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.

This first week of fall we found a few free (or half-price) deals—including a free cup of coffee, a meal deal, and two-for-one ice cream. Plus, savings on fall fashions and shoes. Remember to check with the merchant for additional conditions, if any:

1. Free Coffee: , 10594 Metropolitan Ave., Kensington; 301-946-8382 (and other locations).

Deal: Thursday is National Coffee Day. To celebrate, 7-11 is offering everyone a free medium-size cup of coffee.

Good through: Sept. 29, 7-11 a.m.

2. Shoe Deal: , 11301 Rockville Pike, Rockville; 301-881-4073 (White Flint Mall, and other locations).

Deal: Take 20 percent off your entire purchase when you buy two pair of shoes with this coupon (in-store and online)

Good through: Sept. 28, 11:59 p.m.

3. Fall Fashions: , 1637 Rockville Pike, Rockville; 301-881-5901 (and other locations).

Deal: Save 25 percent on fall fashions, in-store and online, during the Loft's "First Look at Fall" sale.

Good through: In progress, for a limited time only. Check website for updates.

4. Meal Deal:  , 12147 Rockville Pike, Rockville; 301-231-9048 (and other locations).

Deal: Buy one entree and get the second for half-off with this coupon.

Good through: Sept. 28 (hurry!).

5. Two-for-One Ice Cream (and support a cause!): , 821 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring; 301-588-1230.

Deal: Visit Coldstone for its "10th annual World's Largest Ice Cream Social" in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and get a free "Sprinkled with Wishes" creation. Buy any Creation and get a second one of equal value free.

Good through: Ice Cream Social takes place Sept. 27 from 5-7 p.m.

Happy Savings!