News-Record.com

It's the big tax-free shopping weekend, which has me wondering whether a tough economy will translate into more sales or less for North Carolina retailers.

How about you? Are you going to take advantage of the sales-tax holiday because of the economy or in spite of the economy?

Yard sales listed in the News & Record for tomorrow:

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Summertime, and the grilling is easy. And cheap if you know where to look.

Lowe's Foods has top round London broil on sale for $2.49 a pound (regular $5.29).

Newegg.com has a 4 GB flash drive for $11 w/ free shipping.

Something in today's Food Lion insert caught my eye. Regarding the part where a 2 for $5 sale on Edy's ice cream is mentioned, it reads "Better than BOGO."

The first thing I thought was this is a competing brand of ice cream. I was surprised I had never heard of it. But here's the scoop: a quick search in Google revealed it is an acronym used in retail industry circles that refers to buy one, get one (free).

Regarding the sale, it does read below the BOGO part that Edy's is regularly 2 for $10.58, so you might have gathered what it meant by doing the math.

But I wondered how many others out there were also scratching their heads, so I did an informal poll in the office, for what it's worth. The first co-worker I asked didn't know either. But three others knew. Go figure.

If your vacation pictures are still trapped in a roll of 35mm film, head to Walgreens today. The drug store is offering free film developing on one role of 35 mm film, APS or a one-time use camera.

No purchase is necessary, but the offer is only good today, August 6.

Click here to print the coupon from the Walgreens Web site.

News after Brett Favre had announced he retired in March that he would be on the cover of the new Madden NFL 09 game was described as precedent-setting because it marked the first time a non-active player graced the game's cover. That coincided with the game franchise's celebration of its 20th anniversary this year. But a funny thing happened along the way.

If you follow pro football, then this is old news by now - Favre is playing for the Jets this season. So the cover is already dated because it shows him in a Packers uniform, although EA's Web site shows him in a Jets uniform. I'm sure as I'm posting this EA will assure gamers that you'll be able to play Favre as the Jets QB. But wondering if EA is has any plans to create another version of the cover or it's too late - that horse has already left the barn.

As far as what it will set you back, the going rate (hasn't changed in recent years) is $60 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and $50 for the Wii. Collector's edition for the Xbox 360 and PS3 is $90.

But if you pre-order the collector's edition by Monday, you can get a $10 Amazon.com gift card.

Got some old junk metal lying around? Might be worth a tank of gas or some groceries.

These days, recycling centers and metal scrapyards are seeing a boon in business.

The cause: skyrocketing metal prices caused by a demand in developing countries such as China and India and rising food and fuel costs.

Most of the scrap sellers, according to the Associated Press, are plumbers, electricians and construction workers. But an increasingly number of people in general are gathering stuff, scouring garages and basements for junk and saving cans to sell instead of handing them over to their local government recycling centers for free.

Some people are even driving around neighborhoods the night before trash is collected to gather other people's junk.

Greg Charlton (left), and Stephen Price, workers for the Fitzsimmons Metal Co., pour brass turnings from a bin to be weighed at the company in Glenshaw, Pa., recently. Keith Srakocic/The Associated Press

Tomorrow's yard sales in the Triad area that are listed in the News & Record:

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Chick-Fil-A will be giving away free three count servings of Chicken Strips on Labor Day for folks wearing gear representing their favorite football team.

The deal runs from 10:30 a.m. until closing.

Help yourself to a free "Kool Kreme" soft serve ice cream cone from noon to 1 Friday at Krispy Kreme's redesigned Battleground Avenue store.

Kool Kreme soft serve is available in "very vanilla," which is made with natural vanilla and real dairy cream, and "deep chocolate," created with Dutch cocoa, according to a company press release.

So is this going to give ice cream stores a run for their money? If you happen to try one, let us know what you think.

Krispy Kreme's store on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro. Google.

The September issue of Men's Health magazine (page 36) mentions a study where those who used a financial monitoring program daily to keep track of their money were saving 38 percent more of their income. Men's Health recommends trying Mint, an online money management program that is free.

An Associated Press article in today's business section of the News & Record mentions how families have altered their lifestyles due to the economy.

But the more interesting topic raised in the article is whether women feel they're being forced to stay at home to care for their kids due to the economy. That notion struck a nerve with Jen Singer, creator of MommaSaid.net, a resource for stay-at-home mothers like herself.

"I know tons and tons of mothers who choose to stay home whatever the economic difficulties," she tells the AP, counting herself among them. "We are NOT staying home with our children by default."

So to any stay-at-home moms out there, do you agree with Singer? Are you at home by choice or is it the economy, stupid?

Jenna Kagan, a stay-at-home mom, with her son Joey, 7. Kagan says the economy has seen her family spend more time at home instead of going out for dinner and other costly activities. Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press

Story in the Life section of today's News & Record ("Cinematic Treasure") mentions you can check out a double feature at the Eden Drive-In for $5. It's $2 for kids 6-11. Movies start at 9 p.m. Call 623-9669 for listings.

Sounds like something fun to do on a starry summer night, as others noted on a previous entry when I mentioned another area drive-in.

Yard sales advertised in the News & Record for tomorrow:

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If you're 62 and older, movie tickets at Brassfield Cinema 10 in Greensboro on Mondays are $3.50. Price includes evening movie times.

Before you toss Sunday's paper, take a quick flip through Parade magazine. On page 15, there are two coupons for free Southern Style Chicken at McDonalds.

The A.M. coupon will get you a free chicken biscuit with the purchase of any medium or large drink. The P.M. coupon will net you a free chicken sandwich with the same drink purchase requirements. The coupons expire Sept. 1.

You can buy a large sweet tea at McDonalds for about a buck. Paying pocket change for a sandwich and drink isn't bad.

That's what Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon is calling its all-you-can eat steak bites special. For a limited time, you can chow down on "hand-breaded, golden fried" steak medallions tossed in a choice of sauce for $9.99, according to an ad insert I can't stop looking at from Sunday's News & Record.

My, oh my. It's also served with a choice of ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce and steak fries galore.

I don't even want to know what the calorie count is on something like this, especially if you're eating several rounds' worth.

Michael Phelps would probably have to swim across the Atlantic to burn this one off.

Harris Teeter has sashimi grade tuna medallions for $4.99 a pound. Regular $8.99 a pound. Deal ends Tuesday.

Tomorrow's Triad yard sales as advertised in today's News & Record:

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Below is an e-mail from a parent who wanted to share a couple of great deals regarding back-to-school items:

My son's school supply list requested 12 composition books. If I was not a sale shopper, those 12 composition books would've cost me about $36 (regular price at Office Depot = 2.99). I waited and waited... and scooped them up for 0.30 each from Office Depot. The week after that Office Depot sale, Staples had them for 25 cents each. And last week, I bought another 12 for free at Rite Aid.

Another example of a great (and current) school supply deal: This week at Staples, you can get 10 pocket folders for free. It is an 'instant - at checkout rebate.'

Other deals at Staples: Free 12-packs of cap erasers (limit 3); free manual pencil sharpeners (limit 3).

They are both instant rebates at checkout.

— Lynda Whittington

Any deals you'd also like to share? Just shoot me an e-mail.

Get a $5 gift card if you buy the new Tiger Woods golf video game at Circuit City ($59.99 for Xbox 360 and PS3 version, $49.99 for Wii.).

Funny You Tube clip from game producer EA Sports showing the real Woods hitting a ball off a lilypad in response to a gamer's You Tube posting calling the game version of this scene a glitch because it can't possibly be real. (See below.)

Did EA do this a while ago in anticipation gamers would call into question its realism? Well, duh. But despite being staged, it's still fun to watch.

Oh, as far as the game itself goes in terms of quality, the early reviews are hovering in the 8-9 range out of 10, so that's good.

Having said that, I ran into some maddening glitches regarding the '08 version that made me very disappointed with the game, to put it mildly. But I'm willing to give EA another chance at redemption. I got the game this morning and haven't had a chance to play it yet, but I'll get back with you on what I think about it. Hopefully I won't need to post my own You Tube video pointing out to EA that if my screen freezes and I need to reboot my Xbox 360 in frustration, that's a glitch, plain and simple. And for kicks and giggles, could you show us how the real Tiger Woods would handle such game glitches if he encountered them in real life all the time? My guess is he would use language similar to the kind he uses when he hooks a drive. Let's just say you'd have to cover your children's ears.

There's nothing unusual about sales galore on brews as we approach the Labor Day weekend. But how about cases of Budweiser, Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra, Coors and Yuengling being cheaper than Natural Light?

Food Lion has Coors Light, Bud Light and Miller Lite on sale for $11.44 (limit 2). Harris Teeter has Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light and Yuengling for $11.87. And Lowes Foods has Coors Light, Bud Light and Miller Lite on sale for $11.99.

Natural Light, meanwhile, is listed under the banner "beer and wine savings" in a Kmart ad for $12.99.

Natural Light is more expensive than Yuengling? Not that I'm complaining about Bud being cheaper than Natural Light, but what alternate beer universe did I step into this morning? Never thought I'd see the day where folks may opt for Bud or Michelob instead of Natural Light to save money on beer.

It's surely a sad day for couponers in California, as with two competing grocery store chains altering their double coupon promotions.

Granted, as stated by TheGroceryGame.com founder in the article, Ralphs former policy to double all coupons regardless of the face value was an anomaly in the industry. In the Triad, two major chains -- Harris Teeter and Lowes foods -- offer double coupons everyday, but the offer is only good on coupons with a face value of 99 cents or less.

But shoppers in sunny Cali shouldn't despair too much. While it may alter shopping as they have know it, double coupon promotions in any form -- and if they're lucky, occassional triple coupon events -- are a great way to stretch the grocery budget further.

And any doubling is better than none in my book.

Hoping to entice you to help break another single-season attendance record, lawn tickets, hot dogs, soda and beer will be sold for a buck during the Grasshoppers' season finale Monday.

The Hoppers are hoping to break the record for the fourth consecutive season.

Monday's game at NewBridge Bank Park starts at 12:30 p.m.

Wear your favorite football team's attire or logo on Monday and get a 3-count order of Chick-fil-A's new "Chick-n-Strips."

That means any clothing or accessory that has a collegiate logo, or the logo of your favorite recreational football team, middle or high school football team, or professional football team. Yes, that includes the drive-thru (until 10 p.m.).

Promotion starts at 10:30 a.m.