Your Summer Budget

By Lev Novak

Your spending in the summer is going to be different than spending in the winter, so be aware. While you were staying in, now you’ll be going out- while you were paying for heat, you’ll soon be paying for cold.

What a topsy-turvy world we live in!

Let’s do it.

1. Save Money On Food

Grubhub and Seamless are very popular in the winter for obvious reasons. You’re cooped up, cold, and sedentary. You want something to warm you and fill you and working? That doesn’t sound doable.

But it is in the summer.

It’s simple. When it’s hot out, cold foods are better. And cold foods are generally cheaper. You know what’s an easy lunch? A banana with peanut butter and an apple and some crackers and guacamole and a little bit of leftover tofu because you have it in the fridge. That’s a pretty tasty scavenge in the summer, and it’s fun. In the winter that would be depressing but the summer is hot and fun- you don’t need much.

Also, you can grill. Do you know how cheap it is to grill hamburgers and veggies? Pretty cheap, and super fun and delicious.

Also, light beers that are too watery are a lot more fun in the summer than they are in the winter, so that’s good too. The expensive foods and beers are more winter pleasures- the summer is about cheap beer, easy meals, and grilling often. It’s good and it’s cheap.

2. Spend On Air Conditioning

Put that money to air conditioning.

It’s going to change your summer, okay? Fans are never enough. You know that now; know it before you remember the hard way. Get a decent air conditioner and don’t worry about the electric bill too much. Put the saved money from your food and beers into the air conditioning and appreciate every degree.

Air conditioning will alter plans in the summer- you’ll see random movies, go to malls, duck into stores, whatever. Use that power in your own house or apartment, okay? It’s pricy but worth it not to sweat in your sleep.

Also, hookups are going to love it. So will your friends. You’re going to be a cool host or cool alone. You’ll be cool and temperate. It’s going to be awesome.

3. New Clothes, For Practicality.

You should get good shorts- the kind that look like pants- and some lightweight shirts.

You’re going to be sweating through everything else- save your money for the things that will make you look and feel good, okay? Don’t overestimate how happy you’ll be to wear actual pants in June.

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