Bargain Blog

Backyard barbecue bargains

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:31:17 -0500

Ribeye steaks at Lowes Foods (semi-boneless) for $5.99 a pound (regular $9.99), pork baby back ribs at Harris Teeter for $2.99 a pound (regular $5.99), four 28-ounce cans of Bush's baked beans for $5. Food Lion also has a buy one, get one free deal on Breyers Ice cream. On a related note, I mentioned some outstanding beer deals yesterday and neglected to point out Food Lion has Bud Light, Miller Lite and Coors Light for a very tasty $11.44 per case. Cheers.

Cheaper by two dozen

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:57:47 -0500

"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.

A bright idea: Outlet free bulbs

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:34:16 -0500

This seems like a pretty cool gadget: a portable light bulb socket you can pretty much stick anywhere. The "StickUp Bulb" is on sale at Hamrick's for $2.99 (regular $5.99).

Still getting more bang for your buck?

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:29:34 -0500

Story in today's News & Record regarding North Carolina continuing to ban most types of fireworks despite other states relaxing what's allowed. That had me pondering whether soaring gas prices has sparked a decline among North Carolinians going south of the border for the good stuff. The News & Record story points out it's illegal to buy the more powerful fireworks in South Carolina and bring them back here, although that hasn't stopped many people from doing so anyway. But higher gas prices might prove to be a better deterrent. Volunteers Donna Daniel (left) and Brean Southern wait for customers at the TNT Fireworks tent on High Point Road on Friday. Maggie Sartin/News & Record

Tax rebate check advice

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:38:01 -0500

So have you spent your tax rebate check? Saved it? Still waiting for it? By July 11, most people should have received their economic-stimulus check. More info. from IRS here.) Visitors to this site can share what they've done with them and post photos. The blog Wise Bread has writers talking about spending their rebate checks in thrift stores, paying bills, or putting the money into savings accounts.

Something good to watch on your 'staycation'

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:40:14 -0500

Get any of the first six seasons of "24" at Best Buy for $16.99 for your "staycation".

Pretty sweet deal on ice cream

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:56:17 -0500

This week at Harris Teeter: Buy one, 56-ounce container of Harris Teeter brand ice cream, get two free (save $9.58). I've had all kinds of ice cream, including the more expensive name brands. But here's the scoop: Harris Teeter is pretty good. A relative brought some over during a cookout and I was surprised at how good it tasted. Not that I had any preconceived notions that just because it's a store brand it's going to taste awful, but I was still impressed.

Something fishy on July 4

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:04:48 -0500

As mentioned on Fox 8's Web site, you can fish for free in North Carolina on July 4. No license needed. Normally, residents 16 and over pay $20 for a one-year license to fish inland waters and $15 for coastal waters.

News & Record file

The fix is in

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:54:16 -0500

Been to a repair shop lately? You're not alone. The economic downturn has been good to repair shops because people are looking to extend the life of their used stuff than buy new. Locally, I've noticed bicycle shops that offer repair services aren't exactly hurting for business either. I recently brought my bike in to Performance Bike off Westover Terrace in Greensboro to get the chain replaced but was told the wait would be several days due to high demand for services. On Friday, I dropped it off at Re:cycles off Spring Garden Steet for some repair work and business appeared to be brisk there too.

Holy cow! Free Chick-fil-A food

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:54:56 -0500

As mentioned at Taking Stock, Chick-fil-A will award a free combo meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) to customers dressed like a cow on July 11. The chain's 1,200-plus restaurants have designated the annual event as Cow Appreciation Day. If you decide to wear just a cow accessory such as a cow-style hat, vest or purse, you get a free entree such as a sandwich. Details here.

Gas cards, vacation giveaway at Goodwill

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:28:43 -0500

Call it a victim of its own success. The Goodwill store on Battelground Avenue has been so successful since it opened five years ago that it's in dire need of a makeoever. "It is our top store in terms of productivity, donations, sales," said Chris Gorham, spokesman for the Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, which has 15 stores. "It was just getting a little run down." About 1,500 to 1,800 shoppers visit the store weekly, he said. The store will remain closed until July 16 so crews can spruce up the interior including replacing well-worn floors, adding new light fixtures, painting walls and the ceiling. When it's back open, customers can register to win a week-long vacation at a Sands Resort and one of several $50 gas cards. Registration ends July 20.

Not Two-Buck-Chuck...

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:26:16 -0500

...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.

Battling high food costs with 2-for-1 deals

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:22:41 -0500

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.

Wiener wars

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:26:46 -0500

You may have heard America's two top dogs have recently beefed up their rivalry by offering new hot dog products because - let's be frank here - the wiener market hasn't been doing so hot. Kraft, the world's second-largest food company, has reformulated its all-beef hot dog for the first time in 20 years with a zestier, meater recipe. Sara Lee is touting its angus beef franks, turkey franks and whole-grain buns that it announced in May. I'll let you fight amongst yourselves regarding which tastes better. But which brand of hot dog will be more appetizing to your wallet? That's what it really boils down to in tough economic times, right? A sampling of wiener sales in the Triad: At Kmart this week, get two, 16-ounce packages of Ball Park meat or beef franks for $4 (regular $2.79). At Harris Teeter, 16-ounce packages of Ball Park angus beef franks are $2 for $7 (save about $3). Harris Teeter also has a buy one, get one free deal on 12-ounce packages of Hebrew National beef franks. At Food Lion, buy two, 16-ounce packages of Nathan's beef franks for $6. At Lowes Foods, buy one, 16-ounce package of Gwaltney meat hot dogs and get the second free (regular $2.49 each).

Battle of the smart phones

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:10:39 -0500

A $600 smart phone? Not so smart. How about $130? Now we're talking. Sprint Nextel is taking on the Apple iPhone by offering a lower price for its touch-screen smart phone, the Samsung Instinct. The Instinct will cost $129.99 when released Friday. The cheapest model of the new iPhone, which goes on sale July 11, is $199. The Instinct and the new iPhone have quite a few things in common, including access to a fast wireless data network and a GPS receiver. The Instinct's price is with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate. But that still doesn't take into account the service plan you'll need. The cheapest monthly plan for the Instinct will cost about $80, which includes taxes and fees.