Saturday, Jul. 04, 2009

TIPS: 9 cheap ways to stay beat the heat

With gas prices at an average $2.67 and climbing, hitting the road this summer may not be an attractive option. There's no need to pay expensive water park prices with plenty of fun alternatives to staying cool right in your backyard.

1. Make lemonade.Yes, extreme heat can be a bummer for kids ready to romp outside, but turn that energy into a money making venture. Make several gallons and different flavors of lemonade to sell outside. Bring or borrow a big umbrella to stay in the shade -- and don't forget to taste the wares!

2. Make a head cooler.Using an old (clean) sock fill it 2/3 with rice and tie the end in a knot. Rinse it with water for even cooler effect. Put it in the freezer overnight. When the heat turns up, wrap it around your neck or head for a cool off.

3. Keep a spray bottle handy for water showers.I'm not sure how practical this would be in public, but if you plan to be outside (for more than 3 minutes in Texas) it's definitely worth it. They even sell fancy misters for between $6.95 and $12.95.

4. Get a season pass at your local aquatic center.I consider my town's pool system to be top-notch -- they offer giant slides, a lazy river, kiddie pool, lap pool, and lily pad activity area -- and for just $50, residents have full access all summer. Unless you are close to a natural body of water, get a season pass to stay cool at the pool.

5. Wear white clothing and use a hat.Wide-brim hats are a bit goofy, and I don't recommend them if you're just running into the store. But if you plan to spend a good part of the day outside, get some head coverage, preferably with UV protection, to guard your face. I recently donned a canvas wide brim on a hike through West Texas and it made a huge difference. Light colored clothing will reflect sun rather than absorb it like dark colors.

6. Make homemade ice cream.A gallon of good-tasting ice cream costs about $6.99. By investing $60 or less on a wooden ice cream maker (or less if you buy used), you'll start saving money after just thirteen gallons. Cranking the cream is also a fun job for tiny, idle hands.

7. Let fresh air in during the morning.Don't let indoor pollutants contaminate your air during the summer. Open the windows and turn on fans in the morning to air out the place. After mid-morning during the scorching months this is not an option, but take advantage of it until the temperature hits the 80s.

8. Always park in the shade.Even if you have to hike twice as far to the mall. Seek out a shade tree or parking garage spot at all costs to avoid dangerously high temperatures inside your car.

9. Acclimate yourself to a warmer temperature.My friends from Zimbabwe always have a hot house, probably close to 80 degrees. I leave dinners from their house sweating and freeze out my apartment to cool off. They experienced a huge shock moving to this country as they don't have AC back home -- they found the extreme variance between the hot outside air and frigid AC inside to be disturbing. Proof we can adjust our comfort level to a warmer temperature!

As always, apply at least 30 SPFto your exposed skin areas when spending time outside this summer. Don't forget the nose and lips! Reapply every two hours for maximum protection. Make staying cool this summer cheap and fun with these tips from Go Frugal.