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Beer lovers on a budget take note: Budweiser is $11.99 a case at Food Lion this week.

This comes as Anheuser-Busch keeps making more expensive brands of beer.

But we'll see if the shaky economy means consumers' beer selection will be more on the frugal side.

And we'll also need to keep an eye on the prices after the Anheuser-Busch sale to InBev. Will they go up, down or stay the same?

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.

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.

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

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.

"Bart, a woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one!" — Homer Simpson

Bucking the trend regarding rising prices on just about everything these days is beer. Two words: high fives.

This week, Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite are on sale for a price that makes me want to raise a glass of the foamy amber goodness and celebrate: $11.88 a case at Harris Teeter (limit two).

And just in time for your July 4 fireworks/"staycation" extravaganza.

Cheers.

Update: Harris Teeter has cases of Yuengling for the same price.

...But Wal-Mart is hoping to lure the masses with another entry into the super value wine category. The world's largest retailer has introduced a private label of California wines named Oak Leaf. The price? Less than $3 a bottle.

Even if the taste isn't, the price is right.

A sampling of 2-for-1 deals at some Triad grocery stores this week that might help you stretch your food budget in tight economic times:
Food Lion: Large cooked shrimp, Carolina fried turkey breast, cantaloupes, Doritos, Alpo.
Harris Teeter: Klondike ice cream bars, Sargento shredded cheese, Harris Teeter brand meats and cheeses, Dog Chow, Sabra hummus, boneless center cut pork chops.
Lowes Foods: Lowes brand charcoal, Ocean Spray cranberry juice, Blue Bunny ice cream.
Kmart is also having a 50 percent off sale on items including: Prego pasta sauce, Post cereal, Snyders pretzels, green deli salads, Keebler cookies.

Buy any 12-ounce bag of Starbucks coffee at Lowes Foods by May 18 and get a $5 Starbucks gift card by mail.

Here's the deal: when you buy the coffee, you get a voucher that includes a code that you enter at the Starbucks Web site. The card is then mailed. Must be redeemed online by May 31.

By the way, Lowes also has Starbucks on sale for $7.49 a bag (regular $9.99).

Walgreens is running a great sale on Domino sugar this week: $1.99 for five pounds. Limit two with the coupon in this week's sales paper.

The deal is even better if you have the coupons from Sunday's paper. In the Redplum insert, there's a coupon for 30 cents off any Domino sugar product. That'll make a five lb. bag just $1.69, which is cheaper than most store brands.

Highlights of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Harris Teeter has buy 2, get 3 free deals on Pepsi and Nabisco snacks. Food Lion has New York strip steak for $5.99 a pound.

Coupon in today's News & Record that doubles Lowes Foods' greenpoints when you spend at least $75 or triples it if you spend at least $100. You also get five times the value of greenpoints if you spend at least $150. (Coupon expires Tuesday.)

Kmart has a buy 10, get 10 free deal on Gatorade, including the new G2 and Gatorade Tiger brands.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: 10 for 10 deals on stuff including: Michelina's frozen dinners, pasta or Rice A Roni sides, Chef Boyardee canned pasta and microwave bowls, 32-ounce Gatorade, Zone Perfect or Power Bar, Kellogg's cereal in a cup.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: London broil or top round roast, boneless chicken breast, 8-pack Scott paper towels, 6-packs of Coke, 2-pound packages of EZ peel white or HT Traders tail-in shrimp, sliced, smoked or honey-smoked turkey breast, Purina Dog Chow.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Hams:

Compare Foods: Frozen whole smoked hams for $1.18 a pound.

Food Lion: Regular or brown sugar Smithfield spiral sliced hams for $1.49 a pound.

Harris Teeter: Smoked, honey glazed or brown sugar spiral sliced bone-in half ham for $1.59 a pound.

Lowes Foods: Gwaltney whole or half honey glazed or brown sugar halves of premium spiral sliced ham for $1.39 a pound (limit two with additional purchase).

Kmart: Smithfield spiral-sliced ham (limit two with additional $20 purchase).

Two-for-one deals:

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 2.5-pound bags of Food Lion frozen boneless chicken breasts, 1-pound bags of Food Lion medium cooked shrimp, Frosted Flakes, Nabisco single serve snacks, Ritz crackers, Campbell's dinner kits,

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Progresso soup, 2.5-pound bags of boneless chicken breasts, 16-ounce Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Northland cranberry juice.

You see a lot of coupons for 35 cents off, 50 cents off and 75 cents off when you flip through the Sunday coupons. But I had to pause -- and clip -- when I got to the FREE coupon for Frank's Red Hot hot sauce in this week's Smart Source insert.

You can't beat free.

A glance at a grocery store dairy case recently may have sent you on a search for Tums instead. Those prices are enough to give you heartburn.

But Compare Foods has a good deal on Pet milk this week. Starting Wednesday, you can get a gallon for $2.99.

Greensboro's Compare Foods is in the Northeast Shopping Center on Summit Avenue. If that's not close to you, clip the ad out of Tuesday's News & Record and take it to Wal-Mart to get the price match. The Compare Foods ad is on the back page of the A section of the March 4th paper and is good Wednesday through March 11.

Who am I kidding? With the price of everything going up, even life isn't giving out free lemons anymore.

But you can still get lemons for a steal. This Sunday's paper includes a coupon for 50 cents off of three or more Sunkist lemons. It's not often that you'll see a coupon for loose produce (the coupon can also be used off of 2 lb. or larger bag of Sunkist lemons). The lemon coupon is in the RedPlum coupon insert.

If you use that coupon at either Lowes Foods or Harris Teeter -- both stores double coupons up to 99 cents -- you could end up with a deal that's really sweet.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 1-pound bags of Food Lion raw, large shrimp (limit two), cataloupes, Canadian maple ham (per pound), Kellog's cereal, Birds Eye Voila!.

Also, you can get 10 Michelina's frozen dinners for $10.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Strawberries, blueberries, Palmolive dish liquid, Eight O'Clock Coffee.

Also some 10 for $10 deals on stuff including Peter Pan penaut butter, cans of Valley Fresh white chicken, Starkist solid white tuna, Wish bone salad dressing.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 2.5-pound bags of Food Lion frozen boneless chicken breasts, Nabisco Chips Ahoy! cookies, Doritos, Keebler crackers, 1-pound bags of Food Lion raw, large shrimp.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Harris Teeter fresh, boneless chicken breast, London broil, cantaloupes or brunch brocoli, Progresso soup, New England Coffee, Harris teeter bacon, Sparkle paper towels, Purex detergent.

There's also some buy one, get two free deals on stuff including Dietz & Watson black forest ham or oven roasted turkey, EZ peel white shrimp, Harris Teeter ice cream, Green Giant vegetables.

Lowes Foods: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Boneless center cut pork chops, bone-in split chicken breasts, Gwaltney big 8's franks, Idaho russet potatoes, 2-liter Pepsi, Lowes bath tissue, Dole salads.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Food Lion extra jumbo raw shrimp, 4-pound bags of navel oranges, Nabisco crackers, Carolina fried turkey breast, Kraft cheese, Aunt Jemima pancakes and French toast, Post cereals.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Breyers ice cream, Sea Pak seafood, Mott's apple juice and Ocean Spray cranberry juice.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Food Lion chicken wings, large cooked shrimp, Canadian maple ham, Cheeze-It crackers, Ritz crackers, Ball Park hot dogs, eggs, Lay's chips, Healthy Choice frozen dinners, crab rangoons.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Red Baron pizza, Mayfield ice cream, Chex Mix, sliced cheese, 12-packs of Coke.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Breyers ice cream, 16-oz. bags of Food Lion brand raw shrimp, Food Lion bags of frozen boneless chicken breasts, Healthy Choice frozen dinners. Also featuring 10 for $10 deals on stuff including 32-oz. Gatorade, 2-liter Coke and Michelina's frozen dinners.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 2-pound packages of ground chuck, Campbell's soup, and 2.5-pound packages of boneless chicken breast.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Carolina fried turkey breasts, peel and eat shrimp, Tombstone frozen pizza, Doritos, Mrs. Smith's cobblers and Pepperidge Farm cakes.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: T-bone or porterhouse steak, Breyers ice cream, and frozen and fresh organic foods by Amy's and other brands.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: one pound of Hormel cooked ham, Food Lion bags of frozen split chicken breasts or chicken tenders, Keebler cookies, Lucky Charms cereal, Eggo waffles, 16-ounce bags of Food Lion medium cooked shrimp.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: boneless roast, boneless pork tenderloin, 4.4-ounce packages of blueberries, blackberries and strawberries, 10-pack of Capri Sun drinks, 6-packs of Coke, Arm & Hammer detergent, Healthy Choice frozen dinners, Purina Dog Chow, Marie Callender's frozen dinners.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Dole salads, 16-ounce bags of raw, large shrimp, Food Lion bags of frozen split chicken breasts, Honey Nut Cheerios, Texas Toast.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: fresh boneless chicken breasts, grape tomatoes, Kellogg's Special K cereal, cases of Spring! water, 32-ounce Gatorade.

Harris Teeter is also tripling manufacturers' coupons (up to 99 cents, limit 20 coupons) Thursday through Saturday.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: oranges, cooked shrimp, Mrs. Smith's fruit pies, Ritz crackers, Breyers Ice cream and Canadian maple ham.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Ocean spray cranberry juice, 12-packs of Coke, Cheez-it, Purina Dog Chow and 2-liter Canada Dry or 7UP.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Food Lion:Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 5-pound bags of white potatoes, 16-ounce bags of raw jumbo shrimp, Nabisco wafers, Zesta crackers, Pepperidge Farm toast, Smithfield bacon, 2.5-pound bags of Food Lion boneless chicken breasts.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: 6-packs of Coke, 2-liter Canada Dry, Campbell's Chunky soup, boneless N.Y. strip steak, Tostitos, pork tenderloin, Mayfield ice cream.

A sampling of grocery store deals in the Triad this week:

Aldi: Butterball 12-14 pound turkeys at 89 cents a pound; fully cooked 10-12 pound smoked turkeys at $1.49 a pound, 5-pound bags of red grapefruit for $1.99.

Food Lion: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Canadian maple ham (per pound, regular $6.49), Frosted Flakes and Cap'n Crunch cereals, Food Lion bags of frozen split chicken breasts for breast tenders (regular $11.99 each), Nabisco crackers ($2.29 each).

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including: Red raspberries, blackberries or blueberries (4.4-6-ounce packages), Capri Sun drinks, 24-pack of Dannon spring water, Alpo dog food, Mayfield ice cream, Barber chicken strips or nuggets.

A sampling of deals at Triad area grocery stores this week:

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one deals on stuff including 12-packs of Coke, Breyers ice cream, Sara Lee pies, Birds Eye veggies, Planters mixed nuts, Folgers coffee, Ocean Spray cranberry juice.

Wal-Mart: Butterball frozen turkey breast is $1.84 a pound, fresh turkey hen for .97 a pound, complete holiday dinner (serves 8 to 10 people) for $38.

Harris Teeter: Two-for-one stuff including: Brawny paper towels, Edy's ice cream, Hormel bacon, Cap'n Crunch and Life cereals, Nestle cookies, 12-packs of Pepsi.

Food Lion: Two-for-one stuff including: Dole salad, navel oranges, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Birds Eye veggies, Chips Ahoy cookies.

Food Lion has two-for-one deals on items including: A pound of Deli Virginia or honey ham, Lay's chips, Ball Park meat franks, Food Lion split chicken breasts or chicken tenders (2.5-3 pound frozen bags).

Kmart Super Center has 10 for 10 deals on items including: Chef Boyardee canned foods, Bumble Bee solid white albacore, Lipton rice and pasta sides, Banquet breakfasts.

A sampling of deals at Triad area grocery stores this week:

Buy one, get one free deals:

* Food Lion: Cantaloupes, Smithfield center cut ham slices, Tombstone frozen pizza, Breyers ice cream, Doritos.

* Harris Teeter: Pork baby back ribs, Rancher beef ground chuck, Pepsi 12-packs, Alpo dog food, Kellog's raising bran crunch.

A sampling of deals on groceries that expire Tuesday:

Lowes Foods has buy one, get one free deals on naval oranges and Green Giant frozen veggies.

Food Lion has 10 for $10 deals on Pringles potato chips, Michelina's frozen dinners, Chef Boyardee pasta and microwave bowls.

Harris Teeter has buy one, get one free deals on boneless center cut pork roast, 3-pound bags of select apples.

Kmart Super Center has buy one, get one free deals on Post cereal, Red Baron frozen pizza and Hamburger Helper microwave singles.

Buy today's News & Record for 50 cents and make a $4.50 profit.

That's because there's a $5 off coupon on A5 toward purchases at a new grocery store in Greensboro called Aldi ($30 minimum purchase).

Coupon expires Oct. 20.

Sampling of 2-for-1 deals at some grocery stores in the Triad:

Food Lion: Ritz crackers, Keebler Chips Deluxe, Canadian maple ham (1 pound).

Harris Teeter : Porterhouse or T-bone steaks, boneless pork chops, 6-packs of Coke and Healthy Choice frozen dinners.

Lowes Foods: Keebler Town House crackers, Honey Comb cereal, Hormel meat entrees, Steak-umm sandwich steaks.

A select sampling of 2-for-1 deals among some grocery stores in the Triad:

Food Lion and Harris Teeter both have a buy one, get one free deal on Breyers ice cream.

Harris Teeter also has the same deal on Pepsi products and boneless chicken breasts. Food Lion has Fresh Express salads as one of its buy one, get one free deals.

Kmart Super Center has a 10 for $10 deal on Michelina's frozen dinners.

I like 'em. Some better than others. But in the interest of fairness because, let's face it, I'm a little biased (I think I have the best taste buds, although my wife may beg to differ), I came across a review, albeit a little dated, by Slate.com that mentions one Michelina's product in particular.

Let's just say I doubt Michelina's has it framed on a wall in the company's reception area: