We’re well into August now, which means back-to-school commercials and ads are EVERYWHERE!
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8 Ways To Keep Cool For Less
Summer is by far my favorite season! I’d much rather be sweating my buns off than freezing under layers of clothing and blankets. I grew up without air conditioning, and neither our old apartment or our new house had central air, so I’ve always had to find creative ways to keep cool on the cheap. You don’t need to spend a fortune to beat the heat! Check out some of the tips below to stay cool this season…
1. Use floor or ceiling fans. Fans cost a lot less than air conditioning units, and are often portable, so you can move them from room to room as you need them. They’re great for circulating the air in your house!
2. Open your windows at night. I actually prefer this to sleeping with an air conditioner on. Not only will a breeze keep you cooler, but it’ll help your house smell fresher. We spend most of the year couped up inside the house, so I love to bring a little of the outdoors inside. Using a window fan through the night will keep you even cooler!
3. Keep shades and curtains drawn when it’s sunny. You’d be surprised how fast sun shining through a window can heat up a room. You can also purchase room-darkening curtains that are designed to keep the heat out and the cool air in.
4. Avoid excessive use of appliances. Nothing heats up the back of our house faster than using the oven. In the summer, I try to stick to lighter meals that require little use of the oven or stove to reduce the amount of heat they give off.
5. Change your bedding. It never fails – no matter how hot I feel when I go to bed at night, I always wake up with blankets on. Your body naturally cools itself as you sleep, so it’s normal to yank them up over you without even realizing it. To avoid waking up a sweaty mess, choose sheets that are light and breathable. Switch out your heavy comforter for a lighter-weight quilt.
6. Wear lighter clothes. I had to convince my husband that there was such thing as a “summer wardrobe.” Wearing looser clothing made of lighter materials will keep you much cooler than heavy knits, and it can make all the difference. Choose shirts without sleeves and shorts instead of pants when appropriate.
7. Tame your mane. Opt for a shorter hairstyle or stylish ponytails in the summer so it isn’t trapping the heat by your neck.
8. Treat yourself! Cool treats and icy beverages can help to bring your body temperature down. What better way to beat the heat than with a bowl of ice cream or a frozen margarita?
How do you keep cool without spending a fortune? Share your summer tips with us!
Fitting Fun Into Your Budget
Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t have any fun!
Budgeting For The Beach: Can You Afford A Vacation?
Budgeting is the perfect way to keep track of where your money goes every month, but it’s also a great tool for planning and saving! Not only can you monitor mandatory monthly expenses, but your budget will allow you to easily see how much is left over for the fun stuff.
Being Frugal Isn’t A Bad Thing: 10 Ways to Save More
Some people associate being frugal with being “cheap” – penny-pinchers that miss out on everything else because they’re not willing to spend an extra buck. That’s not true at all!
The 30-Day Spending Hiatus
Ready for a new challenge? Check out the 30-Day Spending Hiatus to buff up your budget and get your money back on track!
Black Friday Deals: Are You Really Saving Money?
I can’t believe it’s already November! It feels to me like the months come quicker once October rolls around (not that I mind, as I’m not a fan of the cold). I used to anxiously await Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season, but I’ve been noticing Christmas commercials on TV since the day after Halloween. Some may think it’s a bit outrageous, and it might be too early, but since I’m a planner by nature, I’ve been thinking about gift shopping for months already and the ads I’m seeing feel fitting.
Thrifty Shoppers Save More Money
It’s no secret that I love to shop for just about anything – clothes, furniture, home decor, even groceries. I don’t spend money on a lot of these things often, but I set aside money in my budget each month so I can every once in a while. Finding things that I love that are still affordable is kind of a game for me.
Save Money By Taking Advantage of “Hidden” Benefits
If you’ve been following along with the blog, you’ll note that I’ve had an unusually busy summer year. I’m officially down to my final trip (unless I can convince the husband otherwise), scheduled for October. Since I don’t have too much going on in September, I’ve decided to take this time to do a “financial re-grouping” of sorts, a time to re-evaluate my budget and savings goals to make sure where I’m headed is still where I want to go.
