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Labor Day shopping made easy
Hi Moms.
Good news! You aren't going to have to work hard to find Labor Day savings at the local supermarkets. For once, they've made it easy. Avocado, watermelon, ribs. Don't need much more than that if you are planning a Labor Day gathering. Here are the highlights, starting with Save Mart.
With Calvo medium Hass avocado at 2/$1, how can you not make guac this weekend? Buy them early, let them ripen, then mash and serve. Whole seedless watermelon is $2.97 each and fresh pork spareribs are $1.38lb. If you'd rather do burgers, ground beef patties are $1.99lb when you buy 3lbs. or more. Ball Park franks and Fresh Express salads are BOGO. Tostitos and Doritos are BOGO and inside the ad, you'll find a whole page of Mix and Match BOGOs.
Sara Lee buns are $1.99 a package but if you'd rather go cheaper, Sunnyside Farms are $1.19. Ice cream will be perfect for dessert and Sunnyside Farms is 2/$5. Hershey's syrup is 2/$5 and cones are $1.29 a box.
If you are going to do the 'cue, Kingsford briquets are $5.99 for a big bag. Sweet Baby Ray's sauce is 2/$3 and Bush's baked or grillin' beans are $1.49 a can.
If you don't want to labor on Labor Day, check out the family size fried chicken meal - 16 pieces for $9.99; and grab a loaf of garlic bread for $1.79. There are strawberry Boston cakes in the bakery for $6.99 and a dozen cupcakes for $4.99. In the deli, Foster Farms turkey breast is $3.99lb and rolls are 4/$1 in the bakery.
Fresh berries are $3.99 for a large container; veggie trays are $4.99 to $7.99 and sweet pineapple is $2.97 each.
If you are heading to a neighbor's on the weekend, a Labor Day bouquet is $8.99.
Raley's is definitely worth a stop this week, especially if you are planning a backyard gathering or picnic in the park. Whole seedless watermelon is $1.47 each; pork loin backribs are $2.99lb and country style strips are 99-cents a pound. Whole Foster Farms chickens are 75-cents a pound; Kingsford charcoal is $7.49 for a 17-18lb bag; and Pepsi 12-packs are $2.50 each when you buy 5.
Be sure to clip the coupon for Crystal Geyser spring water - it's just $2.98 a case. If you are going to be snacking, Mission tortilla chips are $1.99 a bag; Sunshine, Keebler or Carr's crackers are $1.99 each when you buy 4; Lay's chips are BOGO and Nabisco snack crackers are $1.69 a box.
The no-labor Labor Day deals include: 8-piece fried chicken for $5.99; slow cooked ribs for $7.99 and a family-size sub sandwich for $6.99. Apple pie in the bakery is $3.97 (grab some Cool Whip for 99-cents); and for $4.99 you can get a dozen decorated cupcakes.
The avocados are a little more pricey at 2/$3 but corn on the cob is 5/$2 and good old broccoli is 99-cents a pound. The Raley's veggie tray is $4.49 and green onions, radishes or cilantro are 50-cents each.
In the bakery, the ladyfinger cake is only $9.99 and a fresh fruit tart is $12.99.
If you are willing to work for your savings, check out Safeway because they have a number of clip-worthy coupons. Right on the front page, you will find $5 off any Rancher's Reserve beef item; Kraft mayo for $1.99 and Kraft singles for 99-cents. There's fresh pork spare ribs for $1.69lb; whole Foster Farms chicken for 77-cents a pound a steak sale to go with that $5 off coupon.
In produce, the Hass avocados are $1 each; green grapes are 67-cents a pound and a 5-lb box of Clementine mandarins is $4.99. Corn on the cob is 4/$2 berries are 2 baskets for $6 and Walla Walla onions are $1 a pound.
It's definitely a good time to stock up on bottled water. Safeway's Refreshe brand is $2.78 a case; Arrowhead and Nestle are $3.48 a case and Aquafina and Dasani are $3.98. For the weekend snackers, Nabisco crackers are $2 a box; Tostitos and Lay's chips are BOGO.
For the BBQ, most brands of sausages and hot dogs are BOGO; lean ground beef is $3.99lb and buns are $1.19 a bag. Deli counter salads are $3.99 each.
To top it all off, fresh fruit tarts in the bakery are $12.99; Lucerne whipped cream is BOGO and cupcakes are $4.99 a dozen. The no-labor Labor Day specials include St. Luis-style smokehouse ribs are $6.49 when you buy two; Signature cafe potato salad is $2.99lb and 25-count boneless wings are $7.99 each. The $5 Friday special is 8-piece all-natural roasted chicken.
Pam Dinsmore is the Community Affairs Director at The Sacramento Bee. To read more of her blogs go to SacMomsClub.com

