You don't have to ask Congress for a federal bailout to afford Thanksgiving dinner this year - and Shop Cheap is going to tell you how. There are plenty of reasonably priced items that will make for a delicious Turkey Day. Best of all, every market has items on sale so you can do all your shopping at one store and still save money.
The store-by-store highlights:
SAFEWAY: Most stores open on Thanksgiving until 6 p.m.
Turkey prices vary and most of the advertised specials are frozen. But there is a price to fit every budget from $5.99 to $9.99. The only requirements: use your Club Card and spend at least $25. More for your Thanksgiving table: yams at 69-cents a pound; bakery dinner rolls 2 bags/$4; BOGO Stove Top stuffing; crisp celery 49-cents; Safeway gravy 2/$3; frozen veggies $2.34 a bag and pumpkin pies - BOGO Sarah Lee, and $4.99 in the bakery.
You will need other items to fill out the weekly menu, so here's what else is cartworthy.12 packs of Coca-Cola buy 2-get 2 free; Tropicana orange juice and Dreyer's and Safeway Select ice cream are BOGO and Nabisco snack crackers are 2/$4. Swanson chicken broth is 2/$3; Hunts diced tomatoes are $1 a can; Arrowhead water $3.99 a case; milk remains 2 gallons/$5.19; Navel oranges are 99-cents a pound and 5-lb bag of Clementine oranges $5.88. There are two Friday only specials this week. In the deli, sliced pan roasted turkey and Black Forest Ham is $5 a pound and Van de Kamp's seafood selections and Signature Cafe Mac & Cheese are $5 for both.
RALEY'S/BELAIR: Closed on Thanksgiving Day
Raley's fresh/natural turkey is 97-cents a pound and the Nob Hill Trading Co. brand is $1.69lb. Frozen turkey up to 16 pounds - $7.87 each; more than 16 pounds - $9.87 each. If you want to splurge on turkey, Raley's premium Diestel is $2.19 a pound. Fresh green beans are 97-cents a pound; C&W frozen veggies are 2/$3; rolls from the deli are $1.49 a dozen; Campbell's gravy 4 cans/$2; Stove Top stuffing $2/$3; and pumpkin pies - Sara Lee 2/$5 and $4.99 in the bakery.
Other items: Salad size shrimp meat $3.99lb; Fresh Express salad blends 2/$5; sliced mushrooms 2/$4; Martinelli's sparkling cider $1.79 a bottle; Knudsen sparkling cider 2/$3; 12 pack Coca-Cola - buy 2, get 2 free; Pillsbury Grands! biscuits 2/$5; Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash potatoes 2/$7; Del Monte canned veggies 88-cents; Campbell's cream of mushroom, chicken or celery soup 69-cents a can; Nabisco snack crackers $1.88; Raley's large eggs $1.50 a dozen and Fuji apples $1.49 a pound.
SAVEMART: Most stores open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
First, if you spend $99 or more during a shopping visit, your turkey issues have been solved. SaveMart is giving a free turkey to customers who spend $99 at checkout. If you buy the bird at SaveMart, you will pay from $1.49 to $2.19 a pound. To go with the turkey dinner, Green Giant canned veggies are 2/$1; Stove Top stuffing is 99-cents a box; brown and serve rolls are $1.99 a dozen; yams are 69-cents a pound; fresh cranberries are 2 bags/$4 and pumpkin pies are $6.99 in the bakery and $5 in the freezer.
Other items: Lindsay pitted olives $1 per can; Nabisco snack crakers $1.87 a box; seedless grapes 99-cents a pound; fresh celery 2/$1; Large eggs $2.50 for 18; Minute Maid drinks $1 per container; Sunnyside Farms cracked wheat bread $1.99 a loaf; English muffins $1.50 a pack; Geisha Mandarin oranges 4/$3; Martinelli's sparkling cider $2 a bottle; Aquafina drinking water $3.99 a case; avocado $1 each; Fuji apples $1.29 a pound; Fresh Express salad blends $2 per bag and large Navel oranges 69-cents a pound.
VIC'S MARKETS/FOLSOM: Open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thanksgiving
Fresh Norbest turkey is $1.29 a pound; Foster Farms is $1.49lb; fresh green beans $1.49lb; yams 69-cents a pound; dinner rolls $1.99 a dozen; and pumpkin pie in the bakery is $3.99 Mrs Smith's frozen 2/$5.
Other stuff: Pound of butter $1.99; Martinelli's sparkling cider $1.79 bottle; Campbell's cream soups 99-cents a can; fresh green beans $1.29lb; Del Monte canned veggies 79-cents; Cool Whip 99-cents a tub; Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash potatoes $2.99 a bag; Gallo Salame $4.99 a package; and fresh pineapple is $1.99 each.
FOODS Co. Open Thanksgiving Day
Fresh Zacky Farms turkey 87-cents a pound; fresh broccoli 98-cents a pound; 10-pound bag of potatoes $2.48; 2-dozen fresh baked rolls $2.98; yams 47-cents a pound; fresh pumpkin pies 2/$5; Mrs. Smith's in the freezer 2/$5.
Other stuff: Fresh apples 68-cents a pound; avocado 98-cents each; fresh cranberries $1.98 a bag; fresh oranges 2lbs/98 cents; canned Green Giant veggies 2/$1; Kellogg's cereals $2 a box; fresh celery 47-cents each; Western Hearth loaf bread 3/$5; Arrowhead drinking water $3.98 a case; Cool Whip 97-cents a tub and fresh pineapple $1.98 each.
RAINBOW FOODS: Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Foster Farms or Norbest turkey $1.19lb; Western Family gravy 79-cents; Stove Top stuffing 4/$5; 2 dozen dinner rolls $2.50 a bag; yams 3lbs/$1; 10 pounds Russet potatoes $3 a bag; Del Monte canned veggies 89-cents a can; bakery pumpkin pie $3.50; Sara Lee frozen pies 2/$7.
Come back tomorrow for some post-holiday recipes.
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