Frugal Family: Great Buys For Parents

These days, we’re all watching every dollar. From coupons to Craigslist, local families are taking advantage of a variety of deals to stretch their budgets even further.

This weekly column is dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family save money, and, since we are doing the legwork for you, save time, too.

Your guide for this low-cost journey is a self-proclaimed coupon queen who can empty the Baby Gap’s sales racks and the cereal aisle at Safeway for mere dollars.

You, the reader, are a big part of this column. Feel free to share deals you have come across in the comments box below!

Check back each week to see what we have found to help save you money.

Remember to check with the merchant for additional conditions to deals published here.

1. Gymboree
The deal: The children’s store is having its semi-annual Red Balloon Sale, with discounts of up to 70 percent on clothing in sizes newborn through kids 12 for boys and girls. The sale is online, too, with $5 flat shipping, but in-store has more varied stock, and possibly some hidden treasures from past lines. Use a 20 percent coupon from the July issues of Parenting: The Early Years or Family Fun for an even better deal.
Good through: Ongoing.

2. Best Buy
The deal: Android and iPhone users can get a free $5 gift certificate to the electronics retailer by downloading the ShopKick app from iTunes. Scroll through the “collect” offers and then click on Best Buy. The in-store offer will be there; follow the directions and receive a unique code that can be redeemed on an item priced $5 or more.
Good through: Ongoing

3. Target
The deal: Snag some inexpensive bathroom furniture with this printable store coupon (Home & Decor, page one) for $10 off any bathroom furnishing. You can get a wall shelf with towel bar for as little as $4.99 (regularly $14.99).
Good through: Ongoing, but online coupons change regularly

4. Michaels
The deal: Looking for a Father’s Day art project for the kids or a last-minute centerpiece for a graduation party? Use this printable coupon for 50 percent off one regularly priced item from the craft superstore. For those wanting to make multiple trips, it is one coupon per customer per day.
Good through: June 18

5. Amazon.com
The deal: The online retailer has a huge magazine sale going in honor of Father’s Day, with up to 50 percent off select publications. Among the offerings are 1-year subscriptions to Field & Stream for $4.99; Popular Mechanics for $6; and Forbes for $15.
Good through: June 19