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Summer, how I adore thee (though not the associated costs)

PSA: I did a spot of blog housekeeping yesterday, which may have caused a bunch of old posts to resurface in your RSS feed. Thanks for your patience!

As a Southern Hemisphere blogger, it’s hard watching basically everyone else bask in the sun through June, July and August and posting up delicious seasonal recipes.

NOW MY TIME HAS COME.

Mwahah.Beach erosion

Yes. Polished toes and regularly shaved pits are back in my life. So are other things … I’ve never done an explicit analysis, but I suspect summer is more expensive than winter. In winter, we hole up at home, put Sky Movies back on our package, cook plenty of root veges and beans and mince, and rarely go out to eat.

Summer means:

Fruit. Scrumptious, juicy melons and berries and grapes. Fruit that is almost all water, and therefore not filling or cost-effective at all, but so good on the palate.

Sunblock. ‘Nuff said. I’ve just discovered that the massive bottle we keep in the glovebox has expired and the one other tube we have (which I’m positive we bought on our trip to Waiheke back in 2010) has no best before date, which is probably a sign I should assume it’s no longer good.

Bug repellent. The critters flock to me like sand to the crevasses between your toes. Also, bug spray for inside the house. Oh, and anti-itch, anti-histamine type creams to dull the fiery itch post-bite.

Burning up the petrol. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s filling up the car. But it’s worth it for a good day trip.

Contacts. I haven’t worn ’em in a year, but if we’re going to have a proper summer, it’s time they returned. Also, I need a pair for the wedding.

Higher power bills. Weirdly, T used the fan so much last summer that our electricity use actually fell once winter came around. At least we’ll save on oven usage – who wants to slave over a hot oven when it’s 20 degrees or more? Plus, I’ve been in a serious baking rut anyway. Those ingredients add up – chocolate, coconut, flavoured essences etc. I haven’t bought flour or sugar in months. You’ll probably spend more on gas for the BBQ, but if you have a gas heater for winter, it probably evens out.

 Do you tend to spend more in summer or winter? What’s your favourite season?

15 thoughts on “Summer, how I adore thee (though not the associated costs)

  • Reply Cassie January 4, 2013 at 08:21

    *whimper* I miss summer….
    Actually, I find that summer is an expensive season for me as well. Sure, our winter has Christmas, but the summer is when we work on the house, have BBQs (meat costs money!), travel… This winter is the first winter that I’m actually going on vacation somewhere, so maybe it will balance out this year?

  • Reply Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies January 4, 2013 at 08:32

    Love the evil laugh. If it’s a particularly mild winter like the one we’ve been having so far, it’s cheaper because we don’t have to heat the house. But when it gets really cold (and for us that means in the 30’s F at night!) the prices skyrocket! Our electric heat is way less efficient than our AC is at cooling, so heating costs more per day than AC in the summer. But luckily we only use the heat a couple of weeks/year max.

    Winter can also get pricey because that’s when I have all my races – and I easily spend $500 or more each year going to a few different races around the state. But I love them, so I’m okay with it. =)

  • Reply Girl Meets Debt January 4, 2013 at 10:04

    I’m definately a summer girl and I think I spend more in summer as well. Patio season usually means patio drinks and dinner which I am going to try to curb this year. There’s just so much more to DO in summer in my part of the world but I’m going to look into the more affordable stuff 🙂

  • Reply Stephany January 4, 2013 at 10:21

    I’m not really sure if I spend more money in summer or winter! Winter has Christmas and all the expenditures that entails. But summer usually has a higher electricity bill (yay, 90-degree temps!) and I like to travel. I guess it all balances out?

    I would say “enjoy the heat” but it’s about the same temp here as it is where you are! And this is cold for us! HA.

    • Reply eemusings January 4, 2013 at 10:30

      LOL! We currently have visitors from France who have come from winter, obviously, yet they are COLD. They keep asking me if I’m warm enough (looking askance at my skirt/tank top) and I just have to laugh and remind them that this is summer and anything in the 20s celsius is HOT for us.

  • Reply krantcents January 4, 2013 at 10:48

    I love summer because I am on vacation. My expenses stay pretty level year round although utilities are a little higher in the summer (air conditioning). It evens out during the winter. There is something about sunshine and higher temperatures that is uplifting.

  • Reply Michelle January 4, 2013 at 11:16

    Haha I’m so jealous! I tend to spend more in the summer just because it seems like everyone has more time for fun stuff.

  • Reply Country Girl January 4, 2013 at 14:39

    Utilities are more in the winter (damn you baseboard heaters and darkness at 4:30 PM), but I spend more freely in the summer when I’m not hibernating. Fall is my favourite season – not too hot, not too cold and best of all, the mosquitos are dead and gone.

  • Reply Digital Personal Finance January 4, 2013 at 18:52

    Good question! I think I probably spend more in the winter, due to the holidays as well as heating bills. In the summer, one can enjoy being outdoors and have a broader range of activities to do. Being a Northern Hemisphere blogger, this is the expensive season 🙂 Though we just got past the “peak” of the expensive time.

  • Reply fabulously frugirl January 6, 2013 at 05:56

    Even though our colder months are longer, I spend more in the summer, for sure. Traveling aside, it’s much more tempting to spend time on patios having drinks/dinner with friends, camping/weekend trips, etc. I also think that since winters are so long in Toronto, we tend to feel like we’re “set free” being able to walk about in shorts and tanks, and then that translates to my wallet, as well. 😛

  • Reply Budget & the Beach January 7, 2013 at 05:18

    For sure on the sunscreen! I think I probably do spend more in summer because it’s lighter out and I want to be outside and having a cocktail with a friend on a patio somewhere. In winter I tend to hibernate, work more, and probably watch more TV (yes even in sunny LA). Enjoy your summer!

  • Reply Elizabeth @ Simple Finance January 7, 2013 at 06:54

    Oh, you’ve made me MISS summer here in the States! We’re mired in winter. Anyway, I far prefer summer. We pay for a pool membership, and it’s so worth it. I love the warm air poolside!

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