Do you think the seasons affect your frugality?

**Momto2Boyz** · 05-30-2008, 09:40 AM

I do. As summer approaches, I am reminded of how much easier it is for us to save money in the summer time!

I think it is a combination of the lack of holidays (woo hoo, no unnecessary stuff to buy) and the fact that there is so much more free entertainment! Our park district does a great job with free stuff, so we have movie's in the park once a month (totally free) concerts in the park twice a week (again, totally free). As long as we pack up a picnic dinner and don't splurge on the concessions, we can walk to the park and enjoy a nice evening.

It seems that in the fall, we spend more on entertainment becuase of the weather, Halloween costumes, pumpkins, turkeys, etc. In the winter, we have Christmas (my all time dreaded holiday - and we don't spend much, we make most of our gifts), and in the spring we have Easter baskets, etc, etc.

I swear, the start of summer helps me renew my frugality every year!

What about everyone else? Has anyone else noticed the change in the seasons affecting their bottom line?

**baxjul** · 05-30-2008, 09:41 AM

Yes, I seem to be more frugal in the summer.

**sunshine** · 05-30-2008, 10:23 AM

Definitely more frugal in the summer-- no heat bills, only use the AC when my allergies flare up, eating from the garden, tons of free stuff to do. . .

We get slammed with a ton of summer birthdays though - so that part isn't very helpful.

**perSue** · 05-30-2008, 10:26 AM

YES!
produce is SO much more expensive in winter than in summer... AND i can grow my own stuff in the spring/summer/fall... so I'm WAY more frugal in the summer (no AC, growing foods, more outdoor activities (cheaper/no cost), etc)

**Lady_V** · 05-30-2008, 11:07 AM

I think summer may be more frugal in some ways, but more expensive in others.

The laundry expenses go down some because it's summer clothes aren't as bulky and we spend 50% of the time in bathing suits that we wash & dry in the shower.

We use to cook on the grill every night (don't know what we will do this summer because Old Man works and I am afraid of lighting the grill ) This year I will most likely cook a chicken to make sandwiches from for DD and I and let him handle the grill the 3 days he is home.

'Snacky' food consumption goes up in summer. Treats are packed in the cooler and lugged up to the pool. I air-pop popcorn, buy some grapes, apples, cherries and bananas as well. I don't let DD drink juice boxes when we are home. I only buy them for school... or if we are going on a day-trip...I have learned from experience, DD can't put caps on tight

Gas use and parking goes up because even though the places we go to may be low cost, getting there isn't!

**cab54** · 05-30-2008, 12:08 PM

Yep, summer's best.

Life gets simple and somewhat less expensive--except for Sunsceen.

**mombottoo** · 05-30-2008, 02:26 PM

The seasons definitely affect how frugal I am...it tends to cost us more during the warmer weather for food & what not since we tend to have a lot of people around who end up eating with us. In the colder months we spend more on utilities to keep us warm and able to see since it gets dark out earlier.

**IntlMom** · 05-30-2008, 02:33 PM

I think it's actually easier to be frugal in the winter. Yes the produce is higher, there's no garden, and then there's the heat bills. BUT, in the winter I just kind of want to snuggle up and stay home, so there's not the desire to go out and "do stuff" that the summer brings. And really, warm, comforting soups from all the leftovers are WAAAAY cheaper than anything you can stick on the grill!
Summer means, vacations ($), kids home bored ($), shopping differently - alot more "snacky" tyoe stuff......

**favesis37** · 05-31-2008, 07:09 AM

fall and winter are more expensive for us. i love to decorate

**luv-my-lexi** · 05-31-2008, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

I think it's actually easier to be frugal in the winter. Yes the produce is higher, there's no garden, and then there's the heat bills. BUT, in the winter I just kind of want to snuggle up and stay home, so there's not the desire to go out and "do stuff" that the summer brings. And really, warm, comforting soups from all the leftovers are WAAAAY cheaper than anything you can stick on the grill!
Summer means, vacations ($), kids home bored ($), shopping differently - alot more "snacky" tyoe stuff......

I tend to agree.......when school is out I (in years past) had to send my dd to daily YMCA day camp ~not cheap. In the fall/winter I don't have those "daycare" bills anymore. But, this year (since I now just work 3 hours a day) she is going with me to work. She has play practice thru the month of June for 2 of the 3 hours I work.

She is high maintenance though, so she wants to do something all the time or have a friend over. I then have to really monitor all the snacky stuff that they want to eat. I am not sure how at school she can get by with just her breakfast and lunch when here she wants to eat all day long.