How to Plan for Summer Expenses

Summer will be here before we know it. Did you know that, on average, Americans spend $350 more during the summer months than they do any other time of the year? That’s a lot of money. It can easily wreck our finances if we don’t account for the extra money being spent. And we don’t want that to happen. So, how do we keep our Summer Spending in check so our summer expenses don’t wreck our budgets?

We make a plan.

You know what they say – if you fail to plan, you plan to fail? Well, that’s what will happen with our Summertime expenses if we don’t properly account for our spending.

So here are some ways to plan now for summer so we don’t struggle come summer.

✅ Identify Your Summer Expenses

Think through your typical summer activities. Common categories include:

Travel: Flights, hotels, gas, and activities.
Events & Entertainment: Concerts, festivals, amusement parks, baseball games, and local events.
Childcare & Camps: Day camps, sports leagues, or babysitters.
Utilities: Higher electric bills from air conditioning.
Home & Yard Maintenance: Lawn care, gardening, or pool expenses.
Gifts & Celebrations: Weddings, graduations, or Father’s Day.

👉 Tip: Review last summer’s expenses to estimate what you might spend this year.

💰 Set a Realistic Budget

Break expenses into categories.
Estimate the total costs.
Prioritize non-negotiables, like family trips or childcare.
Build in a buffer for unexpected costs.

👉 Example: If you plan to take a $1,500 vacation in July, divide that by the number of weeks until then to see how much you need to save per week. Remember, a family vacation doesn’t have to cost a fortune. My family has regularly traveled to the beach for less than $1,500. It’s totally doable!

🏖 Create a Summer Savings Plan

Open a separate savings account (a.k.a. a Sinking Fund) or label an existing one as your “Summer Fund.”
Automate weekly or bi-weekly transfers.
Cut back on non-essential spending for a few months to free up extra funds.

👉 Bonus Tip: Try a Cash-Only Weekend to save a little extra.

🔎 Find Ways to Save

Travel Deals: Book in advance and track flight prices.
Entertainment Discounts: Check for local event promotions or free festivals. Groupon is my favorite way to save on summer, even for summer vacations!
Staycations: Explore nearby attractions to save on travel costs. And don’t forget your local library! Many libraries have free events during the summer, so make sure you check with your local branch for what they may be offering.
Potlucks and Picnics: Host gatherings at home instead of dining out. Or if you’d rather not host at your home, host at a local park!
Save on Roadtrips: If you’re traveling this summer, download and use the Upside app for all your fuel purchases. We went on a winter trip this past February to West Virginia, and we got almost $20 in cash back just from using the app. And yes, it’s actual cash back to your bank account.

📊 Track and Adjust

Use a spending tracker to monitor expenses. This can be a spreadsheet, a piece of paper, a budget planner, or even the Notes app on your phone. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Adjust as needed if new opportunities or unexpected costs arise. This is the key to successful money management – paying attention and adjusting as required instead of burying our heads in the sand and ignoring what needs to be done.
Celebrate sticking to your plan with a small reward, like a guilt-free summer treat!