Summer is here! The July long weekend is fast approaching and summer plans are well underway.

Summer is loads of fun but the reality is that I don’t really look at our budget while we’re in busy enjoying ourselves. I make sure the bills get paid but that’s about it. Now that we have most of our plans set out, it’s time to check the cost of the fun against our budget L

There are 3 elements to our summer budget:

1. Regular Expenses – While you’re away, regular expenses don’t go away so it’s important to make sure the money is there to pay the bills.
2. Vacation and Travel – I heard on the news this morning that Canadians plan to spend an average of $1,800 on summer travel – down from $2,400 last year. Gas has gone up and air travel is always more expensive over the summer months. Of course other vacation expenses to include are accommodation, transportation, meals, activities and incidentals.
3. Additional Childcare – With school out early, many of us are already managing higher childcare expenses for June and summer camps all come with a cost. Be sure to factor this into your budget.

Often the early bird gets the worm and booking ahead can save you some money but now that we’re close to the wire, last minute deals are popping up. Flexibility is the ticket!