5 ways to save money in June
If June has you itching to get outdoors, you’re not alone. The first day of summer rolls in on June 20, just two days after the month’s sole gift-giving holiday, Father’s Day. Graduations continue throughout the month, and wedding dates loom on the horizon, making it easy to go over budget.
These tips for saving money at the start of summer will leave you with enough left over to wiggle your toes in the island sand in August. GROW YOUR
OWN VEGGIES June is perfect gardening weather for most of the U.S. You can save money on groceries during June — and the rest of the year — by planting a garden in your backyard or on a balcony or deck. There’s no need to spend a lot of money on plants and seeds to make your garden grow.
Create rich soil by composting vegetable peels, dryer lint, shredded paper and other biodegradable matter. The process takes three months to a year, so start with gardening soil on sale at your local garden supply this month.
Grow your garden from items you already have in your kitchen. Slice overripe tomatoes, spaghetti squash, bell peppers and other seed vegetables, and plant them in the soil. Start lettuce, green onions and celery from the root base you’d otherwise throw away. Put the roots in water until new sprouts appear, then plant them. Sweet potatoes and ginger can be grown from the eyes or buds that sprout on the surface of the vegetable. Plant them with the buds facing up in potting soil.
SAVE ON SPA TREATMENTS
Why spend hundreds getting pampered at the spa when you can do it yourself at home with products you probably already have in your kitchen?
Mix a half-cup of coconut oil into a cup of sugar to create a luxurious body scrub that will leave your skin soft, smooth and hydrated. Add a few drops of lavender or rose essential oil for a calming aroma.
Get your feet ready to slip into sandals with a homemade foot soak made from mouthwash and vinegar. Mix one cup each of antiseptic mouthwash and one cup vinegar with two cups of warm water. Soak for 15 minutes to remedy cracked heels and loosen dead skin. Then use a pumice stone to scrape it away.
Replenish nutrients in your skin after time in the sun with a honey face mask. Mix 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel with 2 teaspoons raw honey. Apply to skin and leave for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing to relieve sunburns and soothe inflammation. COOL YOUR HOME NATURALLY If you’re like most Americans, you pay nearly $2,000 per year on your home energy bills, according to Energy.gov. If you live in a hot climate, your summer electric bills can soar up to $200 per month.
Fans make you feel cooler but do little to lower the air temperature in the room. To combat this, close the blinds on the south and west sides of your home to naturally reduce the temperature inside during the heat of the day.
Although installing programmable thermostats can reduce your energy consumption effortlessly, you can lower your electric bill without spending a penny. Save as much as 10 percent on your bill by raising the temperature in your home 7 to 10 degrees above its normal setting for eight hours a day. SHOP FATHER’S DAY SALES Sure, Father’s Day rolls out lots of great gifts for dads, but you can benefit, too. Find great deals this month on menswear, tools, recliners, watches and more. Now’s a great time to make that camping gear purchase, get tools for your DIY project or add men’s fashion items to your wardrobe.
Shop Kohl’s online to stack up to four deals at once. For example, get a pair of $46 men’s Lee cargo shorts on sale for $29.99 and then use your Kohl’s card to receive an additional 30 percent off. Then enter the code VACATION when purchasing by June 19 to get free shipping, as well as the code DADSDAY10 to get an extra $10 off a purchase of $40 or more. Of course, you’ll have to buy more than one pair of shorts for the last deal to apply.
You won’t hear the last of money-saving deals after Father’s Day, though. Watch for summer savings from Macy’s, Disney and others.
TUNE UP YOUR AC
Now’s a great time to have your air conditioning serviced to avoid costly repairs during summer heat. Schedule maintenance through Home Depot, Sears or other HVAC service providers. Or skip the cost and do it yourself.
Although keeping your air filters changed regularly is the single most important step to help your air conditioner run more efficiently, there are other things to look for that can turn into costly repairs if left unchecked, such as:
› Dirty evaporator coils
› Low refrigerant
› Leaky ducts
› Dirty condenser If you do it yourself, look for step-by-step instructions through a reputable HVAC website, such as All Systems Mechanical, and shut off all electricity to your unit to avoid injury.
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