It's going to be hard not to find bargains at the grocery store this week as supermarkets are stocking up for the long Labor Day weekend and the traditional end of summer. Fresh fruit is still plentiful as is corn on the cob. It's a good time to fill the pantry and get ready for fall.
Some highlights:
Soda is definitely on sale for the 3-day weekend. At Safeway, it's buy 2-12-packs and get 3 free. At Raley's/BelAir, Pepsi products are buy 4-12 packs and get $5 off. Cases of bottled water (Arrowhead and Aquafina) are $3.99 or less at Safeway, Raley's/Belair, Vic's markets and SaveMart. But the bottled water winner this week is Foods Co. at $2.99 for a case of Crystal Geyser.
If you're planning a backyard BBQ, boneless chicken breasts are $1.77 a pound at Raley's/Belair; split breasts are 97-cents a pound at SaveMart and 99-cents a pound at Safeway.
Ribs are also a good choice at $1.99lb at Safeway and $1.39lb at SaveMart.
Corn on the cob (remember to rip off the husks at the market) is 4/$1 at Raley's/Belair and 33-cents each at Safeway. At Foods Co., it's 3 for 99-cents and 3/$1 at SaveMart.
And, lastly, the apple pie. At Raley's/Belair you can get 2-8 inch pies for $5. A 9-inch pie at Safeway is $6.99. At Foods Co, 2/$6; $7.99 at SaveMart.
Want more savings? Check out the individual stores.
Safeway: OK, cereal fans, Cheerios and Lucky Charms are $1.49 a box. The produce aisle is brimming with bargains: A 4-pack of tomatoes is 99 cents; cherries are $2.99 a pound; red bell peppers at 99-cents a pound; broccoli at 88-cents a bumch whole watermelon for $3.88 and BOGO on raspberries (2 for $3.99). Garlic bread in the bakery is $1.99 a loaf; most varities of hot dogs are BOGO; hot dog or burger buns are $1 a package and Bush's Baked Beans are 2/$3. StarKist solid white tuna in water is $1 a can. This week's Friday special is chicken (again). But this time it's country fried and includes 2 drumsticks; 2 breasts; 2 thighs and 2 wings. If you need Softsoap liquid, it's $1 each and whipped topping (for the apple pie) is BOGO. If you are headed to a friend's or neighbor's for Labor Day, the floral dept. has bouquets for $5.99 and $7.99.
Raley's/BelAir: Pre-made ground beef patties are $2.77lb and Bush's Baked Beans are 2/$3. Whole watermelon is $3.47 each; Dreyer's fruit bars are 2/$5 (the temperature is going to be 100+ this week) and there's a coupon for Eskimo Pies 2/$4 worth clipping. My favorites - Lundberg Rice Chips are 2/$3 and Clif and Luna bars are $1 each in the Natural Foods section.
SaveMart: Whole Foster Farms chickens are 88 cents a pound; fresh cooked salad shrimp is $4.99lb and fresh ground round is $2.99lb. If you like mini-rice cakes, Quaker varities are 4/$5. The beauty and health aisle has a bunch of BOGOs with L'Oreal hair products, deodorant, toothpaste and sunscreen. In the deli/bakery, there's garlic bread for $1.99; a pound of potato salad for $2.99 and an 8-piece chicken meal for $5.99. Berries are still available at 2 containers for $5 and a jumbo cantaloupe is $2.. Sliced or whole portabella mushrooms are 2 packs for $6.
Foods Co. has a four-page ad with twice the savings. Whole watermelon is $2.99 and peaches are 2lbs. for 98-cents. Large boxes (17-19 oz)of Post cereals are 2/$5 and their 8-piece fried chicken combo meal (4 drumsticks; 4 thighs) is $3.98. Michelina's frozen entres are 88-cents each and Bush's baked beans are the same price (2/$3). Gallon jugs of Crystal Geyser water are 98-cents. In produce, fresh pineapples are $1.98 each; green beans are 98-cents a pound and radishes or cilantro are 33-cents a bunch. In the bakery, Van de Kamp buns are 98-cents and Western Hearth bread is 3/$5.
At the Vic's outlets, Barilla pasta is 99-cents a box; General Mills cereals are 2/$4; Skippy peanut butter is $1.99 a jar and Quaker mini rice cakes are $1 a bag. Gallo sliced salame is $4.99 for a large package.
Also included in the Wednesday ad offerings is a one-day pass to Sam's Club. A one-day visit is a good way to determine if warehouse shopping is right for you.
Be sure to come back Thursday for some money-saving recipes.


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