Theme Sales Bring Savings at Grocery Stores

It’s not uncommon to see a common sales theme going on, depending on what time of the year it is. Recently it was Labor Day highlights, but this week it’s different at every store. This is a marketing tool to catch your eye and draw you to that store, as if that store may have the best to offer in deals. Always make note of what your particular needs are. Seek which store is offering the best deals, based on your needs. Scan the themes for any additional savings that may benefit you. Most prices are good this week until Sept. 20, but take notice of any themes that may have earlier expiration. • Vons- Vons this week has a total of nine pages in its flier. They store is having great weekend specials—Friday to Sunday—that include receiving a $10 reward coupon, good on the next shopping trip if $75 or more is spent. Frugal Family’s favorite sale items are red lion, extra-large nectarines for 99 cents a pound. Red, black or green seedless grapes are 88 cents a pound. Oven Joy loaf bread is 99 cents each and Kellogg’s Fruit Loops or Mini Wheats are $2.49 a box. • Albertsons – Albertsons is introducing a new program geared to helping schools called eLabelsForEducation.com. You register your Preferred Savings Card online at www.eLabelsAddUp.com and earn 100 bonus points just for signing up! Products currently on sale include Campbell’s soup at ten-for-$10, packages of Pepperidge Farm goldfish crackers three-for-$4, and V-8 Splash 64-ounce bottled juice at two-for-$4. Buy 15 items, receive a 500 points bonus! This is an easy way to help schools, and all you did was buy the items you needed—on sale! • Ralphs – In competition, Ralphs has an extra insert in its flier with a buy-ten-receive-$5-off of highlighted selections offer. In addition, there’s also a special eight-hour sale. Taking place Thursday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., you’ll find raspberries on sale at 99 cents a basket, Atlantic salmon is only $4.99 a pound and Kellogg’s corn flakes are just $1.49 a box. • Fresh & Easy – Fresh & Easy is a bit light this week in its flier, but there are some items worth noting. Fresh & Easy brand package salads are $1.50, cantaloupe is 99 cents each, and a 32-ounce container of Tart frozen yogurt is just $2.99. There’s also a selection of frozen entrées on sale at $1.79 each. • Smart & Final – Smart & Final is also light in its flier, but the top deals are Foster Farms chicken breasts at 99 cents a pound, Hass avocados are 79 cents each, two-pound packages of First Street pasta are only 99 cents each, and a 48-ounce carton of ice cream is only $2.49. Flip open the quarter sheet from the front page of the coupon piece and there are buy-ten-receive-$5 off First Street products. Selections include $1.49 bread, 99 cent salad dressing, 96-ounce apple or cranberry juice at $1.99 a bottle and instant oatmeal selections at $1.39 a box. If you haven’t tried Smart & Final’s store-brand products, Frugal Family encourages you to do so, as there is no disappointment in quality. Grocery Tip of the Week: With warmer weather still ahead of us, it’s easy to want to eat out or pick up meals, versus being in the kitchen cooking. Yuck! Unfortunately, this kind of rationalization can increase our food expenses. Grillin’ outdoors or using the crock pot can make meal preparations so much easier. There are also many cooler dinner ideas out there that are often easier to prepare, since most don’t require cooking at all. If you are stumped on ideas, simply go on line and key into your favorite search engine “meal ideas for hot days.” Then sit back and enjoy a cool meal that also cools your wallet.