The Summer is the perfect time of year to get out and try new things. Whether it’s a new restaurant in your neighborhood, a new ride at your favorite theme park, or simply a weekend away with the family, summer can be a drain on your finances. If you’re concerned about the state of your bank account but you don’t want to sacrifice your summer fun, follow these simple money-saving tips for summer.

1. Adjust Your Air Conditioner

While having Air Conditioning can make your summer a lot more comfortable, it can also be very expensive. According to Energy Star, half of the energy most people use in their homes goes toward cooling and heating. Save some money by turning up the thermostat a couple of degrees or open the windows on a cool day. For every degree you reduce your air conditioning, you’ll save about 3% of your energy bill. That adds up over time!

2. Be Frugal with Lawn Care

Everyone wants their lawn to look lush and green but the truth is that it takes a lot of work (and money) to make that happen. According to surveys, between 50% and 70% of U.S. residential water use goes toward landscaping – that’s a significant amount!

Save money by cutting down on your water usage by watering every other day instead of every day. Or simply don’t water your lawn as much as you normally would. Take advantage of rain when it happens and consider installing a rain barrel to collect rainwater that you can then use to water your lawn and garden.

3. Join a Carpool

Commuting to work each and every day is expensive. When you factor in the cost of gas, auto insurance, and parking fees (not to mention the amount of time you spend doing it), you may be surprised just how much you are spending. Not only is carpooling a responsible decision for the environment, but it can also save you some money. In fact, a recent survey shows that carpooling could save you anywhere from $650 to over $1,000 per year.

4. Grow Your Own Food

Nothing tastes better than food you grow with your own hands. Not only is homegrown more delicious, but it is also more affordable. If you have some outdoor space to work with, try your hand at growing some food. You can start off easy with a couple of herbs or go all-out with a vegetable garden. If you don’t have a green thumb, try shopping at farmers markets instead – you’ll get better quality produce at a lower price than your grocery store.

5. Plan a Staycation

When the kids are on summer break, it’s the perfect time of year to plan a family vacation. Unfortunately, vacation costs can become prohibitive once you factor in everything from transportation to accommodation to entertainment. If you want to enjoy time with your family without breaking the bank, consider planning a staycation instead. Take time off work and devote an entire weekend (or longer) to enjoyable family activities. Pop a tent in the backyard, have a movie marathon, cook dinner together – the options are endless.

Saving money isn’t as difficult as many people imagine it to be. In fact, you’ll find that you can cut down on expenses simply by being a little more cognizant of how much you are using certain resources. For example, adjusting your thermostat by just a few degrees could make a world of difference. Try it along with the other money-saving tips listed above!