It’s June 1^st in two days’ time and that means the summer months are almost officially here. June, July and August usually bring brighter, warmer weather which, in turn, brings lots of opportunities to enjoy being outside. If you’re a sun-worshipper, we’re sure you’ve already started planning lots of fun things to do out and about this summertime!

Summer activities are great – even the smallest of things are often more enjoyable when the sun is out. However, if you’re a bit of an over-spender, the idea of getting involved with summer activities may worry you – especially if you’ve set yourself a strict budget for this year.

Well, stop worrying! Not all summer activities have to pull at your purse strings and end up costing a fortune – there are plenty of things you can get involved with this summer that won’t cost much or ruin your budget. We’ve come up with a few money saving ideas that mean you can start enjoying summer, without thinking about how much you’re spending…

Have a garden BBQ – summer is the season of barbecue food so why not organize one in your own garden? If you ask your guests to bring something to go on the grill, or some snacks, drinks or sweet treats, it’ll be a cheap day for everyone. Spending time in the sun with your family, friends and good food is a great way to enjoy a summer’s day without spending too much money.

Go to the beach – the perfect way to enjoy the sunshine. If the nearest beach is a bit of a drive away, why not get everyone to pitch in for some gas money? Then all you’ll need is some snacks and drinks – which you can bring from home so you won’t have to spend any money for the whole day.

Make ice cream – it’s hard to spend money on ice cream throughout the months of June to August – we all do it! So, instead of watching the dollars/pounds add up for all the ice cream you’re buying, why not have a go at making your own? You could create a big batch that will last, so you won’t need to be spending each time you fancy a treat. All you need is some milk, cream, egg yolks and sugar – and the flavoring of your choice. There are some great recipes online so take a look.

Visit a local park – a free activity that’s very enjoyable whenever the weather is nice. Whether you fancy a walk with a few friends, or use the time to spend catching up with your parents, there are loads of free parks you can visit throughout the summer. You could even take a picnic with you, with food from home, so that you don’t have to spend any money on eating whilst you’re out and about.

Go camping – get your friends together, grab a couple of tents and pitch up underneath the stars for a few days whilst enjoying the great weather. Camping is a great way to spend a vacation in summertime without having to spend a lot of money, especially if you self-cater rather than eat at restaurants.

We’d love to hear some of your money saving plans or ideas for this summer so leave us a comment below…