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6 Tips to Save Money During the Summer Months

6 Tips to Save Money During the Summer Months

As the temperature rises during the hot, dry season in the Philippines—more commonly known as the “summer” season—you may also notice your expenses starting to shoot up. The higher electricity bills alone, in your effort to stay cool, can make the months of March to May a little more expensive to live through.

Thankfully, there are a lot of things you can do to minimize costs and save a bit of money during the summer months. Here are a few tips:

Take Advantage of Summer Promos

From maximizing free shipping vouchers to waiting for big monthly sales, Filipinos are expert bargain hunters when it comes to online shopping. To save even more money, you can time your purchases when retailers and e-commerce sites launch their summer promos. This way, you can avail of multiple discounts and offers.

For example, brands tend to hold seasonal sales to clear out older stocks—making this the perfect opportunity to stock up on these items. You can even buy online medicine and other more vital supplies from reputed suppliers. There are also many other retailers that conduct summer sales, including appliance merchants and clothing brands. If you’re looking for discounts on air conditioning units or perhaps your summer OOTDs, summer sales and promos are your best bet for extra savings.

Let the Air In

One of the biggest causes of the spike in your expenses during the summer is the scorching hot weather. Your electric fans are probably working overtime in your home, and the aircon is likely cranked to the coldest possible setting. However, you don’t have to run these appliances ragged and consume a lot of electricity.

If your house has plenty of windows, you can open them to let the air move around the entire space. This way, your electric fans aren’t circulating stagnant, warm air. The cooler, moving air can also help your air conditioner reach the ideal temperature faster. If you’re concerned about privacy, invest in lightweight curtains that can still let air pass through.

Hang Up Your Laundry to Dry

Having a washing machine with a tumble dryer is quite convenient since you can immediately wear your clothes after washing them. However, a tumble dryer can be an energy hog. To save on your electricity bill during the summer, you can instead take advantage of the power of the sun to dry your clothes. As a bonus, your clothes will have a fresher scent!

Of course, make sure that your clothes are hung inside-out so the colors won’t fade. There are also some clothes that aren’t supposed to be exposed to direct sunlight, but can still be air-dried. Check the labels to make sure you won’t damage the fabrics.

Cook Outside or Limit Your Cooking Time

It doesn’t matter if the weather is hot, cool, or something in between; when you cook inside your house, you will increase the indoor temperature. A good solution here is to simply cook outdoors. Grill some meat and vegetables for a summer barbecue. If you have the equipment for it, you can also try cooking using the traditional pugon and clay pots.

If you don’t have the means or space to cook outside, then try to limit your cooking time. Either choose quick-cooking foods or else batch-cook your dishes so you don’t have to turn on your stove or oven multiple times a day.

Clean Your Aircon Filters

Another simple money-saving tip for the summer is to have your air conditioner maintained regularly. In particular, have the filter checked and cleaned regularly. If the aircon’s filter is blocked, the air can’t flow efficiently; this means that the unit has to work harder to cool down the space and reach the correct temperature setting.

You should also clean your aircon’s coils, fins, and drain. You can DIY these procedures but if you aren’t confident in your skills, there are plenty of aircon technicians who can do these tasks for you.

Look for Local Vacation Spots

Of course, saving money doesn’t mean taking all the fun out of your summer. Instead, you have to be wiser about spending. For example, instead of an overseas trip, try looking for local tourist destinations instead. Maybe there’s a hidden beach that you haven’t visited yet, or a nature reserve that’s perfect for camping.

For even more savings, try a destination that’s within driving distance. If you live in Metro Manila, Batangas or Quezon Province are great spots to visit. Baguio is also now easier to visit than ever, thanks to the expressways leading to the northern parts of Luzon.

What’s great about visiting local summer destinations is that you also boost the local economy. It’s definitely a win-win for everyone!

As you can see, it’s not that difficult to lower your expenses and save some money during the summer. You just have to be smart about it!

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About The Author

Raymund Ravanera is an accomplished and experienced graphic designer with almost 20 years of creative expertise working in the graphic design industry. He loves the latest gadgets, food and movies. Currently, he owns and manages megabites.com.ph, an online technology and lifestyle blog since 2015.

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