How to Romanticize Summer Without Breaking the Bank

There’s often a lot of pressure to make summer magical—exotic vacations, picture-perfect outings, expensive bucket lists. But sometimes we don’t have the time or money to bring that Pinterest-level summer into reality. Oftentimes, summer’s magic hides in the small things: a slower morning, a simple picnic dinner in the backyard, or a connected moment with loved ones.

If you’re craving that romantic, life-is-sweet kind of summer but don’t want to spend a fortune (or lose your mind trying to plan it), your Golden Coil planner can help you savor more of what matters.

Here are some down-to-earth ways to romanticize summer without blowing your budget or overloading your to-do list.

1. Create a “Simple Summer Joys” List

Instead of a big, overwhelming bucket list, try a “Simple Joys” list: small things that make you smile, recharge you, or bring a little beauty to your day.

Think:

  • Reading outside for 10 minutes

  • Fresh fruit on the porch in a pretty, thrifted bowl

  • An evening walk with music

  • Making a summer playlist

  • Lighting candless (They’re not just for winter coziness)!

  • Sleeping in a tent in the living room

  • Providing service for a cause you care about

  • A warm cup of tea or coffee before everyone else wakes up

  • Cook with something grown in your garden

Customize it to you. What fills one person may not fill another. Use the Fillable List Brain Dump, or Bucket List pages in your Golden Coil to jot down these ideas. Then glance at it during weekly planning and pencil one or two into your week. The list provides a quick and helpful reminder to fit in some small moments of fun or relaxation in an otherwise busy schedule. 

2. Use Daily Pages to Slow Down (Just a Bit)

Summer doesn’t magically clear our calendars. In fact, sometimes it can be busier than ever with summer camps, vacations, and family time, but your daily planner pages can help you create more breathing room. By seeing your day broken down, you can find windows to schedule in:

  • A “do-nothing” pocket of time (even 15 minutes counts)

  • A little treat to look forward to—a library trip, a solo Target run, an iced coffee on the porch after kids are in bed

  • A moment for meditation, stress relief, or exercise

  • A screen-free day or hours in a day to just connect without tech

Tip: Don’t try to make every day feel magical. Just aim for one small thing. When you plan it, you’re more likely to notice and enjoy it.

3. Set a Realistic Seasonal Goal

Sometimes we overreach with summer expectations. Instead, try choosing one low-pressure seasonal goal that fits your actual life:

  • “Be outside once a day”

  • “Take one photo every day”

  • “Read one book just for fun”

  • “Say yes to something spontaneous once a week”

  • “Look people in the eyes when they talk, children included. Really listen and connect”

Write it in the Goals page or on your weekly spread. Revisit it often—not to stress about it, but to remind yourself of your intention.

4. Document What Filled Your Cup

Oftentimes the magic comes in the noticing of it. When we take time to reflect on the small moments that brought us joy, it increases our capacity to notice them in the future. At the end of each day or week, try using the Lined, Blank, Story Board, Reflections pages, or even just a corner of your weekly spread to reflect and document. Write down:

  • What made you smile

  • What worked (and what didn’t)

  • What you want more of next week

This doesn’t have to be long or poetic. It could simply be:
“Coffee in a quiet house = magic.”
“Everyone was cranky at the pool. Home is okay too.”
“Peaches are in season. Must eat more peaches!”

When you reflect, you start to recognize that summer magic isn’t always big. Sometimes it’s just paying more attention and planning with intention.

Want some more romantic summer ideas?

  • Hike a trail when flowers are in bloom

  • Host a bring-your-own craft, movie, or treat night with friends or family. Hosting can often add up, but with BYO, it can keep costs down and allow others to share their favorites.

  • Take your morning routine outside

  • Find a lookout and watch the sunset from your car

  • Takeout dinner picnic on blankets in the living room

  • Buy some disposable cameras and let kids take pictures the “old-fashioned” way

  • Take your own pictures without the intention of posting them (you still can, of course, but it increases the live-in-the-moment feeling when you’re not worried about sharing it later) 

  • Use the nice glasses/china, just because!

  • Take small video snippets of your day-to-day activities (1-2 seconds). Make recap videos of your week with music. They don’t have to be professional. It’s just fun to look back at compiled videos, and like with written journaling, can help you recognize the beauty in your everyday.

  • Send postcards to your kids, even if you didn’t travel anywhere. Write one memory you had with them this summer, growth you’ve seen in them, or something you love about them. This can work with friends, spouses, etc too.

What are some ways you plan to romanticize the rest of your summer?! Let us know in the comments below!

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