The Best Place to Do Errands in Tarrytown?

How often during the week do you have to go out and buy only one or two items? Wouldn't you like to know the best place where you can go to get that one item locally and still have some extra change left over?

Well, this past week I headed off to our four largest vendors in town in order to find out just where you can get that one product for the best price.

Will your errand item be at Stop & Shop, Walgreens, CVS, or C-Town? Below you will find 10 items likely to be on your list.  Let the shopping survey begin.

Item Number 1: Milk

Whether for cereal, morning coffee, or pastries, making sure there's enough of the white stuff at home is a top priority for most Americans. If you're single, or need just a small amount, both CVS and C-Town, offer a 1 qt carton of milk for $0.99 (Crowely and Tuscan brand respectively). The half gallon will cost you $1.99  at C-Town however , while at CVS it'll be $1.89. If you're a family man/woman and you need the hefty 1 gallon, stay at C-Town or head over to Walgreens where you will find it for $2.79.

Item Number 2: Cereal

Whether you're the traditional, sugar-craving child, or health-concerned individual,  Stop & Shop has everyone covered. A 14-ounce box of Cheerios and 18-ounce box of Corn Flakes can be scored there for $3.79. The kiddy cereals range in price, but generally are $3.59 to $5.79, while the healthier cereals will be priced around $4.99. C-Town comes in second place with a similar selection, but slightly higher prices. Worthy to note though is that C-Town offers a 14-ounce box of Rice Krispies for $2.99. This is great for those planning to make those marshmallowy snacks.

Item Number 3: Canned Goods

I refer specifically to soups, vegetables, and microwaveables. For Campbell's standard 10.75-ounce condensed soup, Stop & Shop has them priced at 10/ $10. That makes them an estimated $1.00 to $1.30 depending on whether or not the can costs more individually. C-town offers it at a clearer price of $1.39. Those looking for Progresso Traditional soups can go to either C-Town or Stop & Shop and find the 1 pound, 3 ounce can priced at $2.79. Delmonte vegetables, such as green beans and peas are cheapest at Stop & Shop, where a 8.5 ounce is $1.19 . And lastly, the ever convenient Chef Boyardee (available both in can and microwave form) goes for $2.19 at C-Town for a 14.5 ounce can. The overall price winner though is Stop & Shop.

Item Number 4: Snacks

This means cookies and chips (sorry no dip). The two most popular cookies looked at are Nabisco 's Chips Ahoy and Oreo. They are available at Stop & Shop for $3.69 and $3.29 respectively. The cheapest bags of Lay's chips are there as well. A 9-ounce to 11-ounce bag of Doritos and Ruffles go for $3.79. For Wise chips however (including Onion Rings, and White Cheddar Popcorn) C-Town has them at a surprising $0.99 deal for essentially all 3.7 to 5-ounce bags!

Item Number 5: Soda

To please both the Pepsi and Coca-Cola lovers, I included a comparison of the 2 liter bottle and 12 ounce (can) 12 pack here. (As a note, Mug, Sierra Mist, Mountain Dew and Crush are part of Pepsi. Fanta, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, etc. share prices with Coke). C-Town wins this round with its 2 liter bottle of Pepsi priced at $1.79; its Pepsi 12 pack at $4.99; and its Coke 12 pack at $5.49. Absent there however is a 2-liter bottle of Coke. The $1.89 for a 1 liter at C-Town would be better spent at Stop & Shop where you'll get the 2 liter for the same price.

Item Number 6: Toothpaste

To keep your teeth pearly and white, I'm assuming you're most likely to choose Colgate, Crest, or Aquafresh. At Stop & Shop, you'll find the the best price at $2.99 for an average sized 6-ounce tube of Colgate and Crest. Aquafresh is tagged a little higher at $3.29. In second comes Walgreens, with a similarly priced $2.99 Colgate; $3.49 Crest; and $3.99 Aquafresh. Third comes CVS, and then C-Town.

Item number 7: Dish Soap

For those dirty dishes that have been sitting around, the soaps Ajax, Palmolive, and Dawn are available in ultra concentrated form. C-Town provides the cheapest, 16-ounce bottle of Ajax for $1.39, while Stop & Shop wins the rest, offering its standard 10.3-ounce bottle of Dawn for $1.39; and its 16-ounce bottle of Palmolive for $1.99. Walgreens comes in third, while CVS merits a mention for its 10-ounce bottle (regular size) of Palmolive for $1.29.

Item Number 8: Laundry Detergent

Tide, All, or Arm & Hammer? You choose. Capable of handling 32 loads, the 50-ounce, 2x concentrated jugs are the standard measurement used here. Stop & Shop proves itself yet again with its Tide marked at $8.79; its All at $5.79; and its Arm & Hammer at $4.79. C-Town comes in a close second with a bonus 60-ounce (34 loads) jug of All for $6.69; and a regular 50-ounce of Arm & Hammer for $6.29.

Item Number 9: Shampoo

When it comes to selection clearly CVS and Walgreens are much higher stocked. But narrowing it down for these four stores I was left with Pantene, Dove, and Head & Shoulders. At what's no longer a surprise, Stop & Shop leads with a regular sized 12.6-ounce bottle of Pantene going for $3.99. Its 12-ounce bottle of Dove comes in at $4.29; and its 14.2-ounce bottle of Head & Shoulders comes in at $5.49. CVS and Walgreens tie for second place as their entire list of shampoos is a win or miss depending on which brand is being compared.

Item Number 10: Toilet Paper

As a day can't go by without you needing it, we end the list with the most important item. Whether it's a 4-roll ,6-roll or 20-roll pack, Stop & Shop proves yet again that its got what you need. The lowest priced 4-roll pack there is Charmin's at $3.69; and the largest is a 24-roll pack (Charmin's again) for $15.99. The second best priced paper is Quilted Northern, with a 4-roll pack marked at $3.79; and an 18-pack marked at $11.99. Other brands such as Cottonelle, and Scott are available there too. The second best place goes to Walgreens.

Overall Verdict: Stop & Shop-- First destination , C-Town--Second destination, Walgreens--Third destination, and CVS--Fourth destination.

Though I didn't intend to go out and endorse any of these stores in particular, it seems that the prices at Stop & Shop spoke for themselves. It should be noted, however, that throughout the time this survey was being taken, there was an impressive amount of weekly specials taking place all over. In order to record the daily prices, I had to ignore these signs. The smart shopper however will always know to keep their eyes peeled and options open for the next biggest bargain. I hope this article at least can serve as a convenient reference point for your next shopping trip.  Happy hunting, and support local business!