TORONTO, ONTARIO - May 3, 2000 - Don't look now - but Victoria Day isn't that far off. If you plan to take a family vacation this summer, now is the time to organize your trip. Advance planning is particularly important if you have a tight budget.

"This time of year, you can still get good deals on travel and accommodations," said Mr. C.M. (Duke) Stregger, Executive Director, Credit Counselling Service of Toronto (CCST). "However, those discount airfares and provincial park campsites won't last long."

Gather the family around the kitchen table and plan that vacation now. You will need to decide where you want to go, how you want to get there, where you will stay, and most importantly, what you want to do once you get there.

Here are some of the topics you will want to discuss at that family meeting:

• Establish a budget. If you are like the typical household, you will spend around $ l,000.00 on your family trip. Because this figure is an average, it means many families spend more and others less. You don't need to spend a lot to have a great family vacation, but you do have to stay within your limits.
  
  
• Prepay your vacation. Start saving for your vacation now. With a little scrimping and saving, you could start now by saving a year in advance. You shouldn't have to go into debt to have a good time but you will, if you don't save ahead of time. If you do have to use credit, commit to paying off your bills within 90 days.
  
  
• Put all the options on the table. Your budget will influence your travel plans. If you have a big budget, you might consider flying to a five-star hotel at an exotic location. If not, you can always drive to a campsite at a provincial park. Either way, you will have a great time.
  
  
• Do your homework. Find out everything you can about your travel destination. Ask friends who have been there and request information from city and provincial tourism bureaus. A lot of this information is available at your library or on the Internet.
  
  
• Make an itinerary and stick to it. You can go through a lot of money if you start wandering through an unfamiliar city without a plan. Decide what you want to see, where you want to eat, and what you want to spend on miscellaneous gifts and knick-knacks.
  
  
• Drive a hard bargain. Many people don't like haggling over prices and consequently spend more than they need to. The Internet can be a great source when gathering information you will need when comparing prices. It can save you time and money.

What are you waiting for? Plan that trip today. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to summer family trip that you will remember for years to come.

For help with money management or budgeting, contact CCST. Credit Counselling Service of Toronto is a non-profit, community service Agency that provides confidential counselling, guidance, debt management, and education programs to financially troubled consumers. CCST is a charter member of the Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services and affiliated with over l,500 credit counselling offices in Canada and the United States. The Agency provides service 24 hours, seven days per week.

To schedule an appointment with a CCST counsellor, please call (416) 228-DEBT (3328) or 1-800-267-2272 (outside of Toronto).