With June right around the corner, it’s time to start setting up your June budget. As you’re getting your budget ready for the start of summer, don’t forget to add these June budget categories.
Father’s Day
Father’s Day is in the middle of June. Whether you’re planning a barbeque, a nice lunch out, or just want to get a small gift, don’t forget to budget for this day!
Graduation
College graduation was in May, but High Schools where I live graduate in early to mid June. You don’t have to go all out, but don’t forget to plan for a small gift either.
Increased Utilities
For us, the summer is when we see our electric bill start to rise. Partly because our pool filter is running, but also because we put in the air conditioners and try to take some of the humidity out of our house. Either way, be sure to budget for an increase in these utility bills during the summers.
Lawn Care
In our corner of the northeast, June is when our grass really starts to grow, and needs mowed frequently. Whether you pay someone to care for your lawn, or you do it yourself, it’s not free. Look at your lawn expenses in the past to get an idea of how much you’ll be spending throughout the growing season.
Garden
Since we have short growing season on my mountain, June is when we can get a lot of our planting done. Whether your season is just starting, or you’re in the midst of it, make sure to set a budget, and stick to it! Don’t be afraid to get creative too! Some of the best results we’ve had in the garden over the years have been from things we’ve had to come up with on the fly.
Pest Control
Warm weather means more critters. If you’re the type that likes to spray for bugs and other pests, make sure you budget for it rather than be surprised by a big bill later.
Farmer’s Market
Our farmer’s markets started in May, so June through August are the main months for going to the markets. I really enjoy going to the Farmers Market for fruits and veggies that I don’t, or can’t, grow. It’s a favorite place for plums, and peaches too. Either way, don’t forget to budget for the expenses for fresh fruit, veggies, herbs and flowers, whether you incorporate the cost into your weekly grocery budget, or you have a separate envelope for it.
Extracurricular Fees
Between youth camps in the summer, sports, marching band and theatre league, funding all the extra curricular activities isn’t cheap. Make sure that you budget for, and save for these expenses ahead of time.
Also, be sure to budget for any uniforms, pictures and fundraisers that may come up.
Sports Physicals
Summer time is the perfect time to get those annual checkups in! Plus, if your child is playing school sports, they’re going to need a current physical on file. If you need to pay a co-pay, don’t forget it in the budget.
Library Fines
We don’t visit the library much during the school year since we’re busy doing all sorts of other things, but when school is out, we go multiple times a week. It never fails that our first time back at the start of the summer we owe some sort of library fine for a late book the summer before. {True story… Bookworm owed a $10 fine.}
Instrument Care
For those band mom’s, summer is the perfect time to get that instrument for a cleaning and see if there are any repairs that need done. While I cringe at the bill, I know from personal experience that getting it in for routine maintenance will help keep the cost of emergency repairs and instrument replacement rentals down.
Birthdays, Weddings & Baby Showers
With the nicer weather comes a plethora of birthday celebrations, weddings and baby showers. If you’ve been invited, make sure to set aside some money in your budget so you don’t overspend. We have a separate savings account for gifting purposes, but sometimes we have more invitations than money in our account.
If you can’t afford any more financial stretch in your budget, slowly add money to a gift card over the span of a few weeks, or buy one item at a time within the normal constraints of your weekly budget. I find not only does it help keep us within our weekly budget, but we get really creative, and much more meaningful, on what we’re gifting.
Car Maintenance
I have to take my car in for it’s annual inspections in April, but even when I didn’t have to, spring to summer is the perfect time to take your car in for some maintenance. Changing the oil, rotating tires, and washing off all the roads salt is a perfect start to keeping your car in tip-top shape for the remainder of the year. While your car is being maintained, don’t forget to have them check your tire tread. It’s always better to save up for tires than to have them surprise you right before winter comes.
Eye & Dental Exams
Just like wither annual physicals, summer is a great time to get the kids in for their exams. Every spring and fall we have our semi-annual dental exams, and the summer is our annual eye exams. If it’s been a while for either, you may want to get yourself in for a checkup. Better to be on top of your health than have to play crisis management later on.
Sinking Funds
Be sure to keep up with any of your sinking funds. For us, we’re still saving for our quarterly and annual bills, as well as medical expenses. We’ve got a new sinking fund for a down payment on Bookworm’s orthodontic work coming up in the summer.
Christmas
It’s June, and that means Christmas is 6 months away. Best to get started on saving up now so you know your budget when December comes.
Vacation / Travel
Summer time is the perfect time to travel with the kids, so whether it’s fees for the local campground, lodging at the hotel near the amusement parks, and amusement park ticket costs, don’t forget about the other expenses that may come up. These can include pet boarding, parking fees, beach day passes and so on.
Miscellaneous Summer Costs
Between admission to the community pool, sunscreen, sandals, and so on, there are small expenses that can eat up a good chunk of your budget when they’re all added up. Be sure to have a miscellaneous category for these items.
Fourth Celebrations
July is right around the corner, and guaranteed you’re already thinking about what to do over the 4th of July holiday. Whether it’s BBQs and picnics, travelling to see family, or just going out for the day and viewing some spectacular fireworks, start setting aside some money for it now so it’s less of a financial burden at the start of July.
Looking to set up your budget for a different month?
- May Budget Categories
- April Budget Categories
- March Budget Categories
- February Budget Categories
- January Budget Categories
Are there any other budget categories you included in your June budget that I aren’t on this list? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll be sure to add them!
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