Frugal Family: Tips on Finding Back-to-School Sales

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. Since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column.

Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together.

Remember: You also can help military families overseas with your expired coupons through Coupon Mom's Military Coupon Program.

1. Back-to-School Sales 

Deal: Now is the time to get ready for school, especially if you can find bargain deals on school supplies. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Atlanta Bargain Hunter Lauren Davidson recently offered tips for shopping for bargains at Kroger (with her Kroger Plus card), Office Depot, Office Max, Publix, and .

Of course, first, scrounge around your home for all of your leftover school supplies. You also may want to check out for their doorbuster specials, dollar stores and your local drug stores, using their store card to pile up more savings. 

Here also is the newest "Best School Supply Deals Roundup 7/25" from SouthernSavers.com. Stores included are CVS, Food City, Kroger, Publix, Rite Aid, Target and Walmart. 

For Office Max, here are specials for this week through Saturday. Sign up for a free MaxPerks card to receive more savings from your purchases. Earn a $10 reward in your MaxPerks account every time you spend a minimum of $75 on qualified purchases between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 — up to $100 each calendar year.

For MaxPerks Rewards for Teachers members, Teacher Appreciation Days at Office Max are Sunday and Monday. They will receive a free reusable tote plus 20 percent off everything they can fit inside. While supplies last, there also will be free giveaways to the first 150 teachers on each day. The Hiram store will open at 11 a.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. Monday.

Also for Office Depot, here are this week's back-to-school deals. With your Star Teacher Member Card, you get an extra 20 percent off up to $20.

2. Sign Up Now for Free Chick-fil-A Tea

Deal: Participating Chick-fil-A restaurants in the Greater Atlanta and Athens areas are giving away free half-gallon iced teas (sweet or unsweetened), beginning Monday through Aug. 13. Supplies are limited to one free item per customer with a printed reservation. No purchase is needed.

Go here to make your reservation. The slots are almost gone as of this writing. The on U.S. 278 at Ga. 61 is not listed. However, several hundred reservations remain at other CFA locations.

Contacts for Dallas Chick-fil-A: General Manager Kurt Davis, dallas.ga.fsu@chick-fil-a.com or 770-445-7713.

3. New "Family Meal Deal" at Stevi B's 

Deal: Starting Monday through Sept. 8, "Family Meal Deals" will be available at on Mondays through Thursdays for $19.99. That price includes four buffets, four drinks and seven tokens.

Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Location: 4215 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway next to Kmart at Ga. 61, Hiram.

Contact: 770-222-0889.

4. Cheaper Gas Locator Website

Deal: You can check at GeorgiaGasPrices.com for the lowest gas prices in the state. You also can specify your city or ZIP code. 

5. Kroger Gas Policy Change

Deal: Kroger recently changed its fuel-saving policy. Now you can redeem up to 1,000 fuel points and save up to $1 per gallon of fuel at participating Kroger fuel sites. Also at any participating Shell station, you can receive 10 cents off per gallon when you redeem 100 points and use your Kroger Plus card. Learn more. Limits and restrictions apply, so see your store for details.