Michelle, a student of mine, keeps a separate savings account dedicated to summer fun. As a travel adventurer, hiker, biker, kayaker, swimmer, lover of people and the planet and fully remote worker, her biggest expenses happen between May and October. During her side season (November to April), she packs her high-interest, no-fee savings account with every spare penny, and formulates plans for the upcoming summer season.
She also sublets her city loft while she travels each summer, to offset the carrying costs of her mortgage and condo fees. Your version of summer fun is probably different from Michelle’s, but these three money-maximization themes apply to pretty much everyone and every summer-spending scenario. The best way to achieve maximum summer fun is to give yourself sufficient time to really enjoy the here and now (avoid overscheduling yourself) and to steer clear of unnecessary debt (nothing takes the sizzle out of summer like being hit with a massive credit card bill you can’t afford to pay).
Make a list (or a set of voice notes on your phone) of what’s most important to you and your family (if applicable). What makes the cut? Dating? Travelling? Patios? New-to-you bikes? Fancy outdoor dining? Music festivals? Garden improvements? Home renos? Saving for something even bigger? There’s a ton of social spending pressure as things heat up, but saying “no, it’s not part of my priorities (a.k.
a. budget) this summer” gets so much easier to say once you’re c.
