Coupon Queen: Ways to save for a vacation

Hello from sunny Florida! We're on vacation, but don't let the palm trees and theme park tickets fool you. I'm staying true to my frugal roots and keeping our spending in check while still making the most of every moment. Vacations don't have to mean budget blowouts, and we're living proof. Here are five ways we are saving money on our Florida trip: Watched flights Air fare can be one of the most significant expenses of a vacation, so I started scouting early using Google Flights. You can set alerts, and when the prices change, you will receive an email. I set multiple dates, times, and airports so sometimes I would get several emails a day. By keeping an eye on prices and being flexible with our airport choices, I found significantly cheaper tickets flying out of Columbus rather than our local airport. Even better, we have family who live just 10 minutes from the Columbus airport, so they gave us a ride and let us leave our car at their house for the week — no airport parking fees, no ride-share costs — just significant savings. Bought gift cards ahead of time A couple of my boys are doing a one-day visit to Disney's Hollywood Studios, so I bought Disney gift cards from Giant Eagle before the trip. Not only did we pay off our tickets ahead of time, but we also earned myPerks points, which means savings on gas and groceries back home. I also bought gift cards for two restaurants that we can use this week. It's an easy way to recoup some of the expenses you would have incurred anyway. Rented a car through Turo Car rental prices can be surprisingly high, especially near airports or during peak travel seasons. We opted to rent a car through Turo, a peer-to-peer car-sharing service. We got a reliable vehicle for less money, fewer hidden fees, and a more flexible pickup process. Additionally, we appreciated knowing that we were supporting a local owner directly. Cooking at "home" most nights Eating out for every meal can crush a vacation budget, so we booked accommodations with a full kitchen. We visited a local grocery store on our first day here, and we've been cooking easy meals every night, such as tacos, pasta and grilled chicken. Not only is it cheaper, but it's also been an excellent way for the family to connect with each other every evening. Chose an Airbnb with an amazing community center Here's a major money-saver: we booked an Airbnb in a neighborhood that includes a huge community center, and it's been a gold mine of budget-friendly entertainment. For just $35 for the entire week, we've had access to a lazy river, community pool, volleyball and pickleball courts, a fitness center and much more. Additionally, our personal Airbnb features a private pool, movie room and game room. It's kept the kids (and adults) happy and active without spending extra on excursions or daily fees. We are enjoying our Florida getaway without breaking the bank. With just a little planning and a few smart choices, we're getting the best of both worlds — sunshine and savings. This week's deal Here's a deal to grab this week at Walgreens.Buy 2 Garnier Fructis shampoo or conditioner - 2/$8 Use the $4 off 2 Fructis coupon - found on the Walgreens app or onlinePay $4Get back $4 Cash Rewards= Two for FREE! 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.