It’s possible that I’ve become a complete wuss when it comes to the heat. When it gets this hot (high 90s and into the 100s) I really want to just sit by our window AC unit and soak in the coolness, and it’s hard to get motivated to do much of anything if it means stepping foot outside.

Rather than venturing out into the heat my mind starts drifting into the “let’s go to the movies ALL DAY!” or “let’s go wander around the mall!” territory… both ideas that are totally not wallet-friendly because if I’m hanging out in a mall I’ll want to go shopping. Sometimes that’s just waay too much temptation.

Here are some budget friendly ideas that don’t involve running the AC non-stop, wandering around a tempting mall, or blowing your whole paycheck on marathon days at the movie theater (by the way, if you haven’t seen Moonrise Kingdom yet, you must!).

image by the culinary geek

Ideas for staying cool in the summer heat

1. Stand in the shower and run cool water over your feet There’s probably some science backing this idea but all I know is this always helps to cool me down.

2. Sleep with a bag of ice near your head Having that much freezing cold near me when I’m trying to sleep in the heat is helpful. The ice bag is mobile and can be easily moved to the hottest area on your body. It’s especially nice on the back of the neck and forehead.

3. Cool down from the inside out Drink plenty of water. You’ll feel cooler if you’re hydrated. Drink at least 8 ounces of water every hour and add mint leaves, lime, or cucumber for added refreshment. Sales on popsicles and ice-cream usually run non-stop at the grocery store in the summer… a great (and tasty) way to cool down from the inside out.

4. Put your pillow case or PJ’s in the freezer before you go to bed Laying your head on a cold pillow case or pulling on chilly pajamas is a great cooling-down technique (a Facebook friend recommended the PJ’s in the freezer idea- such a great tip!).

5. Lay in an ice-cold bath Fill the tub with cold water and ice-cubes to get that core temp down.

6. Keep your blinds closed and add a layer of paper accordion-fold panels We live in a west-facing corner unit that gets blasted with sun all day long. In addition to keeping the blinds closed all day we added a layer of inexpensive paper accordion-fold blinds (approx. $10 for 7 large panels from the home repair store). They help to block the sun that much more and they’ve made a huge difference in the temperature!

7. Open the windows at night and place a bag of ice behind a fan This is another idea that a Facebook friend told me about. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet but it sounds completely legit.

8. Visit the library or museum These two places are air-conditioned and won’t be as tempting as spending the day wandering around the mall.

How do you stay cool in the heat?