10 Best Ways to Save Money This Summer

Sunburn isn’t the only summertime ‘ouch’ to avoid; it’s also time to avoid draining your wallet.

We know how easy it is to splurge, especially when the kids are off school (if you have children), and you want to enjoy a summer holiday, but luckily, when the sun comes out and the weather warms up, deals are easy to find.

If you want to enjoy yourself this summer, but don’t want to get into debt, keep reading for some of the the best ways to save money this summer.

Best Ways to Save Money this Summer

1. Save on Suntan Lotion

Suntan lotion is one of those toiletries that we know we have to buy, but is always expensive. To save yourself some money, buy a cream that can be used on both your face and your body, and opt for an oil free option to prevent spots.

Check out coupon sites for money off vouchers, and buy from retailers when the product you want is on offer.

2. Plan a Staycation

Can you really afford to go abroad this summer? If the answer is no, you could consider taking a staycation. Basically, this means you will stay at home, but you won’t work or do routine tasks such as cleaning or cooking.

Instead, you can go for walks, picnics, and enjoy some local entertainment. When you consider how much flights and hotels cost you will incur, you’ll agree that this is one of the best ways to save money on a summer holiday.

3. Look for Barbecue Bargains

Barbecues are a staple favourite with Brits each and every summer. However, buying meat at your local supermarket can get expensive, especially if there aren’t any deals on.

Instead, sign up for a Frugal Food Sales alert and be notified of the cheapest locations to buy your barbecue food, or take the time to visit your local butchers – you really would be surprised at the difference in prices.

4. Hire Wedding Clothing

The summertime is definitely wedding season, and it’s likely you’re on the guest list for at least one bash this year.

To save money, instead of buying a brand new wedding outfit, consider hiring one instead. Dresses, special occasion hats, and fascinators can all be found from rental stores for a much lower price than buying brand new.

5. Travel During Off-Peak Times

Whether visiting relatives or just going away for a long weekend, train travel can be expensive. To help save money on travel cost, opt to travel off-peak times and shop around for prices.

If you are travelling with a partner, it may also be worth signing up for a ‘couple’s railcard’ to save even more on the cost of your tickets.

6. Sign up for Netflix

Many people regularly look for ways to save money on the cost of entertainment, and with a night at the cinema for two costing anywhere up to £50 once you’ve bought your drinks and popcorn, you’ll be much better off staying at home.

If you have an internet at home, one of the best ways to save money is to sign up to a streaming service like Netflix or Amazon Prime, or even sign up to your local library and borrow films from them. Buy a pizza and some popcorn and enjoy yourself in the comfort of your own home.

7. Switch to a Push Mower

How much money do you think you spend running your electric mower twice a week? Depending on the size of your lawn it could be quite a lot.

To completely cut this cost, invest in a push mower. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also give yourself a good workout at the same time – saving money on costly gym fees!

8. Start a Home Vegetable Garden

One great way to save money on food and stay healthy at the same time is to start a home vegetable garden. Although lots of traditional winter vegetables like broccoli and cabbage need to have been sown in the spring, summer vegetables like tomatoes and courgettes are ideal for planting in July and August.

Seeds can be picked up for as little as 60p a pack, and once fully grown you’ll have access to lots of organic vegetables that are sure to taste a lot better than their shop bought counterparts.

9. Sign up for Groupon

If you want to take a few excursions during the summer holiday, sign up for a website like Groupon. Simply enter your location and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Groupon will then email you every morning to let you know about cheap deals in your area. Whether it’s a spa day for £20, or a free trip to an art gallery, this is the ideal way to gain access to attractions in your area for next to nothing.

10. Control the Heat Manually

Whilst the UK isn’t exactly known for sweltering hot summer days, we do have mini heatwaves from time to time. Instead of dusting off the air con or electric fans, try to control the heat manually.

Keep curtains closed during the daytime to avoid the sun making your rooms too hot, and open windows to let the cool air blow through your home.

You may also want to lower your home’s water temperature as it doesn’t need to be as hot as it is during the winter months.