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Summertime is the season best reserved for cookouts, pool parties, and road trips. If you’re the kind of person who loves to hunt for the best deals, though, you might find it hard to get out of the summer months without spending an arm and a leg on get-togethers and vacations.
However, with the right strategy, you can put together great vacations and cookouts without spending all your savings. Let’s look at some budget ways to have a blast this summer!
Don’t provide everything yourself for the cookout: make it a potluck! When you invite your pals over for some burgers and hot dogs, ask everyone to bring one thing. If your pals bring the buns, sodas, plates, and cups, and all you need to provide is the hot dogs and the venue, you’ll get out for much less than if you tried to cover everything yourself.
The biggest element to keep in mind here: tell your pals to bring their own drinks! Drinks can be the most expensive part of any gathering, so everyone bringing their own cooler that they dip into is much more ideal than trying to cover everyone’s various tastes.
Don’t go for your road trip in an SUV or truck if you can help it. Gas mileage adds up quickly while you’re on the road, so opt instead for a vehicle with a better MPG rating. While you’re getting ready for your trip, make sure you’re booking affordable rooms along the way. If you’re only staying at a stopover for one night, don’t go all-in on the hotel room. Just a simple motel is fine for a place to sleep for the night, there’s no reason to blow your budget at a single stop on your trip.
Likewise, pack some snacks for the road so you’re not tempted to stop and spend money during the trip. When you get to your destination, you want to have plenty of vacation money reserved for the restaurants in town, so make sure you don’t run through it all grabbing donuts for the trip!
Would you rather pay to get into the water park or enjoy a free dip in the public pool? While amusement parks and water parks can be a blast, if you’re short on cash and looking to have a fun summer, there are plenty of free options. You can take a dip in a lake, visit a public park or drop by your local pool. While it might not be as glamorous as a visit to Six Flags, it’s still a fun time for you and your family!
