Frugal Family: Five Deals to Stretch the Family Budget

Welcome back to our weekly rundown of five local deals to help with your family’s bottom line. Since we do the scouting, we're saving you time as well as money.

This week, we scoured our local sources to come up with great deals on cakes, cookies, pies and other baked treats; baby travel gear and furniture; restaurant discounts (for mom and dad's night out, or family pizza night at home); and car washes. Remember to check with the merchant for additional conditions, if any:

1. Baked Treats: Itsy Bitsy Bakery, 10419 Armory Avenue, 240-558-3388.  Baked goods made from scratch daily, using natural and organic ingredients whenever possible. Also offers a selection of vegan-friendly and gluten free items.

Deal: (for Patch readers.) Get 10 percent discount off any purchase by mentioning you saw this column on Kensington Patch.  Other discounts available if you order in large quantities: 10 percent off two dozen of any item; 15 percent off four dozen. And goods baked the day before are always half price.

Good through: Kensington Patch deal good through end of February; other discounts ongoing.

2. Restaurant Savings: Cafe 1894, 10417 Armory Avenue, 301-962-1894.

Deal: Get a $25 Cafe 1894 gift certificate for $10, when purchased online through  Restaurant.com. Get even more savings by paying with a Visa card online (check website for more details and other restaurants).

Good through: Restaurant savings ongoing; Visa card discount expires June 3, 2011.

3. Baby and Toddler Gear: ToysRus, 11810 Rockville Pike, 301-770-3376.

Deal: Save 25 percent on any purchase at their Great Trade-In Event—trade in any used crib, car seat, bassinet, stroller, travel system, play yard, toddler bed or high chair, and get 25 percent savings on a new one (in any of those categories). Plus buy one, get one free on all Fisher-Price infant toys (priced $24.99 or more).

Good through: Great Trade-In Event ends Feb. 21, 2011; Fisher-Price toy sale ends Feb. 19, 2011.

4. Pizza & More: Kensington Pizza and Kabob House, 3701 University Blvd. West, 301-933 - 2600.

Deal: Get a large pizza with two toppings for $12.99; 20 wings for $11.99; free 2-liter soda with your large pizza order, and more deals by printing out their online coupons.

Good through:  Ongoing for delivery orders. Call restaurant for more details.

5. Car Wash: Mr. Wash Brushless Car Wash, 3817 Dupont Avenue, 301-933-4858. (Corner of University Boulevard. and Connecticut Avenue behind Savannah’s Restaurant).

Deal: Get and get $4.00 off an Outside Ultimate Wash immediately when you sign up for their email club; while getting ongoing special deals sent to your email box.

Good through: Carwash offer expires 30 days from date coupon sent; good at any Mr. Wash location.

Happy Savings!