How to Save Money on Family Summer Essentials

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With summer just around the corner, the kids are out of school and ready to play in the sunshine; the
world feels happier and more excited in the vibrant air that summer brings. It can be hard to stick to a
budget during the summer months with all the excitement, but here are ways to help you save on those
summer essentials for your family while still having a blast.

Start by purchasing new swimwear, beach towels, pool accessories, and any other summer products
during blowout sales during the fall and winter. Stores will clear out summer merchandise to make way
for the next season’s merchandise and with a little planning ahead you can capitalize on the low prices to
stock up for the next summer. You could save hundreds on gearing up for summer by stocking up during
the off seasons.

If you and your spouse have to work during the weeks, consider making arrangements with friends and
family to keep the costs of childcare lower. If there are a lot of kids around the neighborhood, you could
all pool your resources and hire a sitter or two for all the kids. You could switch days you take each other’s
children or offer a younger sibling or a niece or nephew of an appropriate age to watch your kids for
cheaper than daycares would charge.

Save on your summer food costs by focusing your meals around what’s in season in your area. In season
produce will be cheaper than out of season choices and are available from farmer’s markets and other
local sources so you aren’t paying for the transportation of your food from far away lands. There’s also
no better time than summer to start your own vegetable garden. Your own garden will really help reduce
costs if you can produce any amount of your own food.

Save extra money on your normal utility and gas bills by making use of the sunshine and getting outdoors
as much as you can. While limiting the use of your air conditioner on those boiling July and August days
might seem like a death wish, consider making adjustments to your home to help you reduce how much
you need to turn your A/C on. Keep blinds closed to block sun and create cross breezes by opening as
many windows as you can. You can also help pull hot air out of your house by using fans directed outside.
Use your grill instead of your oven when possible to keep from heating up your house more than it already
is. Dry your clothes in the warm summer air instead of using your dryer whenever you can. Taking little
steps like these will help reduce your overall costs for the summer months.

It’s never been easier to find deals these days. When it comes to keeping the family entertained, make use
of the Internet to find the best deals in your area for restaurants, attractions, theme parks, camps, classes,
outings and other activities. Sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are dedicated to this exact search and will
keep you up to date on all deals going on in your area.

There’s no reason to overspend to have an enjoyable summer. Use even a couple of these tips and you’ll
save your family tons on bills, entertainment, and the other summer essentials.

Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for Hot Deals Board where you can find great deals on the latest
gadgets and find discount codes like the Verizon promo code, along with a variety of others.