For many of us, July is a time to enjoy cookouts, beach days, and warm weather fun with family and friends. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do some good for your finances at the same time. Here are some steps you can take to save money this month.
1. Focus on free entertainment for your kids
Getting a break from the routine of school can be nice. But having to keep your kids busy all month long can be expensive.
Before you shell out the money for amusement park and movie theater outings every other day, seek out free entertainment in your area. You may be surprised at how much is available if you dig around.
Your local library may have programs for kids that not only give you a break, but encourage your children to bring home some books for added entertainment. You can also see if your town has any free happenings, whether it’s evening concerts or fairs that don’t charge an entry fee (be careful, though, because while it may be free to get in and pet a few animals, you might have to pay for most forms of entertainment within).
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Also, depending on where you live, some of your local museums or zoos might have a free admission day once a week or once a month. Do some research before committing to paying up.
2. Don’t hit the mall to stay cool
The summer of 2024 has been an exceptionally hot one so far. And we don’t know what’s in store for the rest of July.
You may be inclined to take your kids — or yourself — to places like shopping malls to stay cool. But even if you tell yourself you’re only window shopping, you might still end up falling victim to impulse buys.
A better bet? Be strategic about where you go to escape the heat. If you don’t want to bust your budget blasting the air conditioner at home, see if you can cool off at your local community center or place of worship for a few hours. And once again, the library might come to your rescue, especially if it has a larger kids’ section where your children can situate themselves with books and art supplies for a stretch of time.
In a worst-case scenario, if you need to beat the heat, go on a supermarket scavenger hunt. It’s a fun thing you can do with your kids and tackle your grocery list at the same time.
You might think that it’s counterintuitive to do extra shopping as a means of saving money. But come August, back-to-school shopping will be in full swing, and retailers may be less likely to discount their products because they know there’s high demand. So now’s the time to make your back-to-school list and start seeking out clearance items whenever possible.
It’s also a good time to start looking around for second-hand sports equipment if that’s something your kids are likely to need. Your neighbor down the block with older kids might get inundated with requests for old uniforms and soccer cleats once summer wraps up. If you ask for hand-me-downs now, you might get first dibs, which means you won’t have to shell out the money yourself or charge those expenses on your credit card.
Saving money this July could boil down to getting creative. Use these tips to stay on track with your financial goals and avoid a summer savings slump.
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