Article: Start putting away some money especially for your vacation. How much and how often you can add to the fund will depend on you, but this way you'll have a growing amount of money set aside specifically for your summer goals. See if your parents or friends would be willing to contribute to the fund. If your summer activities are going to involve your friends, consider pooling your money so that everyone can help save equally. Open a separate savings account for your vacation fund, or have your parents help you open one. That way you can be sure all of the money in the account will go directly towards paying for your vacation activities, and it will give you a safe place to keep what you earn. Think of ways to reduce your regular spending. You may have to give up a shopping trip or night out with friends on occasion, but remind yourself that you're attempting to meet a goal for your vacation.   Determine whether a given expense is a want or a need. Take care of your needs first, and set aside the wants you can live without. Be thrifty by reusing items when you can instead of buying new ones. Stop eating out. Food is expensive, and since you have to eat every day, you can lose your hard-earned money fast if you're constantly buying food at restaurants. Buy groceries in bulk for better value and eat at home whenever you can. In most cases, new clothes are not a necessary expenditure. Get comfy in the duds you're in and avoid the allure of things like new shoes and accessories. Now that you've got a vacation fund, start adding a fixed amount of money to it at regular intervals. Even if it's just a dollar per day, you'll have a growing account that you'll be able to draw from later when the time comes to enjoy your vacation plans.  If you work a part-time job, you can set up a direct deposit line straight to your account, making it easy to choose exactly how much money you want to go toward savings. Get in the habit of setting a small amount of money aside consistently, and your fund will grow steadily with time. Fuel costs can take a toll on any budget. If you drive a car and have to pay for gas, cut down on the amount of unnecessary driving you do on a regular basis. Now is not the time for aimless late-night cruises; carpool with friends when possible, or take a bus or ride a bike if your destination is within a short distance. You might be surprised how much money you can save just by spending less time in the car.  Choose the right grade of fuel. It's unnecessary to spring for premium gas in most vehicles, and standard fuel is considerably cheaper and tends to run just as well. Keep your tires properly inflated. This small trick can really save you some mileage in the long run. Watch your speed while driving. Obviously, the faster you go, the more fuel you burn. Keep it steady at the speed limit, and avoid idling for long periods if you can help it. Students receive discounts at many businesses, why not use that to your advantage? Places like movie theaters, clothing stores and eateries allow you to save cash or earn other money-saving rewards by presenting your student ID, so if you've got it, you might as well use it. For many people this might be the most difficult approach. Mapping out your expenses and finding ways to cut down on spending is one thing, but all it takes is one impulse buy or last minute night out to blow your savings and make your summer vacation plans a distant fantasy. Remind yourself frequently of why you started saving money in the first place.  Any time find yourself about to buy something you don't need, stop and ask yourself "is this more important than my plans for vacation?" If you're a chronic or unreliable spender, set up a savings account you can't touch or leave your money to the care of your parents. You'll be thankful you did.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Start your own vacation fund. Cut down on spending. Set aside a fixed amount. Limit your driving time. Use your student ID card for discounts. Resist the temptation to spend.