Take the Summer Savings Challenge

As the temperature rises and the days get longer, summer offers plenty of opportunities for fun, relaxation and adventure. Along with the fun, it can also be a season of increased spending with vacations, higher energy bills and increased childcare or back-to-school costs.  But don’t sweat it: With a little bit of creativity and focus, you can start a Summer Savings Challenge that not only helps you cut costs but also boosts your savings. Let’s explore some fun and innovative approaches to save money while still enjoying all the fun summer has to offer.

 

1. Take advantage of free events in your community.
Did you know many communities offers free summer events and activities? Keep an eye out for local events such as outdoor concerts, movie nights and art festivals. Whether it’s story time at the library or an outdoor movie at the park, you’ll stay entertained without spending extra if you look for the opportunities. To keep up with what is available in your area, consider following your local community organizations on social media to stay up to date on their upcoming schedule.

2. Host a potluck barbecue or picnic.
Summer is a great time to catch up with family and friends but hosting everyone can be overwhelming and expensive. Whether you want to host in your home or prefer to organize a picnic at the park, a potluck approach helps make it more affordable. Whether you go for a standard cookout with hots dogs and hamburgers, a taco night or a charcuterie board theme, set a date and ask family or friends to sign up for what they’ll bring.

3. Use your existing memberships.
Instead of purchasing tickets or paying admission for an activity or event, consider what you already have access to. Does your neighborhood have a pool? Are you a member of the local zoo? What about the local museum? Consider the memberships you already have and calendar in days to visit those places. Next time you go, invite a friend! Don’t forget to check the organization’s websites to see if they’re hosting any special member-only events.

4. Enjoy the great outdoors.
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy your own backyard, and not just at home. What’s in your local community or nearby that you haven’t explored? Think about area parks, hiking or biking trails, playgrounds, splashpads and camping areas. Spending time exploring these areas is not only budget friendly, but it’s a great way to spend quality time with friends and family. Don’t forget the snacks, drinks and sunscreen, and consider bringing a picnic lunch or dinner to make a day of it.

5. Create your own scavenger hunt in your local community.
Start with a theme and encourage your family and friends to explore your local community with your own scavenger hunt. Whether you choose a theme based on food, landmarks, historical sites or something else, smart phones make it easy to snap a picture and mark each item off the list. Set the ground rules for your hunt and get started. You’ll be surprised at how creative people get, and you’ll make plenty of fun memories while you hustle to beat the competition. You might even learn a bit more about your community along the way.

 

Whether you choose to take one of these suggestions or all of them, the Summer Savings Challenge lets you enjoy all that summer has to offer without breaking the bank. After you finish your Challenge, you can decide what to do with the money you’ve saved. APCO Employees Credit Union is proud to offer a highly competitive savings rate on Share (Savings) Accounts as well as interest-paid Checking Accounts, both which could offer you a good option for your new-found savings. If you have children, this might be a great time to open an account for them and get them started on a path to financial wellness too. Call us or stop by your local branch for more details.

When you’ve completed your Summer Savings Challenge, you may find you have newly formed habits you’d like to continue that contribute to your financial goals and overall financial wellness. Consider learning more about the no-spend challenge as a great option to retrain your spending habits for better financial wellness.