Not long ago I got the first of several high school graduation announcements in the mail. They came from distant family members as well as local friends.
My guess is that several of these young people will be moving on to college in the fall. In fact, the National Center for Education Statistics shows that the college enrollment rate has stayed at or above 60% for nearly 20 years.
However, a college degree puts many young people into serious debt, which is why every penny counts. One way to offset some of the cost is through saving money during summer break. Here are some ways to do it.
Sell Stuff You No Longer Use
One way you can put extra money in the bank is to sell stuff you no longer use. Decluttering and eliminating “stuff” keeps it out of your parent’s way while you’re away at school. At the same time, it helps you save money during summer break.
To make the most from your things, spend a little time looking for the best websites to sell them. For everything else, have a garage sale.
Have Free or Cheap Fun
There are lots of fun free summer activities you can participate in to save money during summer break. Go to the lake or the beach with friends to cool off for less money. Go on picnics or have a BBQ and play outside games with your pals. Be sure everyone contributes and don’ go overboard and you can still save money.
Fill Out Surveys Instead of Watching TV
When you have downtime in the summer, why not use it to make money? You can still sit around. Just fill out surveys instead of watching TV while you’re in your favorite chair.
Do Yardwork for Others
If you can find a few people who need their lawns mowed, and you have a mower, get busy. Mowing lawns is a great way to make a lot of extra cash in a just a few months.
Get a Side Hustle or Second Job
Need to save a lot of money? Maybe you need a side hustle or a second full time job. That’s what I did the summer before my sophomore year of college. Not only did I make enough to cover my summer wedding, I also paid most of my college bills the next fall.
Plan Your Move to College Ahead of Time
Depending on how much stuff you plan to take to college, moving can be expensive. Plan your move carefully during summer break so you can save as much money as possible.
Barter Instead of Paying
Sometimes you can get away with getting a product or service for free to save money during your summer break. Try to barter with friends, family, and others for what you want. You’ll save money and so will they.
Save Money Everyday
Not everyone realized that there are plenty of ways you can save money around your home. Use natural light and cool breezes instead of paying for lighting and air conditioning. Turn off small appliances and unplug them when they aren’t in use.
Don’t Eat Out
One of the biggest money sucks in summer is eating out. Try making new recipes and digging out old ones to save over summer break. Use what you already have on hand in creative ways to save money.
Drink water instead of soda pop and avoid alcohol as much as possible. This will help your food budget to stay on track.
Summary
As you can see, there are lots of ways you can save money during summer break. Try a few of these, or all of them, to save as much as you can for college expense or other needs.
Track All Your Accounts With Personal Capital

What things have you done in the past to save money during summer break?
Yeah, I saved my money to buy a subscription of Crunchyroll. Thank you so much for the tips.
Well, the idea behind the post was to work and save money during summer break to be able to afford college costs. But, I suppose college students do have to have some entertainment. 🙂