Coupon Queen: Frugal fall fun

Although this fall may look different than any in recent memory, it's still a wonderful season to enjoy. The weather is crisp, the colors are changing on the trees, and it is great to spend time outdoors. With social distancing on the mind, my family has been on the lookout for frugal fall fun. Here are a few of our favorites. • Last week we took our kids to the pumpkin patch to enjoy a day outside. While this doesn't seem out of the norm for most families, it's something we haven't done in years. While some farms charge a flat rate, we chose this specific one since our boys are past the age of wanting to participate in most farm-related activities (teenagers!). We sipped on cider, picked out pumpkins, bought some apples, and were able to socially distance from others on the grounds. I'd say it was a hit since they want to visit again with a few of their friends. • Camping can be a frugal fall activity that is also perfect for social distancing, and while we are already into October, some campgrounds are still open. My family recently went and tried out a new-to-us campground that wasn't far from home. Of course, camping in October may be best with a camper, but with low rates and cooking low-cost meals over the campfire, it's at the top of frugal fall activities. • If you aren't quite ready to go to an indoor theater, you can still visit the drive-in theater in North Ridgeville. It has both family-friendly and adult slated movies scheduled through the end of October. This outdoor theater offers double features for only $10 for adults and $5 for children. We visited a few weeks ago and I was happy to see that safety protocols were being followed by everyone attending. With temperatures dropping, be sure to bundle up and bring an extra blanket. • If you are looking to enjoy the outdoors, hit the walking trail at a local park. Both Lorain and Medina counties have a great park system that offers amazing trails. They also offer programs and events for the whole family. Be sure to check out their websites or social media pages for more details. • I always decorate for Christmas, but for the past few years, I've gotten out of the habit of decorating for fall. Now that we are staying home a bit more and have more time on our hands, my boys actually asked if we could decorate. We lugged down the boxes from the attic and dug in. I was actually surprised to see how many decorations I had. In fact, I was elated and a little surprised to see some new-in-the-box decor that I had gotten for 75 percent off a few seasons ago. I didn't even remember buying them. We spent a fun-filled evening at home decorating. You can't get much more social-distanced, fall fun than that! This week's deal Here's a deal to grab this week at Dollar General. Tide Simply (liquid or pods) — $2.95. Use $1 digital coupon (found on the app or online) = $1.95 each. Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at couponingwithrachel@hotmail.com.