Groceries for Le$$: Not Easy Being The Penny Pinching Prince!

 How am I supposed to maintain my status as "The Penny Pinching Prince" when in less than a week, the fridge and freezer decide to run at a balmy 63 degrees, the kitchen sink springs a leak AND my beloved Britney (my cell phone) gets dropped one too many times and will no longer help me avoid human contact through the miracle of texting?  It ain’t easy I tell ya!  Talk about a rough patch! (no pun intended).  I need my shopping tips as much or more than anyone this week.  

To make matters worse, my mom, dad and brother are here visiting from New York.  I love showing my family our SD lifestyle and how cool it is to live here in paradise. However, living out of an Igloo cooler for three days wasn’t exactly part of my plan to impress them. Sure my mom comforted me with, “Oh, it’s ok honey, it'll be refreshing to have a break from refrigeration and running water for a few days”.  So far we are making the best of it.  As for myself, I’m doing reasonably well.  I’m managing without the phone (albeit with minor irritability, mood swings and some shakiness) and have gotten used to mopping the kitchen floor hourly from the leak, but I’ve got to say I’m spoiled.  I’ve gotten accustomed to having the ability to cool, chill and freeze things.  It’s particularly uncomfortable when it’s hot.  You want a cold drink and there’s no ice. Then there's the pain of looking into your children’s eyes when you try in vain to explain to them why they have to eat their Cap’n Crunch with tepid water instead of cold milk for breakfast. 

I sure won’t be making any money on the home front this week, but as usual, I intend to save and take advantage of a deal where I can.  Being a smart grocery shopper is an easy and painless way to cut needless overspending. Maybe, if I’m extra sharp saving money at the store this week, I’ll be well on my way to getting one of those new fangled I-Phones or dare I dream…a service call from a plumber?! 

OK, here we go:  The week of July 27 – August 3, 2011 

Congratulation to My Overall Pick of the Week…Henry’s! 

Produce

Red Seedless Grapes 88¢/lb at Henry’s and Sprouts

Cantaloupe 88¢ each at Henry’s and Sprouts

Green Beans 88¢/lb at Henry’s and Sprouts

Squash (Italian or Yellow) 88¢/lb at Henry’s and Sprouts

Baby Carrots 88¢/ 1lb package at Sprouts

Corn 5 for $1.00 at Von’s

Blueberries $2.50 / 18oz package at Ralph’s

Nectarines 88¢/lb at Ralph’s 

Meat/Poultry

Boneless Chuck Steak $2.47/lb at Von’s

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast $1.88/lb at Henry’s

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast $1.99/lb at Ralph’s

Whole Chicken 79¢/lb at Stater Brothers

Pork Loin Chops $1.67/lb at Von’s 

Pasta

Barilla Pasta 89¢ each Limit 5 (7/29-8/1 only) at Von’s 

Cheese

Mild Cheddar $2.99/lb at Henry’s

Stater Brothers Singles 1.99/12oz package at Stater Brothers 

Beverages

Minute Maid Juice 2 for $4.00/64oz at Ralph’s

Minute Maid Drinks 99¢ each at Stater Brothers

Rockstar Energy Drinks 99¢ at Stater Brothers

Bud, Coors or Miller 18/12oz cans $10.99 at Stater Brothers 

Buy 6 and SAVE at Stater Brothers, Choose from 24 items including:

Eggo Waffles, Pancakes and French Toast $1.49ea

Cheez It Crackers $1.99ea

Keebler Cookies $1.99ea

Kelloggs Cereals and Fruit Snacks $1.49ea

(extra savings: find additional cereal coupons in the weekly Redplum mailer ad) 

So there you have it.  While you may not have the time to shop every bargain, every week but at least take advantage of a few and keep the money where it does the most good… in your pocket!  Stay tuned for next weeks installment and remember, Shop Smart, Not Hard!