Shape up your summer budget with these tips.

Plan for Seasonal Items

Beyond your regular living expenses, list items that you’ll likely pay more for during the season. For example, the costs of electricity, travel, child care, and home maintenance tend to rise during the summer. Next to these items, put in how much you expect to spend on each.

Can your current finances easily handle these increases? If not, you may need to make adjustments by eliminating some items or setting a lower limit on how much to spend on them.

Find Affordable Alternatives

Even with higher costs, you may still be able to do some of the activities on your summer wish list by finding free or lower-cost options. For example:

• Take road trips or vacations domestically instead of traveling abroad. Postpone vacations until the last week of August or after Labor Day when the price of hotels and flights tends to fall. Pack lightly when flying to minimize baggage fees.

• Check out free activities in your community, such as public lectures, outdoor movies or concerts, admission-free days at museums or zoos, or children’s activities at local libraries.

• Private summer camps for kids can be expensive, but you can search online for organizations that offer free or inexpensive camps for families on modest budgets.

• Set up a child care swap with other parents.

Cool Costs

Keep your thermostat higher while you’re away from home and don’t turn it down to a colder-than-normal setting when you return, the Department of Energy advises. Your home won’t cool off any faster, and excessive cooling could increase your bill, according to the agency. Also, seal cracks and caulk windows to prevent hot air from entering your home.

Boost Savings

Though summer is just around the corner, it’s not too late to set aside money for rising expenses. Every dollar saved is one less dollar you’ll need to put on an interest-charging credit card.