Summer is officially here. Are you going on vacation? Maybe summer school or just enjoying the nice weather at the beach? Whichever you do, you will indeed be swiping your credit card a lot. But you can still dive into your savings. Here are five summer financial planning tips to have a budget-friendly summer!

1. Evaluate your financial life.
   Take a look at your current financial situation, especially your spending. Are you buying way more than you need? If you are already pushing the envelope on your expenses and cost of living, consider where you can make adjustments to ensure any summer travels do not set you back when it comes to your savings goals and retirement savings. Effective budgeting applies to all levels of wealth, and you want to know where your money is going every month.
2. Make a vacation budget.
   You’ve earned your time away to explore and relax, but it’s never fun to return from a trip and feel like you need to get back on track with your financial life after overspending on vacation. If you have a kitchen in your hotel room or Airbnb, etc., consider packing lunches before you hit the beach or park for the day and cooking dinner for a few nights to save on expenses from some pricey restaurant.
3. Build up an emergency fund.
   You cannot take care of things around the house while you are miles away on vacation, and you don’t want to return home to find your basement flooded after a big storm or your pet needing an unforeseen visit to the vet. Additionally, you may try new activities while exploring that could result in an unexpected and costly hospital visit. Having an emergency fund built up and set aside for any surprise expenses can help put your mind at ease and allow you to enjoy your summer plans fully.
4. Look for deals.
   You know, vacations always come with a price tag, so take the time to reasonably determine the amount you are comfortable spending and stick to that number. This may involve more research, but your future self will thank you. Stay flexible with your vacation dates, as certain weeks may be cheaper to travel than others. Scoring a cheap flight or hotel can also free up more funds from your overall trip budget for other activities. Overall, achieving a bargain feels good and is worth the extra planning effort!
5. Keep prioritizing debt payoff.
   While your expenses may go up at times throughout the summer with vacations and weekend getaways, do not hit the pause button on your debt payments and balances to compensate for the seasonal spending. You don’t want to feel like you are digging yourself into a financial hole as a result of your summer fun, and solving for the immediate future can result in a setback or derailment of long-term financial success. Keep your debt payments and bills a top priority.

Reference
https://moneynav.com/blog/summer-financial-planning-tips.