Checklist: Summer Vacation

Things to do this weekend with your money: It’s not too early to begin planning and saving for the family vacation.

4 Today: Set a budget. Financial planners advise saving year-round for vacations, including it in your family budget. Estimate how much you will spend on transportation, lodging, food and souvenirs. If you can’t save the necessary amount ahead of time, consider scaling down your plans. Using credit cards to finance a vacation means you could wind up paying for the trip several times over in interest charges.

4 Saturday: Research your options. Internet sites such as Expedia.com and Travelocity.com can help you ferret out bargains and offer tips on keeping costs under control.

4 Sunday: If money is tight, consider a vacation at home. There’s a reason millions of visitors come to Southern California each year. Check out the museums, theme parks, zoos, historic areas and nature reserves that others come thousands of miles to see. You may gain a new appreciation for your home state while saving a bundle in food, hotel and transportation costs.