10 Cheap Ways to Keep Cool Without Using Your AC Tomorrow

Temperatures in central Minnesota will be in the high 80's and possibly reach the low 90's Friday. If you're still trying to save on your energy bill and don't want to turn on the AC, or maybe you don't have AC...here are 10 ways to keep yourself cool.

1. Get a fan...maybe even two fans. Don't waste money cooling down the entire house if your plan is to sit on the couch and watch Netflix. You only need to cool a small space.

2. Take a dip in the pool. Some local pools are already open for the season. Why not go for a swim?

3. Hit up the splash pad. If you're more of a sprinkler person, take your children to the splash pad and run through it with them. They'll have fun and you'll stay cool. It's a win-win.

4. Go shopping. I used to do this all of the time in college. The house I was renting did NOT have AC. So, I'd go to the grocery store and take a few laps in the frozen food section or spend some time in the food court at the mall.

5. Shut your blinds. It seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes when it's hot out, simple things aren't so obvious. Yes, Minnesotans spend a lot of time in the dark during the long cold winter and it hurts our hearts to shut out the sun...but, on super sunny and hot days...it's best to close the blinds.

6. Go to the beach. If your local pool isn't open yet, chances are your local beach is the next best option. There are numerous natural water holes around central Minnesota that can help keep you cool.

7. Wash your car. There's no better time to wash the dirt from spring and winter off your vehicle than a good 90+ degree day. Your car will look fabulous and you'll feel cool and refreshed.

8. Hang out in the basement. If your home as a basement or cellar, hook up a TV and Netflix down there. Being underground has natural cooling properties. You won't need the AC to feel the instant benefits of being in a basement.

9. Buy a pool. If you have kids, you can buy pools new for as cheap as $30 at Target. Heck, you can find inflatable pools for almost nothing on your local garage sale page.

10. Go on a picnic. There's nothing worse than heating up the house by turning on the oven on an already hot day. Avoid cooking indoors. Instead, pack some sandwiches and go on a picnic at the beach.

Try these things to help keep you feeling cool and watch the money you'll save from not using the AC roll in. Obviously, if you have a medical condition or heat sensitivity, you should do what makes sense for your health and talk to your doctor before you do anything extreme.