your washing machine too. Use cold water instead of hot water and use the shortest cycle that is practical. Only wash when you have a full load, or use a quick wash setting if you need to do a small load.
Plant a veggie garden
Ever wanted to grow your own herbs and vegetables? It’s not as hard as you might think. You’ll have to spend some money on seeds or plants and soil-improving products, but once you’ve got your garden established you can enjoy delicious fresh produce straight from your garden.
Summer is a great time to plant things like tomatoes, capsicum, kale, carrots and lettuce. Take some time to research the amount of sun and soil nutrients that different plants like before you choose where to plant them. Keep your garden organic and avoid any chemical fertilisers. You’ll have yummy organic fresh produce in no time!
Cook on the BBQ
Cooking food in the oven and on the stovetop can heat up your home during summer. Avoid the unwanted excess heat by cooking outside on the BBQ instead. With the longer days and the nice balmy evenings, cooking and eating outside can be a real treat in summer. Don’t have a BBQ? Invest in a small camping stove or incorporate more raw salads into your diet.
Whether you love or loathe summer, there are many ways to save money over the hottest months. Which tips are you going to try this summer?
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