Summer has a seductive way of making us feel like every iced coffee, patio lunch, amusement park ticket, and last-minute road trip is essential. One minute you’re buying sunscreen, and the next you’re somehow carrying three pool noodles, a giant inflatable flamingo, and a receipt that makes you question all your life choices. You don’t have to spend your entire vacation budget before July even starts. These 7 summer spending rules will help you enjoy all the sunshine, BBQs, beach days, and summer fun while keeping a little extra cash in your wallet.
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Summer Spending
One summer, I spent all my money on freezies.
To be fair, they were the jumbo kind.
To be also fair, I was 8.
Any allowance money I got, would go straight to the freezer section of the corner store (I wish more neighborhoods still had corner stores!).
My parents didn’t put rules on summer spending of allowances, and I give the same freedom to my daughter to do what she wants with her allowance money.
I think it’s important to learn about spending, and make mistakes with money when you’re young, so you can learn from (low-risk) experience.
Related post: Weekly Allowance: Why It’s Essential for Kids
For myself, I do pay attention to what I spend in the summer now. There are so many fun things to do and I tend to want to do them all lol.
I wanted to put a few parameters on my summer spending, so I still have all the fun I want to have with Miss O, but don’t feel money pinched by fall.
Related post: 10 Cheap Summer Activities When Your Kids Get Bored of the Sprinkler
7 Simple Summer Spending Rules that Keep the Fun Affordable
You don’t have to skip the fun to save money.
Here are seven simple summer spending rules that can help you enjoy the season without ending up with a financial hangover in September.
1. Set a Summer Fun Budget
Before summer gets into full swing, decide how much you’re willing to spend on entertainment, outings, vacations, and special treats.
I think of it as creating a “summer fun fund” instead of a boring budget.
Having a number in mind makes it easier to say yes to the activities you really care about while skipping the impulse buys that don’t add much value.
Even setting aside $25-$50 per week can help you enjoy the season guilt-free.
This post can help: The Best Budgeting Apps If You Hate Budgeting
2. Use the 24-Hour Rule for Non-Essential Purchases
Summer shopping can be dangerous.
A cute patio set. A giant inflatable unicorn. Matching family beach hats that seemed like a brilliant idea at the time (I mean, they still seem like a good idea to me…).
Before buying anything non-essential, give yourself 24 hours to think about it (okay, I will).
You’ll often discover that the excitement fades and you don’t actually want the item after all. This simple habit can save hundreds of dollars over the course of a summer.
Check this out: 11 Things I Stopped Buying That Saved Me SO Much Money
3. Plan Free Activities First
One of the biggest summer budgeting mistakes is assuming fun has to cost money.
Start by filling your calendar with free activities:
- Beach days
- Hiking trails
- Community festivals
- Outdoor concerts
- Splash pads
- Farmers markets
- Library events
- Neighborhood walks
Once you’ve scheduled the free fun, you’ll likely find you need far fewer expensive outings than you thought.
Check out: 10 Fun and Free Summer Activities to Stop Your Kids Saying “I’m Bored!”
4. Bring Your Own Food Whenever Possible
Food is often the silent budget killer of summer.
A family outing that starts with affordable admission can suddenly cost double once everyone wants drinks, snacks, ice cream, and lunch.
Pack a small cooler whenever you can. Bring water bottles, snacks, sandwiches, and fruit.
Not only will you save money, but you’ll avoid paying theme park prices for a bottle of water.
I have three favorite coolers that cover all our summer events:
- the first one is a standard-sized cooler from an excellent brand, holds lots of food and drinks – it’s also more affordable than many of the other heavy-duty coolers
- the second cooler is for day trips where you only need to bring a couple snacks or a small lunch – I’ve had mine for years and use it every summer
- the last one I especially love…it’s very easy to carry – soft-sided and light and you can put it into a beach tote or backpack. I have this one, but I love all the summery colors too! I just bought a second one so I can pack a cold lunch for Miss O and myself when we are out. You pop the whole cooler bag in the freezer and it doesn’t need any separate cooler packs or ice. It’s a very neat design. I definitely recommend that brand in particular from personal experience. They even have freezable chill boards now, which I’ve been eyeing.
5. Choose Experiences Over Stuff
I try to live by this spending rule year-round.
Many summer purchases are exciting for about five minutes.
Experiences tend to create memories that last much longer.
Instead of buying more things, consider spending on experiences such as:
- a family picnic
- a camping trip
- a day at the beach
- a local festival
- mini golf
- a scenic drive with an ice cream stop
You’ll often get more enjoyment from the experience than you would from another random purchase that ends up in a closet by fall.
Check out these 50 free or cheap summer bucket list ideas for frugal fun this summer.
6. Put Vacation Spending Limits in Place
Vacations are the best, but they can become budget sinkholes if there’s no plan.
Before your trip, decide:
- How much you’ll spend on meals
- A souvenir budget
- Entertainment limits
- Transportation costs
Having spending limits doesn’t make a vacation less fun. It actually reduces stress because everyone knows what to expect.
This is very much something I plan on doing soon, before the big summer trip we’re taking. It would be easy for me to spend a LOT of money doing all the fun things on this trip.
I want to figure out the priorities, so I don’t blow through lots of money on activities that are less important to us.
Nobody wants to come home from a fun trip only to discover they spent an extra $1,000 they didn’t intend to.
Read this: Best Cheap Ways to Travel If You Have Big Wanderlust (But a Small Budget)
7. Focus on One Big Summer Goal
Many people try to do everything during the summer.
Multiple trips. Every festival. Every event. Every sale.
Instead, choose one major priority.
Maybe it’s a family vacation. Maybe it’s paying off debt. Maybe it’s boosting your emergency fund while still enjoying local activities.
For me this summer, my big goal is our trip to visit my family in August. We’re going for twice as long as we usually do, and there are lots of summer activities and events I want to do with my daughter while we’re there.
When you focus on one big goal, it becomes much easier to avoid spending money on things that don’t matter as much.
Final Thoughts on Summer Spending Rules
Summer should be about making memories, not making credit card balances bigger.
By following these seven simple spending rules, you can enjoy vacations, BBQs, ice cream runs, beach days, and everything else that makes summer special while keeping more money in your pocket.
Let me know in the comments how your summer spending typically goes, and any summer plans you have!
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