Financial fitness for the rest of your summer
Summer is halfway over, and warm weather, barbecues, and vacations have probably already taken a toll on your budget. It’s the perfect time to reevaluate your money goals by tracking your progress thus far. It’s important to stay proactive about overspending by executing smart approaches that will keep you financially fit over the summer.
Review your current summer budget
After a month of the summer season, is your budget stable? It’s always prudent to review your current expenses in an effort to determine where you can cut back. It’s clear that people spend more in the summer, so it’s important to implement those expanded spending areas into your budget. Evaluate your recurring expenses by analyzing your debit and credit card activity. If you’re paying for items or services you never use, get rid of them. This will leave you more for your end of summer fun!
Evaluate your debt
Be honest, was one of your New Year’s resolutions to pay off your debt? Like most of us, did that thought quickly fade? If this is the case for you, then it’s time for you to do an honest assessment of your debt. Feeling a bit tired of debt or are you on your way to reaching your debt-free goal? If you’ve swept the goal of paying off your debt under the rug, then maybe it’s time to remind yourself why getting out of debt is important to you personally. What are your visions for the future? How is your life after debts? If that’s the life you want, start increasing your payments by just $5, which can have a big overall effect without affecting your summer plans.
Reduce energy costs
Try to cut energy costs whenever you can in the summer. First, cook outside more often. This will reduce the number of dishes used as well as the number of dishwasher cycles. Turn off internal lights and rely on natural sunlight. If it’s too hot outside, close the blinds to keep things cool inside. Water plants with a watering can instead of running the hose, and try to air-dry clothes on an old-fashioned clothesline to avoid using the dryer.
Take advantage of the summer sales
There are plenty of deals during the summer months that can help you save. Grocery shopping can be especially hard on your budget. Get the most for your money by using store coupons and checking your local store circulars. We recommend using Flipp, a free app that can help you collect all the circulars from stores in your local area. This app can help you save between 20% and 70% every week on your grocery bill.
Leverage the power of vintage and discount gift cards
When was the last time you cleaned out your wallet and found old gift cards? These can help you supplement your summer dinners or shopping while you’re on vacation. You may not know it, but you can buy gift cards at a discount. Raise.com can help you save money in two different ways:
– You can sell your old or unwanted gift cards for cash, which can then be used for your summer activities.
– You can buy discounted gift cards at more than 4000 retailers
If you don’t have cash, find some extra money
If your summer plans have blown your budget, how about finding some extra cash? What happens if you rent a room in your house on Airbnb? You can sit dogs by advertising on dogvacay.com, or drive for a ride-sharing service. So stop complaining that you lack money. Be creative and use the options that await you.
use cash
It is very convenient to swipe your card wherever you go. Research shows that using cash as your preferred form of payment ultimately controls the amount you’ll spend between 12% and 18%. Elizabeth Jenkins, a hard currency lending expert, suggests that you put your cash budgets in weekly envelopes. “Have an envelope for weekly food, entertainment, gas, rent/mortgage. You’ll feel guilty if you take money out of the envelopes for unrelated expenses.”
See spending differently
Spending money can become addictive. How about spending ‘time’ on things instead of spending money on things? Focus on activities that extend your well-being rather than buying and collecting material items. For example, start an exercise program; find a hobby or work on home improvement. In other words, put your energy into projects that may cost you some money but will be more beneficial to your home or family.
You can’t be too rigid with your money. It definitely needs to adapt to your life. Summer is halfway over, so start planning for the rest of summer so you can avoid overspending and going deeper into debt.