Keep Your Cool Without Heating Up Your Bank Account

As the hot summer temperatures start to climb, people start looking for ways to keep cool without having to empty their bank accounts to do it. Gas prices are increasing again, causing families to reconsider summer fun trips to water parks and amusement parks and find ways to entertain everyone in their own yards. Here are some tips for keeping cool without heating up your bank account:

1. Don't run your AC at maximum power at the lowest possible temperatures. Keeping it set for 73 or 75 degrees is going to remove the humidity from the air in your home and keep it cooler than it is outside – providing the relief you need.

2. Visit the dollar store or Wal-mart and pick up an inexpensive, battery operated fan with water bottle mister. These are great for cooling off outdoors. If you can't find any of the little fans, just grab a plastic spray bottle and keep it filled with cool water for a quick spritz whenever you need an instant cool down.

3.Try using the microwave or grill or campfire to do your summer time cooking. Heating up the oven will raise the temperature in your home, and it uses more energy. Eat lighter meals in the summer that don't require the use of the oven.

4. Make your own neck cooler with a clean sock filled about 2/3 of the way with rice. Tie the end in a knot, run under water and stick it in the freezer overnight. When it gets super hot, pull it out and wrap it around your neck or your head to cool off. If you make a few of these, you'll be able to grab a new one from the freezer when the first warm loses it's cooling effect!

5. Keep your windows covered which face the south and west during the day. The coverings will help block out some of the heat from the sun as the temperatures rise outside and keep the temperature cooler inside.

6. Clean the coils of your refrigerator. Clean coils allow the refrigerator to run more efficiently, which means it uses less energy – which means it costs you less AND releases less heat into the room.

7. If you don't have a pool, go to the local pool or a friend's home to take a dip. If none of these are viable options for you, consider a blow-up pool large enough to lie down in. They're inexpensive, and once filled with cold water from your hose, will quickly reduce your body temperature and help you cool off.