Five Great Deals to Stretch The Family Budget

We’re all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we’re taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars.

This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money.

You are a big part of this column. After you've read through what we've highlighted here, tell about the deals you’ve seen, or ones we should watch out for.

Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together.

This week, we've found a buy-one-get-one sale, a great deal place for a family meal, a not-to-be-missed deal for the Nintendo fans, the best night to take the kids to the movies and a chance to keep the kids active for the winter and beyond!

1. Sundry Items: CVS; cvs.com
Deal: Buy-one get-one free (with an extra care card). Sale includes 2-liter bottles of select Pepsi soda, Russell Stover or Whitman's Sampler 11 to 12 ounce chocolates, Planters 7.5 to 10 ounce mixed nuts, whole cashews, CVS/Pharmacy batteries and CVS/Pharmacy vitamins, minerals or herbal supplements. Plus there are price cuts on other beauty and healthcare items.
Good through: February 12

 2. Movies: Merrick Theater; merricktheater.com
Deal: Wacky Wednesdays – all movies, day or night are $5.50 per person (excluding Sony Pictures)
Good through: Ongoing 

3. Family Meal: Pit Stop Eats; pitstopeats.com

• Family BBQ dinner: Full rack of ribs, four sides and cornbread for $26.95 (add a ½ rack for $8.95 or a half chicken for $4.50)
• Family chicken dinner: Whole roasted chicken, four sides and cornbread for $17.95 (add a ½ chicken for $4.50)
• Family kickback dinner: Full rack of ribs, whole roasted chicken, two sides, cornbread choice and of family-size salad (caesar or garden) for $24.95

Good through: Available seven days a week. Hours are: Sunday through Monday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

4. Video Games: Game Stop; gamestop.com
Deal: 3DS trade-up offer. Trade your DSi XL and get $100 in-store credit toward the reservation of a new Nintendo 3DS. Trade in your DSi and get a $75 credit or trade in your DS lite and get a $50 credit. (Trade-ins subject to manager approval. See store associate for details.)
Good through: February 20

5. Activities: The Little Gym thelittlegym.com/MerrickNY
Deal: Free introductory classes for babies, kids and teens. The Little Gym offers classes in Karate, gymnastics, parent-child classes, dance and many others. This is a great opportunity to try one on for size. See website or stop by for details.
Good through: Ongoing