No one likes having to put money aside for things like AC repair. There are so many other fun places to spend money like vacations and dinners out, but when your home isn’t reaching comfortable temperatures, trust that it is worth staying in a few nights to get the repairs you need right away. Before you need an AC repair, use these money-saving tips so that you don’t put a dent in your budget or stress out over costs.

Set a Realistic Goal

When trying to save money, you may want to start with some lofty goals, but you want to be sure that this proactive expense doesn’t affect your lifestyle so much that you don’t stick with it. Start by writing down the lump sum you want to save and then calculate it so that it makes sense for you. Say you want to save $5000 to have in your air conditioning emergency fund for repairs and a new unit when the time comes. In one year, you would have to save roughly $100 per week to reach this goal, and this isn’t always doable for many of us on a tight budget. Instead, save $50 per week and achieve your goal in 2 years instead.

Find Unique Ways to Put Away Money

There are a lot of great ways that you can save and even make money when you want to have a fund for AC repair. You can start a swear jar or a change collection system if people don’t put their clothes in the hamper. You can also dedicate a yard sale to your AC repair savings account. Think outside the box and take this opportunity to simplify your home and sell a few things in the process. Many people also find success with the envelope system for savings and you can create a category for your air conditioner.

Ask About Payment and Finance Options

The best companies will often have payment and finance options that will help ease the burden of AC repair costs. Know these ahead of time so that you have a plan if something goes wrong. Let the customer service know your budget when you’re scheduling an estimate so that the technicians are prepared when they arrive to do the inspection. This is a big investment in your home, and they’ll understand that you want to make sure you have all of the financial information before making a decision.

Research Costs Ahead of Time

Before you make your goals for AC repair savings, you should get some information about the next unit you want to buy and what the average costs are to fix problems. The more you know about AC repair cost, the less stressed you’ll be when you find out that you have an issue because you’ll have a good idea of what to expect. Plus, when you’re prepared for that repair, you won’t put it off which means your unit will last longer saving you even more.