When the temperature starts to climb and daily obligations seem to weigh you down, it’s natural to start daydreaming about vacation. Summer is a great time to relax or plan adventures with your family and friends. Planning might be easy, but affording the trip is another story.
If you’re worried about how you can get enough money to go on your ideal vacation, just remember that little changes can make a big difference. Do-It-Yourself projects can save you money and get you one step closer to achieving your financial goals. Here are five DIY projects worth checking out.
Summer Wardrobe
When it’s warm, that fancy sweater you bought in the dead of winter has to be stored away and forgotten. It’s fun to shop for summer clothes, but the cost can start to add up, and there’s no point in having a bunch of summer clothes but not being able to afford any summer activities.
Instead of spending your savings on a dozen tank tops, make them yourself! DIY tank tops are easy, fun, and very useful. There are breakdowns online, like this one from Annie Spandex, that don’t even involve sewing. You can turn T-shirts lying around into fashionable summer wear in just a few steps.
If you’re more savvy with a sewing machine, this tutorial on how to make awesome dresses for less than $6 could save you a ton of money if you’re a chronic shopper. Next time you’re at the mall, think about what you can make on your own and how you can apply that money to your vacation fund.
Beach Trips
(Credit: NeilsPhotography via CC License)
Just because you still haven’t officially planned your next vacation doesn’t mean you can’t save while you’re taking trips to the beach in the meantime. Stop splurging on expensive beach chairs and accessories in preparation for summer — take a look at some of these easy DIY projects instead.
Beach chairs can be pricey, especially if they’re “stylish.” Luckily some crafty people have come up with ways to make their own, like ModHomeEc. And if you want to save even more money, Martha Stewart has a ton of great summer DIY projects you can try, including DIY beach bags.
Spring Cleaning
If you’re still stuck in that spring-cleaning phase and can’t seem to find an end to the dirt and clutter, you might find yourself spending a lot of money on household cleaning products. It’s an unavoidable expense, right? Well, not necessarily.
The DIY Network presents another alternative for the cleaners out there: DIY cleaning products. Not only could this help you save money, but it’s also an environmentally friendly way to go. Now that you’re cutting down on the money you spend on necessary chores, how else can you save some cash?
Nickels and Dimes
Even saving coins can go a long way. While it obviously won’t pay for an airline ticket or hotel stay, it can definitely help with minor expenses, like going out to eat or buying souvenirs. However, if your change is scattered around, on your floor, or under the couch cushions, it will be a bit difficult to gather it together and make it useful.
Instead, try organizing all your change with these fun coin holders that are easy to make and won’t cost very much. DIY piggy banks that are divided into each type of coin also can help you save while also organizing all the change for easy conversion. Turn those coins into cash you can use on your next trip!
Fun Budgeting
Okay, so “fun” and “budgeting” generally aren’t used together in the same sentence, but there are some things you can do to inspire yourself to save. And who doesn’t want a little more spending money lying around?
Instead of only using boring spreadsheets and online programs to keep track of how much money you’re allowed to spend for different reasons (rent, groceries, gas, etc.), you can create (or download) easy-to-make financial envelopes, like these from Money Saving Mom, to take actual cash and get a more tangible feel for how much money you have and what you can spend it on. This can help you keep from splurging and set your finances on track for the summer.
Conclusion
There are all kinds of routes you can take to save money and start planning an awesome summer vacation. Whether you’re looking to cut back on money you spend for daily household projects or simply trying to refrain from dropping all your spending money on amazing beach attire, there are tons of awesome DIY projects out there you can use to cut back spending. Many of the ideas above, and a ton of other projects, can be found on Pinterest, so go hunt for some good DIY ideas!
