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Community Corner

Gleaning Easter Specials

Stock up now on items you can use in the coming months.

Certain times of the year bring with them an increase in opportunity for food specials. Easter is just one of those times. In addition to eggs, baking supplies and meat specials, this makes for a perfect time to stock up the pantry and freezer.

As thoughts of how to spend Easter cross your mind, relish in shopping wisely and enjoy the message of the season. Here are highlighted deals Frugal Family found for you.

  • —This week, Albertsons is featuring a three-day coupon special that includes Sara Lee pies for $3.99 each, limit four; Campbell’s soups for 79 cents each, limit six and five-pound bags of store brand granulated sugar for $2.50, limit one. Coupons are good April 22 to April 24. If you spend $50 while using your club card, you earn five percent back on your next shopping trip. Or spend $75 and earn two five-percent rewards. Rewards can be combined and are good until Sunday. Coupons can also be obtained online at Albertsons.com.
  • —Fresh & Easy is offering Dreyer’s 48 fl. oz containers of ice cream for $2.79. Sparkling cider is $1.99 per bottle. Four pounds of strawberries are $3.99. Four-packs of avocados are $1.99. Also, there is a coupon in this week’s flier that gives you $10 off if you spend $50. The coupon can also be obtained at FreshandEasy.com. Prices are good until April 25.
  • —Yes, it is a good time to buy ham and Ralph’s is continuing to offer it at .88 cents a pound. Selected varieties of bacon are 50 percent off. Twelve-packs of Coca-Cola are offered at four for $11 (with coupon). Pork spareribs are $1.99 a pound and Stouffer’s and Lean Cuisine entrées are five for $10. If you didn’t receive the mail flier, check out more deals and coupons at Ralphs.com. Prices are good until April 26.
  • Smart & Final—Smart & Final has a priced to clear area in the meat department where you can score still-fresh meat products at a real steal—but you have to get there early in the day. On special this week are 64 oz. Bottles of Ocean Spray cranberry juices for $1.99 each, limit six; Foster Farms chicken breasts are .99 cents a pound, limit four packages; naval oranges are four pounds for $1 and five-pound bags of russet potatoes are just .89 cents a bag. Membership cards are no longer needed at Smart & Final and they accept all manufacturers’ coupons.
  • —Vons is still offering Farmer John whole or half ham at .88 cents a pound. Red ripe vine tomatoes are $1.99 a pound. Kraft Mac n’ Cheese and Betty Crocker specialty potatoes are four for $5 as are Ragu pasta sauces. Additional specials can be viewed at Vons.com. Prices are good until April 26.

Note: Each grocer is currently offering specials on all of their Easter flowers and gifts, which makes Easter shopping even easier and saves a little gas.

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Household Tip of the Week—Most of us have heard of the pantry method, the practice of stocking the pantry to save money and time on the grocery bill. However, most of us half-heartedly put the idea into practice. Keeping a stocked pantry, you can shop at home first, plan meals, then purchase only what is needed. By keeping the sale date on prices listed in your price book (see last week's Household Tip to read about price books), you will begin to see a pattern to sales and begin to know how often items will be reduced, buy enough to make it to the next cycle, and know when to restock.

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A well-stocked pantry can also help when you’re sick and can’t make it to the store or just ahead of receiving a paycheck when you might not have the funds to shop or simply seeing how far things can be stretched before the next trip. So give this technique an honest try and see what impact it makes on your next grocery bill. 

Here are some more prices to add to your price book. Keep in mind these are the regular prices and that it’s best to purchase these when a sale is occurring.

Albertsons

Country Farms 100 percent whole wheat bread $2.99

Campbell’s condensed chicken soup $1.19

Store brand 16 oz. spaghetti pasta $1.59

Fresh & Easy

Store brand 100 percent whole wheat bread $1.99

Campbell’s condensed chicken soup $0.89

Store brand 16 oz. spaghetti pasta $0.99

Ralphs

Western Hearth 100 percent whole wheat bread $3.49

Campbell’s condensed chicken soup $1.19

Store brand 16 oz. spaghetti pasta $1.69

Smart & Final

First Street brand 100 percent whole wheat bread $2.99

Campbell’s condensed chicken soup $0.89

Store brand 16 oz. spaghetti pasta $1.19

Von’s

Safeway brand 100 percent whole wheat bread $2.99

Campbell’s condensed chicken soup $0.60

Store brand 16 oz. spaghetti pasta $1.50

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