Good morning HTM fam! 

Some quick life advice that almost never fails: 

If you feel like you hate everyone, you probably need to eat. 😋

If you feel like everyone hates you, you probably need to sleep. 😴 

If you feel like you hate yourself, you probably need a nice hot shower. 🚿 

And if your problems feel too big to handle, go outside and touch some good old fashioned grass. 🌷

Cheesy as it sounds, it actually works most of the time! 

Okay, on to the money stuff! 😤

TO DO

Join a “Buy Nothing” Facebook Group 💻

One of our favorite money-saving hacks is to join and participate in a “buy nothing” group! 

A buy nothing group" helps to promote a “hyper-local gift economy,” where folks can reduce waste and save money by lending or by gifting unwanted items from their homes. But beyond the free stuff, participating in a buy nothing group can help you feel more connected to your local community too. 

This week, do a Facebook search to see if your town has a buy nothing group. If so, put in a request to join. If not, consider starting your own buy nothing group!

LIFESTYLE

Free Summer Activities for Kids 👧

If you’re a parent, you know that summer means one thing and one thing only… having to entertain your kids 24/7 without the help of teachers and after-school programs. 😬

I kid, I kid! Being able to spend more time with your kids every Summer is a total blessing, and it’s okay to let them get a little bit bored. A little boredom can be good for kids and can help them develop skills and creativity. But keeping the little ones entertained and engaged in activities can be expensive… unless, of course, you know about these free and cheap summer activities for kids!

We’re halfway through the summer, so it’s only natural to feel like you’ve exhausted all your usual activities. So, today we’ve compiled some of our favorite creative frugal activities your little ones will love! 😊

🖼️Free Museum Days - If your little buddies have a respect for the finer things, consider taking them to your local museum. It doesn’t need to be an expensive outing. Tons of museums offer free days on a monthly or weekly basis! 

🌊Beach Day - This activity is perfect for those parents who want a little “me time” while also keeping the kiddos entertained. Borrow some cheap shovels and pails from a friend or neighbor, and let your kids have a sand castle contest! 

📚Library - When I was little, my mom took us to the library multiple times per week. Summers at the library can be especially fun because many libraries offer fun summer reading challenges with cute rewards for your avid reader. 

🎸Live Music - Give your kids an early introduction to your local music scene by taking them to outdoor summer concerts! Many of these are free and sometimes also feature food booths and lawn games. Remember, they’re never too young to develop taste. 😉

🍿Outdoor Movies - Few things are more exciting to a kid than watching a movie under the stars! Check your local community events listings to see if this is available where you live, or consider investing in a cheap projector! 

🔑Geocaching - Want to go on a real-life treasure hunt? Consider geocaching! You’ll discover and explore places you’ve never been and get active in the process. Just remember, if you take something, leave something of equal or greater value behind. 

♟️Board Games - Board games can provide hours upon hours of entertainment, and you can get them extremely cheap when you purchase them second-hand from a thrift store (just remember to check and make sure they aren’t missing any pieces). You can even do a board game exchange with friends - double win!

🛞DIY Obstacle Course - If you want your summer to feel like an episode of Wipeout (who else remembers that show?), consider making a DIY obstacle course in your backyard! Bust out some tires, some cones, pool noodles, and sprinklers! 

🌲Free Days at National Parks - Did you know that the National Parks offer a handful of free days throughout the year? If you live near one of these amazing sites, don’t pass up on the opportunity to see them without paying a dime. This Summer, you can get in for free on August 4th. Plus, some national parks are free year-round. Oh, and if you have a fourth grader, you can get into all the national parks for free.

🎨Chalk - A simple pack of chalk can provide hours of summer entertainment. You could also get some of your neighbors involved and create a chalk art gallery.

Hopefully, these ideas can spark some inspiration for you and your kiddos this Summer. If you have any favorite frugal summer activities, feel free to help other parents out by sharing them in the How To Money Facebook Group! 

TOGETHER WITH YNAB*

Budgeting Besties 🤜🤛

If you want to save more money in 2025 and don’t have a good budgeting system in place, you gotta check out YNAB.

Seriously, the average new user saves over $600 in the first 2 months using YNAB (and over $6k after one year)!

YNAB might be the game changer your finances need. And there’s no harm in trying them out because they have a 34 day free trial. After that, it’s $109 per year.

ICYMI

Noteworthy news…

Biweekly Pay Bliss 💛
If you get paid biweekly this year, you’ll enjoy two months where you’ll receive three paychecks instead of two. Depending on when you received your first paycheck of the year, you’ll receive an extra check in August or October. Time to start budgeting for that extra cash! 🤑

Wacky Summer Home Cooling Trick 🤪
Weird but true: During the UK’s brutal summer heat wave, Dr. Ben Roberts of Loughborough University found that smearing yogurt on the outside of your windows can cool your home by up to 3.5 degrees Celsius (that’s about 38 degrees Fahrenheit!)

The Cost of Friendship 👯
According to a new survey from Ally Bank, Gen Z and Millennials admit that social pressures are putting a strain on their finances. While only 18% budget for social gatherings, 59% report that their financial goals are affected by going out with their friends.

Signed, sealed, delivered & signing off! 🫡

Best friends out! 🍻