With an awful lot of us spending “extra” money on gifts for loved ones this holiday season in an already-distressed economy, it’s key to save even a few cents whenever possible. A search for financial deals does take time; however, finding undisclosed bargains that we wouldn’t otherwise enjoy makes that hour or so well worth spending. As my gift to readers, I’ll start you off with three surprises. Just make sure to request these deals.

— Kids’ meals. Whether traveling across country or simply “over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go,” on-the-road meals can get pricy. One way to budget is to order kids’ meals to-go for your youngsters but, even better, place the order for adults in your party from the same menu. The added plus? Most times, the amount of food is exactly the same; only the price is less, saving you a good chunk of change.

— Starbucks coffee: While the coffee is delicious, it certainly isn’t cheap. Most of it sells in three sizes — tall, grande, and venti. However, you can buy your favorite cuppa Joe in a “short cup,” which contains eight-ounces, as compared to Starbucks’ advertised smallest portion (tall) of twelve ounces. (According to my source at the Gunbarrel Road location, the short cup of regular coffee costs only fifty cents; I doubt anyone has seen a price like that in years!) My favorite tall cappuccino normally runs $3.06, but I can save thirty cents a cup by purchasing the smaller size and, if you’re a Starbucks fanatic like a certain friend of mine, that’s a weekly savings of over $2.00!

— Sears Roebuck KidsVantage Club: This plan is well worth a trip to the nearest store to join up for real savings. Each and every time you spend $100 on kids or infant clothing or shoes, you’ll receive a coupon for 15 percent off your next kids or infant apparel purchase. But the best part is the Wear-Out Warranty. If your baby or child’s clothes — except underwear and hosiery — and/or shoes happen to wear out before the kids outgrow them (and the clothes are in acceptable condition), Sears will replace them for FREE. Boy, you can’t beat this program with a stick!

Finally, last-minute shopping specials don’t have to cost a bundle. As I alluded in the Dec. 6 column, a gift that helps a stranger in need is a splendid present for the recipient who owns most everything. Check out the following sites to learn more: www.donorschoose.org; www.mercycorps.org; www.habitat.org; www.markmakers.org; www.arborday.org; and — the one name that says it all — www.changingthepresent.org.

Editor’s Note: Ellen Phillips is a retired English teacher who has written two consumer-oriented books. Her Consumer Watch column appears on Saturdays in the Business section of the paper. An expanded version is at www.timesfreepress.com under Local Business. E-mail her at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com