Frugal Family: Free Day at the Museum, Restaurant Week and More!

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 is dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and 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.

• The Charles Schultz Museum's free day is this Sunday, Feb. 27. Admission is (you guessed it) free all day. Bring the family to enjoy one of the best local museums. They recently launched a new exhibition titled ‘"Peanuts Philosophies," and the small movie theatre is just right for kids!
• Kids eat free! Well, usually the parents pay, but not on Thursday at Cattlemens! On Thursdays kids 12 and under can have a free Pete Jr. steak with a dining adult. This offer is valid at either the Petaluma or Santa Rosa Cattlemens. Mmmm steak!
• If you want to save a little money eating out this week at more elegant surroundings (date night anyone?), take advantage of the deals from Sonoma County Restaurant Week. In Rohnert Park we have Bacchus, Hana and Mary’s Pizza all taking part in this special event to help give back to the community by offering a three-course special price fixe meal at either $19, $29 or $39 per person. Grab a sitter and head out this weekend!
• Time for Spring Crafts and of course Easter is right around the corner. It must be time to head over to for supplies. Check them out online to keep track of special in-store coupons (30% off Imagine It Pendants) as well as current mailers. If you want to save a little more don’t forget about the Beverly’s Crafts Outlet (next to Target) which has discount on deals on everything.
• Online coupon sites are a great way to save money. A good place to bookmark for your coupon deals is www.sonomacountycoupons.com . So far the site does not have a huge number of local coupons, but as we all know every little bit helps. They also are linked up with the State Coupon Network. I recommend checking coupon sites online once a week as most coupons have a fairly long expiration period.

Money Tip of the Week – Buy socks in packs of three or more. Cute single pairs are nice but if you get a hole in one sock then the pair is usually done for. With three or more pairs, you end up with a spare sock after the first hole and a new mate after the second!