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 save you time as well as money.

In these dwindling weeks of freedom before school starts, we scoured our local sources for nearby places where kids can eat for free (or almost free) — just in time for those last summer outings. Read carefully--deals apply only on a certain day of the week and/or times; and as always remember to check for any additional conditions (if any):

1. , 11301 Rockville Pike, 301-230-3160 (White Flint Mall).

Deal: Kids under age 12 eat free on Tuesdays (any item on the kids menu), when accompanied by a an adult purchasing a meal.

Good through: Tuesdays, all day (mention "kids free meal" to server).

2. , 12111 Rockville Pike, 301-770-4600.

Deal: All you can eat pizza — kids under 3 eat free; and $3.99 for kids ages 3-10, every day.

Good through: All day, every day.

3. , 7141 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, 301-951-8681

Deal: Every Wednesday is Kid's Day, with weekly performers — and after the show, kids get complimentary lunch with each adult purchasing a platter or entree.

Good through: Wednesdays; performance is 10:30-11:30 a.m.

4. , 4862 Cordell Ave, Bethesda, 301-654-8226.

Deal: Kids eat for free on Wednesdays — get one free kid's meal with each adult entree purchased.

Good through: Wednesdays, 5-9 p.m.

5. , 36 Maryland Ave., Rockville, 301-838-4281.

Deal: On Tuesdays, kids can eat for $1 with each adult meal purchased.

Good through: Tuesdays, 5 p.m.-close.

Happy savings!