The Ultimate Summer Money Guide: Budgeting for a Stress-Free Season

Raise your hand if you've ever looked at your credit card bill in August and thought, “How the hell did this happen?” 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

You’re not alone.

Summer hits different. A dinner here, a last-minute weekend trip there, a wedding gift you forgot about, a new swimsuit, that final summer camp payment—and suddenly it’s Labor Day weekend and your bank account is sweating more than you are. 🥵

Look, I’ve been there. In summer 2016, I was on a boat to Martha’s Vineyard when my debit card overdrafted 14 times. I literally couldn’t buy a coffee, let alone cover my meals. I felt humiliated, ashamed, and so overwhelmed. That was my breaking point—and I swore I’d never be that unprepared again.

So believe me when I say I’m not here to shame you for spending more in the summer. I’m here to talk strategy. Because summer isn’t just a season—it’s a budgeting event. And like any event, it deserves a little planning.

Enter: Forecasting.

aka a fancy word for “planning ahead.” Forecasting is about getting clear on what’s coming, as much as possible, so you're not caught off guard. You can’t control everything (hi, broken AC and surprise bridal shower invites), but you can plan for the things you do know are coming: weddings, vacations, summer camps, even oil changes.

Here’s what that looks like in real life:

You open your calendar and brain-dump everything on deck this summer—weddings, vacations, camps, travel, social events, even seasonal spikes in your electric bill. You estimate the cost of each item or event, then create a game plan with your budget for how to cover everything, or determine what to say no to this year. You’re not crossing your fingers hoping it all works out. You’re setting yourself up to spend with clarity and confidence.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Zoom Out: Start with the big picture. What’s coming up over the next three months? Open your calendar and list every event, expense, and seasonal shift.
  
• Estimate Costs: You don’t need exact numbers—just ballpark it. And if you’re not sure, guess high. Better to have extra than come up short.
  
• Map It Out: Match your expenses to your income. Add little reminders in your calendar like “Flight for bachelorette due June 20—cover it with June’s income.”
  
• Adjust as Needed: If it feels tight, cool. That’s just data. Use it to shift or cut back in some areas—not from guilt or shame, but from your values.
  
• Check In Weekly: Budgets are living things. Update your forecast as life unfolds so nothing catches you off guard.

Forecasting makes summer feel doable. You can go to the BBQ and pay your bills. You can say yes to fun without saying no to your financial future.

Need help getting started?

I made you a downloadable PDF that walks you through everything—from brain-dumping your summer expenses to organizing them in a way that actually works. 

Give yourself a summer that's fun AND fully funded.