save energy
A major cost contributor in the summer is the energy used to try to lower the room temperature. That’s why Mercury lists some mistakes in the energy balance that cost money in summer. First of all, you should refrain from leaving the window open all day in summer. Once the warm air from outside has been let in, it is difficult to cool the apartment or house down again. It is best to air the room in the morning or at night and open all doors and windows at the same time for a good draft.
You should also make sure to protect the windows from the sun with blinds or curtains during the day. Because when the sun bangs unhindered on window fronts, living rooms heat up so much that one can hardly do without the use of fans or air conditioning.
It is also explained that, if possible, you should avoid using air conditioning systems, as they consume a lot of electricity. The more energy-saving variant are fans. Although they do not cool the air directly, the movement of the air gives the impression of a cooler room temperature. In addition, they are said to have a power consumption that is 20 to 50 times lower than that of air conditioning units and therefore consume little electricity.
Plants in the apartment are also helpful for cooling down apartments and houses in an energy-efficient manner. Potted plants cool the perceived room temperature as they evaporate water.
You should also make sure that not all power guzzlers such as televisions, lights or PCs are constantly running in the household, as these also produce heat. What is currently not needed should therefore be switched off so as not to increase the room temperature unnecessarily.
Save money on vacation
For many, summer vacation is also a cost that should not be underestimated. But money can also be saved here. The DIY magazine “Selfermachen” therefore gives tips on how holidaymakers can save money in the summer. First of all, you should not just book the first holiday offer that comes along. If you want to save when booking transport and accommodation, you should take a close look at the offers from various travel portals.
It is also helpful to search for flights and accommodation in incognito mode or to delete the cookies after each search. If a booking portal recognizes that you will be coming back, higher prices are called up in order to record the booking. As a newcomer to the site, you can usually get flights and accommodation at significantly lower prices.
If you can travel very flexibly in summer, you should keep open the possibility of a last-minute offer. There are often beautiful travel destinations at good and, above all, low prices.
If you go on holiday by car, you should make sure that the tire pressure on the car is correct, as the wrong tire pressure leads to higher fuel consumption and is not good for the car in the long term. You can also travel to many, mostly cheaper, domestic holiday destinations by car.
Saving tips for at home
But you can also save money at home in the summer with a few tricks. The online magazine “Guter Rat” has some tips for saving money in summer. For example, in order to use the sun and heat in summer, you can do without the dryer when doing laundry and dry the laundry in the sun. On average, a whole 50 euros can be saved in the three summer months.
If you like to treat yourself to an ice cream in summer, you can save yourself a trip to the ice cream parlour. Many recipes for homemade ice cream can be found online, which makes enjoying your favorite ice cream much cheaper than in the ice cream parlour. Raspberry ice cream, for example, can be conjured up with just a few ingredients such as frozen raspberries, creamy yoghurt and some vanilla and powdered sugar.
Another great way to cool off and save money is to take a cold or lukewarm shower in the summer. You can save up to 65 euros in the summer months.
Besides a cold shower, the cold kitchen is also a great way to save money. In summer, many would rather have a refreshing salad than a hot soup anyway. If you leave the stove off more often in summer, you not only save electricity, but also prevent the apartment or house from heating up.
Passionate grillers can save money in the summer by using a charcoal grill. These are much cheaper to buy than gas or electric grills. If you also marinate your grilled food yourself, you can also save money. Unmarinated meat is usually cheaper and healthier.
If you don’t want to miss out on excursions in summer, but also don’t want to spend a fortune to visit an amusement park, you can go on cycling or hiking tours and visit idyllic places in the area. There is also a cheaper option for visiting a swimming pool. Admission to bathing lakes usually costs significantly less than that to swimming pools or is even completely free. If you bring your own food with you on excursions, you can also save money on catering.
E. Schmal / Editor finanzen.net
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