Simple Ways to Save

In recent columns, we’ve talked about Vons, and then Albertsons. This week Frugal Family takes a look at the Ralphs Reward program.

Not only will a Ralphs club card provide you great mark down product prices, but rewards include accumulating points, allowing you to receive a coupon four times a year that provides appreciable dollars off a shopping trip.

For each dollar spent, one point is earned, with $5 off for the first 500 points, then $1 off of each of the next 100 points earned. At the end of three months, you can have anywhere from $10, $15, even $20, depending on how much you may have spent at the store. Even with modest grocery spending, you’re sure to obtain a reasonably valuable coupon providing surprising savings on your shopping.

In addition to its savings system for groceries, points can help reduce the cost of gas. Ralphs and Shell have a joint program that allows Ralphs’ cardholders to use a maximum of 100 of their earned points to receive 10 cents off per gallon of gas, up to a total of $1. This may seem trivial, but even small savings will contribute to your overall savings. And take your Shell receipt on your next shopping trip to Ralphs and earned points will be doubled. 

Ralphs’ website provides information on healthy living, recipes and, of course, online coupons. Ralphs also has a system that tracks your product purchases and you’ll receive coupons for those products to help save even more. Ralphs, like the other grocers, also has programs to benefit schools. Take a look at what Ralphs.com has for you.  

Now for this week’s deals:

• Vons – Last week Albertsons had an additional flier. This week, Vons does. Vons is offering a buy eight, get 50 cents off deal. If you take advantage of this deal, Freschetta pizza becomes $4.49 and Cheeze It or Keebler Club crackers become $1.99. In the regular flier, we found Foster Farms whole chicken for 69 cents a pound. Fresh 80-percent-lean ground beef is $2.27 a pound. Vons is also selling all wines for 30 percent off. Always check the mail flier for all the deals, or check it out at Vons.com. Prices are good until June 14.

• Albertsons – Every store has a weekly theme. This week Albertsons theme is Fresh Summertime Fun. That means pork spare ribs are $1.99 a pound. Red seedless grapes are 99 cents a pound. Albertsons beef top round London Broil is $2.97 a pound, and if you love seafood, extra large shrimp is available for $5.99 a pound. There’s much more going on at Albertsons, including help with purchasing gift cards for any graduates you know. Purchase $100 in gift cards and receive a $20 coupon for your next shopping trip. That’s like getting a discount on the gift cards! So see all there is at Albertsons.com. Prices are good until June 14.

• Ralphs – Ralphs is continuing with Dairy Days. That means Yoplait yogurt is ten for $6. A one pound pack of butter is $3.50. Knudsen or Daisy sour crème in 16-ounce containers are two for $5. Ralphs gallon milk is $2.95. If you buy two DiGiorno or California Pizzas on special at $5.77, you get a 48-ounce container of Dreyers Ice Cream free! More is available at Ralphs.com. Don’t forget to check those online coupons! Prices are good until June 14.

• Fresh & Easy – The best thing about Fresh & Easy this week is its flier coupons: $5 off of a $25 purchase, or $10 off of a $50 purchase. Fresh & Easy offers organic products for less than the regular going rate at a specialty store. Nature’s Harvest organic 85-percent fat-free ground beef is $4.99 a pound. Organic limeade or lemonade is $2.99 per 64-ounce bottle. Salad packages are $2.89 each. Why organic? To be free of hormonal or chemical additives, of course. See all is there is this week at freshandeasy.com. Don’t forget to sign up for the store’s weekly alerts, which include higher coupon values than the mailed flier. Prices are good until June 14.

• Smart & Final – Smart & Final always has a meat and produce product at greatly reduced prices. This week, it’s Jennie-O fresh ground turkey, links, or patties in two for $5 packages. Red cherries are $1.59 a pound. Sixteen ounce packages of cheese are also reduced at $2.49 a package. To help save even more, check smartandfinal.com to see its featured items that, when $20 worth is purchased, you will receive $5 off the total price–and these items are everyday needed items, to boot! Prices are good until June 14.

Household Tip of the Week – Following is a list of easy things we can do to further reduce our grocery costs.

• Don’t waste anything. It’s all too easy to forget about something we bought—say produce—and it spoils before we eat it. Even if it was on special, it’s money in the trash.
• Daily grocery stores need to clear out meats approaching their expiration dates. These meats will be marked “reduced to clear,” “manager’s special,” or some other such labeling. These meats might be mixed in with regular stock or separated, but they offer a great chance to stock up and never pay full price.
• Another meat trick is to “dig.” Don’t just look at packages on top. Get to the back and go underneath. These meats are always lower-priced. Yes, they may be less weight, but when targeting a certain amount, this is where you’ll have your best luck.
• Every store has a place for clearance items. These are either damaged, overstock, or items not selling well. There is nothing wrong with these items—it is worth the time to take a peek.
• Produce gets tossed when it starts to wilt. Make friends with the manager and ask about being contacted to glean what they may be getting ready to discard. These items can be purchased for a steal and still have many valuable uses left to them. Marketing strategies have led us to believe if it is slightly bruised, it’s bad,  but that is simply not true.
• Don’t buy personal items at the grocery store unless it is an exceptional price. Prices on hair, beauty and even stationary items will always be more expensive at the grocery store than a drug store. It is convenient shopping but there is a price with that convenience.