This topic is pretty near and dear to me right now as temperatures have reached 90 degrees this week in Boston (and it’s only May!). And while I’m not complaining, I was definitely grateful to stumble across some of these great tips from Frugal for Life. AC is one way to spend a lot more money on your monthly bills. Try these tricks for avoiding AC at all costs, and if you can, join Dawn from Frugal for Life in taking the No AC Challenge 2010.

• Block the Sun: put up curtains or a blanket to keep the sun out of rooms and reduce heat by 45%. You could also hang a damp sheet up on the window to make incoming air cooler as it blows in (if the air outside is dry and cooler than inside).
• A Cooler Fan: place a bowl of ice in front of your box fan to circulate air with a cooler breeze.
• Seal it Up: keep windows and doors shut as much as possible when outside air is hotter than inside air. If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is closed because otherwise it will suck hot air from outside into the home.
• Strategic Fanning: if your house is hotter than outside, turn your fans around to blow hot air out of the window.
• Internal Heat Sources: change to CFL lights to give off up to 70% less heat. Also, consider using the oven less and power down electrical appliances at night to reduce heat. Invest in a camper cooker and cook outside as much as possible.
• Food and Drink to Cool You: eat lighter during the summer. Try more fruits and vegetables as opposed to hamburgers and such. Lighter foods are easier to digest. Also, drink more tap water to cool down the inner core of your own body. Stay away from drinks with lots of sugar and caffeine that can dehydrate you.

Head over to The No Air Conditioning Challenge 2010 for 10 more great tips that will help you in your no AC challenge.