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Summer is just around the corner, and doing a little bit of prep work can make the transition a lot easier. Here’s my ultimate frugal summer prep checklist to help you get every area of your life ready for the change in routine. Don’t feel like you have to do everything on this checklist—just pull the ones that apply to you and your family!
The Ultimate Frugal Summer Prep Checklist
Financial Prep
Whether you have kids or not, the summer usually brings a change in spending habits. Vacations, camps, and meals can all contribute to needing to take a look at your budget.
Financial prep checklist:
- Review last summer’s spending
- Set a summer-specific budget (May–August)
- Create a weekly “fun money” limit
- Plan for higher grocery + electricity costs
- Decide in advance how many paid outings you’ll allow
Posts you might find helpful:
15 Family Routines that Naturally Reduce Spending
Calendar Prep
Looking ahead at the calendar and filling in things that you already know about can help the transition go much more smoothly. Consider vacations, camps, free community events, Vacation Bible School, etc. Many families find success in creating weekly rhythms, such as having an at-home day, an errand day, a water day (pool or other water activity), and so on.
Calendar prep checklist:
- Write down all camps, trips, and events now
- Schedule free library programs and community events
- Block “at-home days” to avoid default spending
- Choose 1–2 inexpensive day trips for the whole summer
Educational Prep
School might be out, but without some kind of mental stimulation kids can start to go a little stir crazy. There are lots of options for things to do to keep your kids’ brains fresh without making them feel like they’re still in school.
Educational prep checklist:
- Set a summer reading goal per child
- Sign up for library summer reading programs
- Make a simple daily learning routine (20–30 min)
- Print or save free worksheets/resources
- Create a summer learning basket
- Plan real-life learning
Posts you may find helpful:
10 Ways to Encourage Summer Reading
100 Books For Kids to Read this Summer
10 Books to Read Aloud with Your Kids This Summer (and then Watch the Movie!)
40 Educational YouTube Channels for Kids
Frugal Skills to Teach Your Kids
Food and Meal Prep
Summer can be tough with food, because you don’t really want to be in the kitchen and sometimes schedules can be different. Additionally, if your kids are in school and are now home, you may have additional meals to think about and plan for.
Food and meal prep checklist:
- List easy no-oven meals for hot days
- Stock freezer with simple summer dinners
- Plan cheap snack options before summer starts
- Identify seasonal produce you’ll rely on
- Make a list of cheap “fun foods” (popsicles, watermelon, etc.)
- Set a weekly grocery shopping day + plan
Posts you may find helpful:
The Frugal Guide to Kids and Snacks
18 Grilled Meat Recipes
Oven-Free Summer Recipes for Hot Days
Home and Outdoor Prep
This is the time of year to pull out the beach toys, the pool toys, and the swimming gear and see what you need to buy for the coming summer. Keep your eye out for sales on bug spray, sunscreen, and other summer needs.
Home and outdoor prep checklist:
- Clean and organize outdoor toys and gear
- Check swimsuits, sandals, sunscreen, goggles early
- Make a bin near your door to keep beach towels
- Set up a simple backyard play area
- Wash coolers, picnic supplies, and water bottles
- Create a summer grab-and-go outing bin
Post you may find helpful:
Life With Kids: What to Put in a Summer Go Bag
Fun Prep
Maybe you can’t fully plan fun, but you can definitely make a plan to fight boredom.
- Make a Summer Fun List before boredom hits
- Create a “boredom jar” with free activity ideas
- Plan regular family movie or game nights at home
- Set screen time expectations early
- Rotate toys/books instead of buying new
Posts you may find helpful:
75 Things to Do Outside
Southern Savers Top Summer Fun Ideas
Travel and Outing Prep
Making sure you’re prepped for outings and trips can make summer feel a lot less stressful.
- Pack a permanent car kit (towels, snacks, water, sunscreen)
- Have a change of clothes and an extra bathing suit in the car for spontaneous outings
- Keep a basket of on-the-go snacks you can grab
- Decide travel snack rules to avoid gas-station spending
- Map free stops for road trips (parks, playgrounds, scenic areas)
Posts you may find helpful:
Frugal Road Trip Meal and Snack Ideas
10 Great Apps for Planning Road Trips and Vacations
12 Audiobooks for Family Road Trips
Utility Prep
It’s always amazing to see how our bills change in the summer, not just because it’s hotter, but because some days we are at home a lot more and having more lights on; more time on computers or Tvs; etc. makes our daily bill go up so much. Here are some things you can do to try to keep costs down this summer.
Utility prep checklist:
- Plan cooling strategies (fans, blackout curtains, thermostat habits)
- Service or clean AC filters
- Use slow cookers, pressure cookers, and air fryers instead of the oven
- Create a plan for low-electricity days (pool, library, errands)
Posts you may find helpful:
How to Decrease Summer Cooling Costs
Do you have any ideas on frugal summer prep? Let us know in the comments!
