Anyone else excited for the unofficial start of summer after yesterday's holiday?  Personally, my excitement is fueled by the return of white shoes and linen pants to my wardrobe rotation! :)

I'm only half kidding — I'm old school like that. 

Important fashion rules aside, I do welcome this seasonal change, even though I don't get the traditional "summer break" anymore. (I knew I should've gone into teaching!) To be fair, I haven't had a true summer break since high school. Summers during college were just as busy as the school year!

How are you spending your summer? Between internships and summer school, I bet you guys don't have much of a summer break either!

Speaking of spending your summer, the unofficial start of the season is a good time for a budget check. If you're living off your financial aid through summer school or during an unpaid internship, it's especially important to resist the temptation to spend on non-essentials.

Here are some suggestions for minimizing your summer spending (I plan to do all three of these):

• Cancel your gym membership and play outside — just remember to put on the sunscreen  first.

• Invite your friends over for a potluck cookout instead of paying for overpriced food and drinks at outdoor cafés.

• Find cheap entertainment: convince your father, sibling, or handy roommate to build you a cornhole  game for hours of backyard fun!

Now, if only the weather would cooperate, I could get down to business. Summer…hurry up!