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. The Children’s Place
The deal: Receive 15 percent off your purchase – including sale items – with this printable in-store coupon. The children’s retailer has a 4th of July Extravaganza going, which means savings of up to 75 percent on shorts, dresses, sandals and more.
Good through: July 4

2. Baskin Robbins
The deal: Buy one scoop or swirl of ice cream and get one free with this printable coupon. Limit one coupon per customer, but no one says you can’t print a few and take the whole family for a little Bubble Gum or Rocky Road – just have the kids pay for themselves!
Good through: July 5

3. Target
The deal: Use this printable coupon (Toys, page one) for $1 off any Hot Wheels product and score the mini autos for a mere $.09. The coupon is printable twice, so pick up a couple for a birthday gift – or to put away for charity toy drives during the holidays.
Good through: Ongoing, but online coupons change regularly.

4. Shindigz
The deal: Get an 18x54 customized banner for just $1, plus $6.95 for shipping. An awesome price for a heavy-duty vinyl banner good for birthdays, tailgating, baby showers and more. Add a photo for no extra charge. The banner will be priced at $14.99 when you put it in your cart; use code SZX6NE at checkout to drop the price down to $1.
Good though: June 30

5. Bath & Body Works
The deal: Indulge in a little something for yourself – or a birthday or graduation gift – with this printable coupon for $10 off your $30 purchase. A great way to stock up on snazzy smelling body wash, lotion and more for a good price, as there are usually discounts for buying multiple products.
Good through: July 5