COUPON QUEEN: How to budget for a beach getaway

I'm sure they could spot us from a mile away; two sisters with pale winter skin in Midwestern clothing trying to fit into Miami life in South Beach. We were sure to stick out. Last week my sister and I took a much-needed trip to Miami Beach. While planning, we were amazed that it had been almost 27 years since we had taken a trip alone together. Motherhood, jobs, and simply life had gotten in the way. While we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and splurged here and there, being the frugal gal I am, there were definitely some savings on this trip. Here are a few things we did to make it an affordable time away. When my sister shared that she had free flight miles that would expire within a few weeks, I was happy to step in and help plan a quick trip. Being that it's still cold in Ohio, we wanted to go as south as possible. Miami Beach it was! Our plane left Cleveland at 5 a.m, so we decided not to ask our family for a ride. After comparing prices for Uber and airport parking, we decided to go the cheapest route and park off-site. After a quick online search, I found a coupon code and saved a little more. We wanted to save money on food, so I looked for a hotel or Airbnb that offered amenities such as a stove and refrigerator. We were able to find a clean, incredibly priced studio apartment right on the beach. Thankfully, since our apartment was centrally located, we were able to walk everywhere; no car needed. When packing, I brought along essentials such as swimsuits, sun dresses and sandals, but I also packed some snacks to keep in our room. As soon as we arrived in Miami, we scouted out the nearest store and were excited to see it was a Walgreens. Not only did I have coupons loaded to my account, but I had points to spend as well! We stocked up on soda, snacks and a few essentials. On this quick four-day trip, we weren't interested in pricey sightseeing packages, so we saved a lot of money doing free things instead. Our days were spent relaxing on the beach, walking up and down Ocean Drive, and visiting the famous Lummus Park. We kept our plans light and were just happy to be outside in the sunshine. When it was time to eat, I was thrilled to see that menus and prices were displayed at almost every restaurant on the strip. I love to save money, but I also wanted to experience some of Miami's fantastic cuisine. On top of breakfast and lunch deals at many restaurants, most offered happy hour specials on food and drinks, which made choosing a moderately priced meal easy. There were so many restaurants to choose from, but one afternoon we were able to dip our toes in the rooftop pool while munching on chips and guacamole and enjoying the gorgeous ocean views. Oh, Miami life! The memories I made with my sister last week are unforgettable. We laughed, reconnected, met new friends, and enjoyed our time away. In fact, we are already planning another trip for next year. If your budget allows, I encourage you to "take the trip." It doesn't have to be in sunny Miami or even a plane ride away. Find what works in your budget and travel. Memories are priceless. Want to learn more about saving money? You can attend my free coupon class at the Elyria Library on Thursday at 6 p.m. You can register by calling (440) 324-2270. You can also hear me talk about saving money every Tuesday at 8:40 a.m. on 930 AM WEOL. This week's deal Here's a deal to grab this week at Walgreens. Complete home freezer, sandwich or storage bags — buy 1, get 2 free = as low as 93 cents each when you buy 3! 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.