COUPON QUEEN: Begin saving now for a summer vacation

Work, school, the daily grind; sometimes, you want to escape it all. Vacations are a perfect way to experience something new, give you time to catch your breath, or take a trip down memory lane. No matter where you go, the goal is to create memories that'll last a lifetime. With vacation season on the horizon, you'll have to do some planning. Specifically, how are you going to finance your trip? Thankfully, you can make your dream vacation a reality with some preparation. Here are a few ways to save money for your next trip. Plan If you don't know the destination of your summer trip, it's time to start planning. Look into places that fit your budget and begin to price out costs. Be sure to include lodging, gas, food and activities. Of course, there are other expenses, but these take up the most significant part of the budget. Set money aside Once you have a rough estimate of your trip's cost, set aside a small percentage of your earnings and earmark it for your vacation fund. You may want to consider setting up a savings account just for your vacation, as it will help you see the money growing specifically for a purpose. If putting money aside is tight, check over your budget and see if there is something else you can eliminate, even for a little while. Earn extra money If finances are tight, additional opportunities to earn extra cash, such as a side job, could be possible. My sister works a professional 40-hour-a-week job and just recently started waitressing two short shifts a week to be able to put funds directly into her vacation fund. If time is an issue, an alternative option is to turn a hobby or an interest into a second source of income. You could sell crafts or unwanted items you have around the house. Even small savings add up. So, get creative. Look for rewards While you plan, save, and earn money to build your vacation fund, you may also want to look into credit card rewards programs. These cards typically allow you to earn points with a sign-on bonus when you spend a certain amount and offer cash back when you use the card. You can use these points to offset hotels and airfare. Before you start, take the time to explore the ins and outs of credit card rewards, and ask friends and family members about their experiences. My husband and I use this method, earning a lot of money in the last few months. In fact, we recently booked a couple of international flights completely free with our rewards. Remember that to use this option correctly, you must pay off your credit card every month. Keeping a credit card balance can quickly get you into a dangerous financial situation, so be sure you can do this before starting. If you haven't started to plan your summer vacation plans, now is the time to start. If you plan and build a budget, you might be surprised at how much vacation you can afford. This week's deal Here is a deal that you can get this week at Walgreens. Buy 3 Arm and Hammer Laundry Detergent — $7.49 each Less buy 1, get 2 free sale = $7.49 – just $2.50 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