Learn how to save money this spring with these 10 practical tips so you can enjoy more of the warmer weather!
Growing up in Central New York spring was always a breath of fresh air. We could finally go back outside and play in the park or enjoy a bike ride when the snow had melted. It was a reminder of the warmer days ahead and the summer vacation that was looming in just a few short months.
Now, when the seasons change I like to look at my budget to see exactly what I am spending money on and what needs to be changed. Save money this spring by reevaluating where and how you are spending your money. There is normally budget creep in the winter when we don’t want to leave the house and become complacent with our spending habits (especially online!)
It’s time to look a bit further at our budget and make some changes for the warmer weather.
save money this spring with these 10 tips
Let’s look further at some things that you can do to save money this spring and clean up your budget. It’s time to get ready for that summer vacation you have been planning for months.
pay with cash
When we are stuck in the house all winter long we tend to use our cards for online purchases rather than running to the store. Paying cash will help get you back into the habit of spending only what you have. Cash makes you more aware of how much you are actually spending and what needs to.
Read: 3 Reasons You Need Cash Envelopes In Your Life
switch to a free checking account
How much do you pay for your bank accounts each month? You may be surprised at the fees you have associated with your different accounts. Save money this spring by shopping around for a new bank.
There is no reason to pay for a checking account when there are many free options available. You may end up saving a few hundreds per year in
We use a credit union that has low to no fees associates with the accounts. We have never paid for a checking or savings account. In fact, we get paid with interest for having accounts!
Lower your cable
Overpaying for cable and internet is common. Most of us don’t take the time to shop around for prices let alone ask our current service provider for a discount.
I have noticed my cable bill fluctuate with an upward trend month over month. They slowly increase their fees or make slight changes so you don’t notice the increase.
However, if you compare the price now over what you paid 6 months or even a year ago you may be surprised how much you more you are actually paying.
Call your cable company to see if there are any promotional deals you can participate in or even look at changing your cable package altogether. Do you really need all of those extra channels you pay for?
You may also be able to save a bit of money by enrolling in auto-pay or paperless billing.
stop overpaying for your cell phone
As consumers, we also overpay for our cell phones. Between the monthly fees or the phone itself to the data we use and everything in-between. Cell phones can easily run us a few hundred dollars per month if we don’t pay attention.
Compare how much data you actually use to how much data you are paying for. You may be surprised how much you can save by downgrading your data package to reflect how much data you use on average.
Another great way to save on data is to turn on your WiFi. More and more locations have free WiFi available which will save you money in the long run. I have my phone set up to auto-connect when data is available.
brown bag your lunch
Now that the weather is warming up a bit and we are spending more time outside, we may overlook the task of packing our lunch. It is easy in the winter to make a soup and portion it for a weeks worth of lunches. What do you do in the spring?
Spring is the perfect time to clean up your lunches a bit and bring a healthy salad to work. There will be more produce in season (like strawberries from Florida) and you’ll see vegetable stands and farmers markets popping up this time of year.
Take advantage of these markets and enjoy the best seasonal produce possible without breaking the bank.
If a salad isn’t your thing you can also make sandwiches and soups for lunch. Be intentional with your time and pack your lunch the night before or meal prep on Sundays.
Read: 10 Easy On-The-Go Sandwiches
Bringing your lunch to work can save you $5 or more per day. Over the course of the month, this adds up to more than $100 saved. It will take a bit of planning on your part but it is well worth the savings.
plan budget-friendly outdoor activities
Spending time outside during the spring is my favorite thing to do. It isn’t too hot yet and the fresh air does wonders for my mood. Spending time outside doesn’t have to cost you much or anything. Just enjoying the fresh air in your own yard is a great way to get out of the house without spending any money.
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas that will get you out of the house this spring.
- take a walk at the park
- enjoy the sunset or sunrise
- fly a kite
- play catch in the yard with the kids
- work on your garden
- go bird watching at a local park
- visit a local state park and enjoy their amenities
begin planning your summer vacation
I know we are talking about ways to save money this spring and getting our finances back in order as the weather warms up. However, we need to look ahead to summer and what we have planned down the road.
Part of budgeting is analyzing what you have done in the past as well as looking ahead. When you do both of these things you will be able to make the changes necessary to keep up with your lifestyle or make changes based on your needs.
Summer vacations don’t have to be anything extravagant. You may opt to save the money and stay home this summer. Take advantage of free activities that are available in your local community like movie night in the park.
If you will be going on a family trip now is the time to start budgeting for it. You will want to set up a sinking fund that will allow you to save a little bit each month to fund your trip. Be sure to shop around when planning your trip away.
Airfare, car rentals, and hotel prices can vary drastically based on your location and dates of travel. If you can be flexible with the time you take off you may be able to save even more money.
shop your closet
You may be tempted to go out and buy a new wardrobe for the warmer weather. Before you do that take a look at what is in your closet. You may be surprised by what you already own. Be sure to purge any clothing that no longer fits your style nor fits you.
Read: Capsule Wardrobe Basics: Make The Perfect Minimal Closet
Sett up a capsule wardrobe to save money this spring. Utilizing the clothes you already will help you stretch your budget and bring life to clothes you may have forgotten about
ditch the gym membership
Was one of your new year’s resolutions to work out more? Signing up for a gym membership at the beginning of the year is something that many people do but then don’t actually utilize.
If you are looking to increase your physical fitness and improve your health look no further than the great outdoors to save money this spring.
Now is the perfect time of year to get outside and enjoy the fresh air while working out. You can do yoga in the park, walk or run, lift weights, visit a park with workout equipment etc. The possibilities for working out outside are endless!
There is no need to pay for a gym membership when you can do many of the same workouts in the great outdoors or even in your home.
schedule maintenance for your air conditioner
Living in Florida we run our air conditioner about 11 months out of the year so regular maintenance appointments are nothing new to us
Regular maintenance will ensure that your air conditioner is in proper working condition. A professional HVAC technician will clean your unit, make sure you do not have any leaks, and will tell you about any repairs you may consider in the near future.
Paying a bit upfront to service your system before the summer begins will save you money in the long run. It will help your machine run more efficiently as well as ensure everything is in working order.
be intentional this spring
Save money this spring by being intentional with your money. The key is your budget. It will help keep you on track with reaching your goals.
Spring tends to be a time that we think we need to spend money on new clothes and outdoor activities. However, that is further from the truth.
You will also want to plan your outdoor activities and look forward to summer to see what you need to be budgeting for.
Spring isn’t just for cleaning your house. Spring is a great time to clean up your budget so you can enjoy more of your hard-earned money.