Frugal Family: Gas, Food and Nightlife Savings

All of us have to eat and most of us have to drive.

Some of us also like to step out into the night for fun and frolic.

Simple cost saving options are available to you locally on those things we just can't avoid, and on the things that are optional as well.

1. 

Deal: Sign-up for a free Sheetz rewards card and save a few cents a gallon everytime you buy gas. Card also grants you big savings on food, coffee and other beverages. Card deals include any size coffee, pizza slices, burger sliders and chicken snacks all for 99 cents apiece.

Additional savings of up to $1 a gallon of gas as well as freebies and more savings can be had by going to sheetz.com and signing up to receive their e-newsletter.

Sheetz derives it's name from the family that owns the company. Founded in 1952 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the company now has over 396 stores in six states, local locations in Stow and Kent.

2. 

Deal: Tuesday Date Night - $20 for 2-topping 8 slice pizza, 2 salads and one bottle of wine.

This local food establishment is attached to The Water Street Tavern in Downtown Kent. True to it's name, it features cajun selections, but also a wide variety of other options for the average bar patron. "With a culinary degree and over a decade cooking in the south,  Chef Brian Bower has brought great food at a fair price to downtown Kent," said Water Street Tavern owner Mike Beder. "Cajun Dave's is a made-from-scratch kitchen using fresh local ingredients and Ohio raised, grass-feed beef," added Beder.

Other Cajun Dave's specials include: Monday - $6.50 for 1 topping pizza, Wednesday - $8 for buttermilk fried chicken with collard greens & red rice, Thursday - $2 tacos, Friday - $9 pulled pork with fries, coleslaw and cornbread, Saturday - $1 off bar bites from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Also remember,  has a $2 happy hour seven days a week from open until 9 p.m. That includes over 40 bottled beers as well as cocktails & shots. Some of the brand names in the happy hour include Jim Beam, Skyy Vodka (all flavors), Jose Cuervo, Canadian Club, Captain Morgan, Labatt and Miller Lite and more.

3. Eddy's Deli & Restaurant

Deal: All-you-can-eat fish fry for $7.95 on Wednesday and Friday.

Kids under 12-years old eat free on Monday and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with purchase of regular dinner.

This restaurant on the Stow/Kent border features a large menu full of options for the whole family. Now open 24 hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Additional buy one get one half price deals and other discount coupons are available in the Town Money Saver, March edition.

 4. $

Deal: Everything in the store is a dollar.

Seems simple, but it works. And everything in this Kent store currently is a dollar. I mention that because I can't tell you how many times I've visited a "dollar store" and found what I term "dollar creep." That's when stuff you want to buy creeps a few cents or a few dollars past "a dollar."

Not at a Few Bucks, yet. Items for purchase include: snacks, party supplies, school supplies, health and beauty options, candles, games, baby products, cards, cleaning supplies and more.

Additional savings coupons can be found in the Town Money Saver, March Edition. 

5. Big Lots

Deal: Random savings on lots of items you use every day.

I have been seeking deals at various discount operations in Kent and Stow and found remarkable savings lately at Big Lots. The price savings range from a few cents to multiple dollars on many name brand items. I'm not talking about damaged or expired stuff either, mostly just discontinued items, overstock and out of season merchandise.

Let me give you an example. I purchased a package of Oreo cookies for $1.80 there last week. That was about half the price a local grocery store charged for that same package a month earlier. Why the discount? The Oreos were shaped like footballs, and you know, football season is over. The Oreos still tasted great and were well within the expiration date. Touchdown!