Jewel You’ve probably gotten register rewards at Walgreen’s, but did you know that you don’t have to spend them at Walgreen’s? You buy a $10 item and perhaps you get $5 or even $10 back in Register Rewards—why not use that money to lower your grocery bill? Jewel takes Register Rewards as long as they say "manufacturer coupon" on the top. Save them up for a way to really bring down your grocery bill! Family Video Want to rent a movie, did you know you can get more movie bang for your buck? When you initially sign up for a Family Video account, you get half-off all movies for one month. Did you…

Odyssey Fun Farm Opening this Friday, Odyssey Fun Farm is a ton of fun for the whole family. Some attractions include a corn maze, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, corn cannon and kids zone. Admission is $10 but there are coupons available through their website when you join their mailing list. To make it even better, Culver’s is giving a free cone or dish of custard with admission and Chili’s is giving a free kids meal (with purchase of an adult meal) with paid admission of kids 12 and under. Fear City Fear City, located in Morton Grove, is a haunted house like no other. Created and run by Emmy …

It's fun to spend a night with your friends, but how can you get out without spending too much? Here are some great ideas! Take a class together at Art 4 Soul! Art 4 Soul is such a fun, funky place to shop, but it's also a lot of fun and not much money to take a wide variety of classes. There's a private space upstairs dedicated to the classes. Get your girlfriends together and get an evening out, with something to show for it. Have a wine tasting at Cooper's Hawk.  Cooper's Hawk is a beautiful restaurant for an upscale dinner, but you can have a wine tasting with your friends for little or …

One of the best ways to start finding money in your house is to clean it, room by room. The first place to sort is in your piles of mail. I have found credit cards, gift cards and rebate checks that I missed the first time around. Shred what you don’t need after. There’s a great shredder on sale in the OfficeMax ad this week, and here’s a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $40 or more to make it even better!  Get organized for less, so you don’t lose any more mail, coupons and freebies. Start by buying clearance school supplies. You can go to many places, such as Target, Walmart and Walgreens, …

It can be hard to save money when caring for your car, but there are deals out there if you know where to look. Gasoline Deals While gas prices are rising, there continue to be places to find good gas deals. Patch and Gasbuddy post deals on the day’s best gas price. Gasbuddy also has a mobile app for those looking for deals on the go. When you use Walmart’s gas credit card you usually save 3 cents per gallon and, up until Sept. 30, they are offering TEN cents off per gallon! CVS is still running the purchase $30 of certain items and get a $10 gas card. Car Service Deals Pep Boys If you sign …

Updated 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2011 Editor's Note: We originally published a different special for "The Egg and I" based on a Tinley Park location. We've since updated the article to reflect specials at the Chicago Heights location. We've been reading in Chowdown Showdowns about how delicious our local breakfasts are, but did you know they can also be extremely affordable? Blueberry Hill Pancake House Blueberry Hill is an H-F staple, but have you been printing your coupon when you go there for breakfast? There's a variety of them available on their website. Blueberry Hill is already delicious…

It seems to happen the same way every year, we wait until the last minute and then all of a sudden it's August and we're at Super Kmart at 2 a.m., fumbling around the aisles looking for glue sticks and trying to figure out which is the college ruled paper. But not this year! This year, you are going to hunt the sales and be ahead of the game with these surprising places to find great deals on school supplies! Menard's Menard's always has tons of items that are free or cheap with a rebate. But, did you know the closer it gets to school time, the more often these are school supplies? There are …

Homewood Days Homewood's huge block party with food, music, crafts, rides and much more is held from July 8-10. Homewood Days is a fun and, at only $5 admission, frugal way to connect with friends, have a lot of fun and support the community.  Dog Days of Summer Have a dog? Dog lover? Check out this unique fun event in Homewood on Aug. 20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Irwin Park. Dog Days of Summer will feature a giant flea market, the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, a hot dog eating contest, a pooch parade, music, food, specialty vendors, kids activities and more! Downtown Alive Festival (Aurora) The …

Save your money with coupons and rewards from these local stores and restaurants: Sunrise Health Food Store Did you know that Sunrise offers coupons? Check their link out to save money on a variety of items from supplements to delicious organic food. Art 4 Soul Art 4 Soul has a great mailing list. It informs you of the next classes and exciting upcoming events. But did you know it also tells you about sales as well? In addition, there is usually a coupon at the bottom of the newsletter listing their deal of the month. To be green, it's usually a saying or word to mention in the store for …

Check Out Your Local Libraries Homewood, Flossmoor, and Steger-South Chicago Heights libraries have summer reading programs, special events, and special prizes for keeping cool and reading books!  Children's Museum Are your kids dying to run around, but it's just too hot? Why not take them to the Chicago Children's Museum? Target sponsors free days, every first Sunday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for children 15 and under. And if you're a teacher, your admission is also free at many Chicago museums, including the Children's Museum. There are programs for children, teens and adults. …

Zarlengo's Known for their amazing gelato and delicious italian ice, Zarlengo's is a staple in the south suburbs. Even if you missed their free cones on opening day, you won't have to be left out in the cold. If you have an OTYA card, you can use that to purchase $10 and get a free Zar Bar. Zarlengo's is offering a baker's dozen special, when you purchase 12 novelties or 12 italian ices, you get the 13th free. Additionally, Zarlengo's wanted to make sure that Patch reader's get a chance to save some money and get some treats also! If you bring in a printed copy of this article from Patch, …

Block Party Looking for something fun to do this summer? Why not have a block party! Get to know your neighbors in a fun and festive setting! Check out this site for details on how to get started. Bass Pro Shop Did you know that Bass Pro Shops offer free family activities? There are crafts, workshops, and all kinds of sporting activities.    Free Museum Days You probably knew there were free museum days, but do you know when? Here's the schedule of the free days to pencil down for June!  Homewood Art and Garden Fair The Homewood Art and Garden Street Fair is coming! June 17 and 18 there will …

Just because it's a holiday weekend doesn't mean you can't have free and cheap fun all weekend long!  Memorial Day Parade Celebrate our veterans and enjoy a great parade in Homewood on Monday, May 30th. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and travels south down Dixie Highway to Olive Road and west to Harwood Avenue. It will then stop at Veterans Park for a ceremony. South Chicago Heights will also honor veterans past and present at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 30, at the Veterans Memorial. Refreshments will be served immediately afterward. Free Music Are you ready for free summer music? Millennium Park is…

Buying things that have been previously loved and gently used is a great way to save money. Here are some places you might not know about in the south suburbs for great resale saving! Bargain Box (Homewood) The Bargain Box is great for finding seasonal items, clothes and knick knacks at a great, low price. They often have quality brand name items in beautiful shape. This is a perfect place to shop for little ones who grow out of clothing and shoes quickly.  ReStore (Chicago Heights) The ReStore is a rehabber's dream! They carry used and surplus building materials, appliances and furniture. …

This week's Frugal Family will look at fun events that won't break the bank. Enjoy a easy-on-the-wallet forms of entertainment. SXU Film Series Highlights Female Latin American Directors Saint Xavier University’s Latin American Studies Program is hosting a three-week film series highlighting female Latin American directors that started Wednesday, April 6, and ends April 20. The series, titled “Latin American Women Directors,” is free and open to the public. Each viewing will take place in room S113 in the Warde Academic Center at SXU’s Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. All films begin at 5:30…

This week, we are highlighting the area's top 5 fun and free activities for your family. Free Crafts Lakeshore Learning has free crafts for kids on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some of the upcoming crafts include making a Save the Earth tote bag, a bunny basket and a gift for Mother's Day. Build and Grow WorkshopLowe's offers Build and Grow Workshops for children on Saturdays starting at 10 a.m. You can register your child online for the classes, but a grownup must attend with your child. The first 50 children to register get the class kit, goggles and an apron for free. The recommended …

HAGGERTY LANDSCAPING - FLOSSMOOR The Deal: $65 per yard to install hardwood mulch. $85 for premium hardwood mulch. Good Through: Spring BRUNSWICK ZONE - HOMEWOOD The Deal: Save 10 percent off a kids birthday party at Brunswick in Homewood, when you use this coupon from Valpak. Good Through: April 3. BROWN'S CHICKEN - CHICAGO HEIGHTS The Deal: $5 off Chicken & Choice Dinner 8 Pc. or more with this coupon from Valpak. Good Through: April 1 FREE LEGO MINI-MODEL The Deal: Starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, kids from 6 to 14 get to build a limited edition Lego mini-model and take it home with …

Get a fun photo and a date with Ichabod Crane for free this week, thanks to a heads-up from Patch! Walmart Deal: Free "Going In Circles" portrait collage when you print off this coupon. The package is normally worth $29.99 and you get this deal without any additional purchases. Good Through: Feb. 1, 2012 FEDEX Office Deal: $59.99 for an indoor and outdoor banner at Fedex Office in Homewood. Go here for details. Good Through: May 15, 2011 Payless Shoe Source Deal: Get 15 percent off your entire purchase when you use this coupon. Good Through: April 1, 2011 Lenten Special at Beggar's Pizza Deal…

This week, we scoured our local sources to come up with great deals on food, postcards, flowers and more. BUSY BEE NURSERY GARDEN CENTER Deal: Get three Perennial Mums for $10 when you use this coupon from Valpak. Good Through: Mar. 26 LAST MINUTE PRINTING & COPY CENTER Deal: 5,000 UV gloss full color postcards for only $150.00 when you use this coupon. Good Through: Mar. 26 KFC Deal: Free medium drink with purchase of Doublicious Sandwich at KFC with this coupon.  Good Through: Mar. 31 DRIVE A CHRYSLER, GET A GIFT CARD  Deal: Check out the new Chrysler lineup at Orland Square Mall, take one …

This week, we scoured our local sources to come up with great deals on pizza, clothes, portraits, rentals and steakburgers. lane bryant Remember to check with the merchant for additional conditions: Deal: $50 off your purchase of $150 or more when you use this coupon. Good Through: April 4 al's beef and nancy's pizzeria Deal: Get $1.50 off when you spend $15 or more. Get $2.50 off when you spend $25 or more. Print the coupons at GrubHub. Good Through: Deal ends today! Olan mills Deal: 40 percent off portraits on weekdays with this coupon. Good Through: April 2 KIDS EAT FREE AT STEAK ‘N SHAKE …