Operation Summer Savings

Memorial Day has come and gone, which means summertime is fast approaching! There are so many great things about summer. Vacations! Fresh veggies! Free outdoor activities! Barbecues! Swimming! Sun-dresses! Ice cream!

The cons of summer, however, include:
-higher gas prices
-an intense heat that drains and leaves you inactive
-a carefree spirit that can ruin even the most diligent budgeter
-lots of bugs

In order to tackle these cons (minus the bugs), here’s a list of challenges I am setting for myself until Labor Day.

• Cycle Everywhere.
  I bought a road bike last year for $50 and only rode it a few times before it got too chilly. This year, I vow to bike to the grocery store, downtown for errands, and anywhere else that is within five miles. For places that require a car, I will try to do it right after work when I am already driving.

• Carpool Weekly.
  I have a coworker who lives nearby. With my 22-mile round-trip commute, there’s no excuse why we don’t carpool more often. I vow to carpool an average of once a week.

• Limit Lunch Break Trips.
  I rarely eat out for lunch, but I usually drive somewhere so I have an excuse to get out of the office for thirty minutes. My office is pretty close to walking trails, so this summer I vow to continue to bring my lunch, but limit the amount of times I leave the office to no more than two times per week. Other days, I will eat outside to save money on gas, stretch my legs, and get a little [farmer’s] tan.

• Spend $200 on clothes until Labor Day.
  Oh snap! A new shopping goal! I think any reader can tell that this is my weak point. So. Until September 7th, I vow not to spend more than $200 in my clothes/accessories/shoes department. (This may have to exclude a new pair of running shoes, which will be necessary for my Half Marathon training.)

• Sell $200 Worth of Stuff.
  I’d love to cover the cost of any clothes by selling $200 worth of junk treasures. I’m not sure how I am going to do this, but I’d love to make some moolah off stuff I rarely use or don’t need.

• Run 210 Miles.
  I created my Half Marathon training schedule and according to my 15-week schedule up to Labor Day, I have to run approximately 210 miles. Daaannng. I vow to find some good playlists and podcasts and motivating running partners.

• Increase Net Worth by $3,500.
  This is totally doable. I vow to live within my means, continue to pay debt and save, and not be as careless with my budget as I have in May.

For a more relaxed list of things I want to accomplish this summer, check out my Warm Weather Goals. They’re not quite as intense as these.