Low-country store deals

Food & Home Storage deals for the Low-country

Kroger: Sales run Sunday to Saturday, this sale started on Dec 11th and ends Dec 17th, customer card

4x the fuel points for gift cards (Nov 20-Dec 11th)

Quaker cereal 4/10, buy 4 get a free gallon of milk

Kroger juice (apple, cranberry) 1.79

BS chicken 1.99/lb

eggs 1.28

Publix:  sales run Thursday to Wednesday, Dec 15th to 21st

Produce:  celery, baby carrots are a good price this week B1G1

publix butter 16 oz 2/4

Crisco oil 48 oz B1G1 (4.51)

Kraft Mayo B1G1 (5.33)

Heinz Ketchup 2/4

Kraft dressing B1G1 (3.39)

Swanson broth B1G1 (1.19)

General mills, Post cereal B1G1 (3.59, 3.99)

Mueller's pasta B1G1 (1.55)

Piggly Wiggly: sales run Wednesdays to Tuesdays, Dec 14th to 20th, customer card

Smithfield ham .99/lb

Food Lion: sales run Wednesdays to Tuesdays, Dec 14th to 20th, customer card

Ham .79/lb

quite a few B1G1 sales this week:  frozen chicken, bacon, chips, ice cream, butter, canned veggies, campbells cream soup, etc

Bi-Lo:  sales run Wednesdays to Tuesdays, Dec 14th to 20th

B1G1 deals:  ice cream, sausage, canned veggies, chips, pasta (32 oz reg 3.19), etc

Walgreens, CVS & other pharmacies:  many of the pharmacies have great sales on Christmas items, batteries, wrapping paper and children's toys this time of year.  They often have good deals on food items as well.

Grocery Shopping Tips:  

• Basically the more you can stock up when things are on sale, the less over-time you will be spending on groceries.  Stock up ONLY on things your family will eat and be able to use before the items go bad.
• Know what the prices of products are at your favorite stores, so when you get the ads, you can compare the price.  Compare prices with Sams club, online prices, etc.  Stock up when the sale price is less than the cheapest price elsewhere.
• Write (or type) the prices down so you have them available.  Prices of produce can change quickly, but in general expect price changes every month or two on produce items that are seasonal.  Other products, the prices do change (and sometimes by quite a bit), but usually they stay close to the same price over a period of months.  As you keep a price list--both of regular prices and of sale prices, you’ll be able to see patterns in sales and prices--when things are cheapest, how often things come on sale, etc.  
• Sales ads:  some things are drastically on sale--called “loss leaders”--to get you in the store, other things aren’t necessarily marked down in price, they are simply “for sale” so just because it is in the ad does not mean it is on sale or even a good price.  Remember a bargain is only such if you can and will actually use the item, it still costs money, but less than full-price.
• Meats & produce:  set a per pound price that you are comfortable with paying and find deals that are at or below that price.  Example:  meats $2/lb or less; produce depends on the type, but in general $1.50/lb or less.  For some more examples of produce see this post.
• Cereals, breads:  set a price per unit (box, ounce, loaf) that you are willing to pay and then find the deals that are at or below that price.  Example:  cereal--$2/box or less; loaf of bread--$1.50/loaf or less.
• Menu Shop:  In a previous post I mentioned how to save on grocery bills by making menus, see that post here.  But in general, when making a menu follow these steps:

• First:  what perishables do you have on hand that need to be used
• Second:  what sales are available
• Third:  Food Storage items to rotate into meals
• Fourth:  Special Occasions--birthdays, holidays, potlucks, etc.

• Using coupons?  For some things combining a coupon with the sale price at pharmacies and stores is a great deal.  Buy one get one free sales are a great way to use coupons!  So are stores that offer double coupons:  Kroger and some other stores offer double coupons up to 50 cents.  (ex.  if you have a 50 cent off coupon on a cereal, you get the 50 cents then Kroger takes off another 50 cents automatically--yeah!)  Not always is the product with a coupon the cheapest option, but combined with sales or with double coupon deals, often the price of the brand product is much nearer or even less than the generic brands.