5 tips to stay on budget during the summer: Have your most frugal and fun summer ever

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5 tips to stay on budget during the summer- Have your most frugal and fun summer ever.jpg

Just because it is summer doesn’t mean it has to wreck your summer budget. You can avoid the summer budget slide. Don’t let all the hard work you’ve done up until this point completely derail your finances.

Have a basic routine.

When we get off routine we feel disrupted. And when we feel disrupted we get off track with our sleeping, eating and spending habits. It’s human nature. But having a summer routine in place will bring calm to your life.

Routines are meant to bring calm and let everyone in your home know what to expect. So find a good summer rhythm where your family can thrive.

Just because it is summer doesn’t mean it has to wreck your summer budget. You can avoid the summer budget slide. Don’t let all the hard work you’ve done up until this point completely derail your finances. .jpg

Have set days you do fun things.

And have set days for downtime.  Have days where you’re going to go to the summer movies, the splash pad, the pool. Have days where you stay home and make art and watch Netflix. Do not feel like you have to be the cruise director of your kids’ summer break. You don’t. Not every minute has to be filled with entertainment. Kids need to be bored. Boredom fosters creativity.

Just because it is summer doesn’t mean it has to wreck your summer budget. You can avoid the summer budget slide. Don’t let all the hard work you’ve done up until this point completely derail your finances 2.jpg

Focus on free fun.

Check your community calendar for all of the amazing free things you can do this summer. I also wrote you a post just about this: The ultimate list of free or cheap things to do with your kids this summer! (A HUGE list of summer freebies 2019)

Predetermine your summer bucket list. 

I asked my kids what they wanted to do this summer and I had them tell me while I recorded it on my phone. ( I really wanted to keep their sweet, child voices for years to come.) They wanted to go to the splash pad, eat watermelon, watch the fireworks, go see Toy Story 4 and get a snowball. Done. I can do all of those things.

But have an idea of those splurge items (and awesome free events) you want to take part in so that you have a basic plan and things to look forward to.

Just because it is summer doesn’t mean it has to wreck your summer budget. You can avoid the summer budget slide. Don’t let all the hard work you’ve done up until this point completely derail your finances1.jpg

Have a summer meal plan

It’s easy to get caught up in the summer fun and forget all about dinner. But have a basic idea of what you’re going to feed your family.

Kendra from The Lazy Genius, says she comes up with 21 meal ideas and rotates them multiple times. BRILLIANT.

Keep meals really simple. Sandwiches and watermelon, hot dogs, tacos. Don’t go crazy. Also maybe pad your dining out budget so that if you’re out late and want to swing by and pick up a pizza you don’t bust your budget.

Enjoy your summer and have lots of fun. But just be intentional in every season.

What about you? How do you not bust your summer budget? Leave me a comment below!