{"id":46,"date":"2020-07-23T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-23T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/13.56.60.212\/?p=46"},"modified":"2024-04-16T12:43:58","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T17:43:58","slug":"summertime-spending","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accrediteddebtrelief.com\/blog\/summertime-spending\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Tips to Keep Summertime Spending Under Control"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summer is one of America\u2019s favorite seasons for spending. It\u2019s a time to take vacations, tackle big home improvement projects and spend money on events like weddings, concerts, parties and family reunions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you are trying to maximize your summer fun, it can be tempting to overspend on everything from travel to the latest gear for your favorite activities. We’ve gathered our top tips to help you navigate the season responsibly without sacrificing your summer fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 Tips to Keep Your Summertime Spending Under Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Make a Summer Budget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to your regular expenses, it\u2019s always a good idea to make a budget that includes seasonal expenses. If you already have a budget for your personal finances, you can add line items for summer spending. Try to be as specific as possible with your financial planning. It\u2019s always better to overestimate your summertime spending and end up with money left over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top Dollar Tip: <\/span>Use a Budget Planning Spreadsheet<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Summertime<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just thinking<\/em> about your budget won\u2019t do\u2014you\u2019ve got to put it on paper! Check out this budget planning spreadsheet<\/a> that you can customize to track your summer spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our copy is locked for editing, but you can make a copy and save your own version for editing by clicking on the file tab and selecting make a copy<\/em>. To add your summer expenses, update the fields in the non-consistent expenses column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Your Tax Refund To Finance Your Vacation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Did you get a sizable tax refund this year? Use it to pay for this year’s vacation without compromising your budget! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Can Also Invest or Save Your Refund to Plan For Future Vacations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OK, so this tip may be less fun, but could pay off in the long run. If your refund isn’t enough to plan the vacation your are dreaming about, put it in a high-yield savings account or invest it to grow the money over time. You’ll be glad you did when future you gets to take the vacation you really want without relying on credit cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top Dollar Tip: Start an Investment Account with Stash<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Invest<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stash<\/a> allows you to begin investing with as little as $5 and acts as your personal investment advisor. The app has many features that will show you how your money can grow over time. There are hundreds of stocks and trade options available for no additional fees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The app will automatically invest your funds into a diverse portfolio and allows you to buy fractional shares, which is useful if you are starting out with a small amount of money. You can also link your Stash savings to a bank account and withdraw your funds in two business days when you want to access your cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a Family Savings Goal for 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Get the whole family involved by making a family savings goal for 2024. You can either work together and save for the same thing, like a family vacation, or each family member can decide on something they would like to save for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top Dollar Tip: <\/span>Make it a Friendly Family Competition!<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Family<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Set weekly goals and make it fun by turning it into a competition. For example, parents can have their school-aged kids compete by earning money for chores. Whoever earns the most money for the savings fund each week gets a special prize!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purchase Upcycled Seasonal Items, Patio Furniture, Fitness Equipment and Playsets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Seasonal items, such as patio furniture, outdoor equipment and summer sports gear, typically go on sale later in the summer. However, if you don\u2019t want to wait, try looking for gently used furniture on resale sites like Craigslist<\/a>, Mercari<\/a>, Offerup<\/a> and Letgo<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to look for on resale sites:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n