Pre-Summer Preparation 101

In the depths of winter it always feels like summer, as you remember it, will never arrive again. You’re going to be stuck, shivering with cold, only venturing outside when you can’t help but do so, forevermore. Or so you are tempted to think in your more melodramatic moments.

Then spring dawns and you accept that the warmer days are on their way – even if you’re still struggling to thaw out from the winter chill. By the time the year slides into summer, you’re more than ready for it – in one way at least.

Given that summer happens every year, it’s surprising how difficult it can be to get prepared for it. You’re going to have the kids off school, which means you need to find an endless array of activities to keep them occupied. Then there is the financial burden of this, especially if at times you will have to pay for childcare so you can work as normal. In the midst of all this planning and preparation, you also need to think about managing it financially.

Summer Is Expensive

Summer fun might be all about havin’ some fun, but that has a tendency to come at a cost. With only a few weeks to go until the term ends, you have to take action now to make a difference to your financial well-being.

Does that sound a little bit too urgent? To an extent, it is – but then again, it’s surprising how many people know that summer is coming, but fail to prepare for it. So if you don’t want to find yourself staring down at a potential six weeks of activity and financial stress, then leaping in head first with the preparation is the only solution.

It therefore makes sense to run through some questions in your mind. When you can answer these satisfactorily, then you might just be ready for summer – oh, and there’s a few tips and ideas in there for you to try too!

Question One: Have You Saved Money Where You Can?

How about making a promise to yourself: for the month of May, you spend as little as possible.

You spend on the bills, the essential purchases, the grocery store shops. But everything else, the little treats and indulgences for you or the kids, is stowed. Instead, you look to finish the month with your checking account in rude health.

While this might feel quite restrictive, it’s basically storing up good vibes for the summer. Most of us have a tendency to overspend when we’re on holiday, and that can easily be extended with a little treat day out here and then when at home. If you start putting the money to one side now, then you don’t have to worry about a massive bill come August.

Question Two: Are You Making The Most of The Money You Can Earn?

Let’s then extend that promise for May to really try and capitalize on your income. Making money online is not the easiest of tasks; it can be difficult to know who to trust, and you’re definitely not going to make your fortune doing it. However, it could give you a little extra leeway in your budget, some vouchers you can redeem for days out, all of which is going to make your summer fund look that little bit healthier.

Expanding on that theme, if you’re new to making some extra cash in your spare time, then you might be in need of a primer.

The most common way of earning money is through completing surveys. You give your opinion in return for financial compensation. As mentioned above, it’s not going to make your fortune, but do it consistently enough and it could be a nice top-up.

There are numerous sites to choose from, depending on how much time you have. It makes sense to join as many of them as possible so you can maximize your chance of receiving surveys.

If you give it a couple of hours a week, you could make around $20-$50 depending on how many surveys you receive. It’s a nice fund for a day out at the beach, isn’t it?

Are You Getting The Most of the Money You Do Spend?

If you have essential purchases you need to make over the next few months, then it makes sense to get as much for them as you possibly can. Take, for example, cashback sites.

Some people are wary of cashback sites, thinking it means they are going to be charged more for their purchases. This is not the case. Shopping with cashback sites couldn’t be easier; the money you earn through cashback is collected from the merchant, not through your payment price, so don’t worry. You will be undoubtedly better off for using them. Here’s how Ebates works for example, and other sites will have a similar theory.

So make another promise: every time you buy something – anything – online, you’ll check to see if you can be rewarded with these kinds of sites.

In just four weeks, you have managed to make serious inroads into being able to make your finances stretch to a good summer. Okay, in part that’s through sacrificing how fun and exciting May can be due to restricted purchases, but May can be a month of changeable weather. By the summer, you’re likely to have more sunshine to enjoy.

Are You Ready For The Health Implications of Summer?

When it’s been cold for months, it can be easy to forget that summertime can actually be rather unforgiving on our bodies. This is particularly true if anyone in your family suffers from hayfever, which can make the entire pollen season (so, most of the summer!) a nightmare.

Medications are, of course, available to deal with hayfever symptoms. Perhaps the most financially sound method is by investing in over-the-counter tablet antihistamines, such as cetirizine. Always go for a generic version, as the branded antihistamines – which contain exactly the same active ingredient – can be up to 70% more expensive!

Of course, a note of caution: if taking any other medications, always consult with a doctor before using an over-the-counter medication. Always ask in any circumstance if administering to children. Better safe than sorry!

Hayfever is not the only downside that summer brings with it. For a start, you might want to whip up a batch of insect repellent – it’s fairly easy to make for yourself. No one wants to spend the season covered in itchy bites!

Have You Considered The Sun?

So often the sun is billed as a good thing; we dream of sunshine beating down on us, warming us more thoroughly than a central heating system ever could. Some sun exposure is good for us as well; we need it to generate Vitamin D in our bodies. So it’s not like we’re going to totally flip it and say the sun is a bad guy…

… but it’s not necessarily the good guy, either.

There is a terrifying habit in our society to see a suntan as a healthy, desirable thing. It’s not. There is absolutely no such thing as a “healthy” tan. What we see as a suntan is actually skin panicking and trying to protect itself; even a “glow” is a sign of significant damage. Preventing it is absolutely essential, especially in children. Research has even suggested that just one severe case of sunburn is enough to cause skin cancer.

The best way to prevent sun damage is to use a chemical sunscreen, preferably one that makes use of zinc oxide. Children should wear an SPF of 50, and it should be reapplied at least three times per day – more if you’re around water. As for adults, SPF 50 is good for you too!

The usual rules apply here, though they occasionally need a refresh: don’t go out in the midday sun, wear loose clothing of a cool material such as cotton, and cover as much bare skin as possible. As with the financial saving, this can feel a little restrictive – but it makes sense to take small restrictions in favor of preventing a deadly disease!

Have You Booked Time Off Work?

Both you and your partner need to book time off work as soon as possible when it comes to summer. Slots tend to be taken up very quickly, so keep this in mind and make sure you get it done as soon as possible. You want to be able to make the most of the summer, not find yourself restricted by work days!

Is Your Childcare In Place?

If neither you nor your partner can be around all the time when it comes to supervising your children during summer, then get your childcare arrangements finalized within the next few weeks. Places fill up at daycares and summer schools, and you don’t want to find yourself in any awkward positions.

With all of the above complete, you’ve taken control and are set and ready for summer – make sure that Summer ‘17 is a good one!