What's your best money saving part of Summer?

[pepperdoo]

Mine is now I can turn off my heat and watch my gas bill go down to about $25.00 per month. The savings is around 40% compared to fall and winter months. 

What helps you the most during the months of Summer?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Actually, summer here is 6 months long and very hot and smoggy ... so we end up using more electricity (air conditioning) than we use the rest of the year ...  and we often stay home more, as well. (We don't use heat in the winter).  The months I spend the least amount on electricity are October and November and March and April.

[Blonde Granny]

It seems this year we've had two seasons, heat & a/c. Few days without one of those running. I have been told by shutting the pilot light off to our gas fireplace  saves us about $10/mo. I was told there is a reason that these non-vented fireplaces have to have the pilot light rather than the electronic clicker that my cooktop has, but still, the idea of wasting that much natural gas just goes against my level of cheapness.

DH also isn't wanting to hide in his bedroom with the space heater on so he can get the temp up to almost 80 in there. I guess that's better than having the entire house a 80, otherwise I'd be living in the garage just to cool off.

[Sharon]

I love that my natural gas bill drops to the monthly minimum charge, right now it is ~$8. The electric bill stays pretty much the same year round.

I also love the cheaper local fresh veggies and fruit that we are able to get.  I now have strawberries and raspberries in my garden.  It was so nice in June and early July to just walk out the back door and pick some berries and have an instant snack.  The beans are now starting to come on in the garden as are the zucchini/peppers and tomatoes.  We also had some good lettuce and spinach in June.  This year we are trying some later summer lettuce we shall see. The things that I don't grow can usually be had for a fairly good price at the local farmers market.  Pretty soon the local corn on the cob will start.  Last year you could get 8 ears for $2.  I love that it is local food and not grown who knows where.

[Deleted]

I tolerate heat much better than the cold, so I save on my utilities in the summer. I don't have to set my thermostat at a low temp to be comfortable in the summer. I do set it a few degrees lower when my grandchildren are visiting because they're hotboxes.

Other than that, I probably spend more in the summer. When it's warm, I like to get out and play.

[TheOtherMe]

I do not tolerate heat well at all.  I can keep the house fairly cold in the winter and wear sweats and cover myself in blankets to keep warm.  Last winter was record cold here.  Since I'm on budget billing, I am still paying for it.  The utility company decided to raise the rate once winter was over because it would have been such a hardship on people to pay the higher rates all winter.  So my budget billing amount actually went up.

We haven't really had a hot summer.  A/C on less than a week so far.  That means the electric bill is way down.  Again, I am on budget billing, but it should go down next quarter when it is adjusted.  

Our water rate, however, has increased due to EPA standards needing to be met.  It's increased a lot.  We used to pay quarterly.  Now they bill us every other month so it's not such a burden on people.  I'm glad I am just paying for the cat and me for water.  I'm also glad my lawn is in and I don't have to worry about keeping new sod alive.  

[thyme4change]

Summer costs me $400 more in electricity per month.  I do one less laundry load every two weeks - jeans take up more space in the washer, but we end up changing clothes to get out of the stinkies, so the savings is pretty minor.

[busymom]

Summer is normally quite expensive, with having to run the air conditioner frequently. However, it is cooler than average for this time of the year, & some days we get by nicely just running a box fan in the house.

DD is home from college for the Summer, so we're spending more on food, & running a lot more loads of laundry (she wears a uniform on her job). But, we try & save on food by planting a large vegetable garden, & in spite of cooler temps some of our garden is finally maturing enough to eat.

If you like to eat canned vegetables, NOW is the time that the prices should be the lowest at your grocery store.  Currently canned veggies are about 40% off the normal retail price.

[chiver78]

I live alone, and I hate A/C. I'm running it now b/c today was a sauna. I typically turn the A/C on once or twice a year, when we get a New England heat wave that also means 90+% humidity.

biggest savings in the summer for me are that I am not using heat from late April-mid October. my gas bill shrinks to whatever is needed for the hot water heater (have electric cooking).

other major savings for me come in the form of grocery shopping - as much as I try to buy seasonal vegetables, I don't like many root veggies....which means I pay for out of season stuff when it's damn cold. in the summer, I hit up the farmer's market (such as it is where I am now) and plan around that from stockpiles/freezer. this particular savings isn't happening this year b/c I am currently home for dinner all of about one night a week. tonight, I ate at home - leftovers from this weekend. it worked with my volleyball game time. not a given, though.

[chiver78]

I wish you luck.....not really seeing what your bidding war has to do with summer savings though.

[drivingaround]

Summer months are my most expensive since we're on the go a lot more, buying food for hosting or attending BBQ or the hundreds of fun outdoor events.  Plus hiking, camping, kayaking and all that jazz so more in gas for the car. Although electricity is quite a bit higher, winters tend to be less expensive as I find friends are more up for home movie nights and potlucks with the shorter, dark days.  Summer seems to be all about going out and experiencing something.  I've not had luck with farmer's markets so should try them again to see if I can score some in season produce deals!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I will say that when the weather is cold, I tend to love blankets ... so I tend to buy them. (Seriously, I have more than we needed!) I just can't help it ... I see a snuggly-soft throw or comforter or afghan, and I'm smitten.

This does NOT happen to me when it's 107 outside.

[kadee79]

Our summer savings for heat/air usually happen in the spring/fall here.

During the summers I bake less and I also hang out laundry more.

During the winter we use our fireplace.

But we don't see a LOT of fluctuation unless it is extremely hot or extremely cold.

[Iggy aka IG]

The best part of summer savings wise is we (read:  DH!) seem to eat less because of the heat.  That plus except for his birthday, there aren't any holidays to spend money on.    I also do less laundry because we're wearing less layers.

As far as the electric bill, it's about the same in summer as it is winter because we're running the A/C vs the heat.  Spring and fall are more mild, resulting in less usage of both.