RVA Deals

Check out this week’s top picks for deals on meat, produce, staples, and more. And get tips for making the most of mega sales.

July 15, 2009; 12:00 PM • by Alison Brown

I love the deals at Kroger Mega Event sales. This week, buy any 10 participating items and receive $5 off at checkout, essentially an extra $.50 off each item.

The challenge for me is staying organized! Too many times I’ve found myself buying more items than needed, or even worse, fewer items and not receiving the discount. So here’s the “Mega Event” strategy I’ve developed:

1. 1. Plan ahead. Using the online or print ad, I write a list of all the sale items that seem like a good buy. Then I collect any coupons that apply and narrow down my list to the top 10 or 20 items.
2. 2. Be flexible. Unfortunately, Kroger is sometimes out of stock of items that are the best deals. I keep a list of alternate participating items to purchase instead, or just add a really cheap item as filler that I know I’ll use (like this week’s $.50 Coke 2L). Conversely, not all participating sale items are listed in the weekly ad. As I shop, I’m on the lookout for the Mega sale blue shelf tags to find additional deals.
3. 3. Keep track! If I’m buying non-participating groceries as well, I keep the Mega event items segregated in my shopping cart to allow for accurate counts as I shop and a quick double-check before checkout.

Any other tips for making the most of a sale like this?

(The prices listed below on participating Kroger “Mega Event” items include the $.50 per-item discount for buying 10)

Meat Top Pick

“The other white meat” tenderloin is $2.98/lb at Ukrop’s.

Veggie Top Pick

If you missed the Tomato Fests last weekend, Ukrop’s has Virginia-grown tomatoes for $.98/lb.

Fruit Top Pick

Peaches from Kroger are down to $.99 a pound.

Dairy Top Pick

8 oz of Kraft cream cheese is $.79 at Kroger after Mega event discount.

Staples Top Pick

Pick up a pantry staple – Mueller’s dry pasta $.99 a box at Ukrop’s.

Snacks Top Pick

Also “10 Item Mega Event” participants, Quaker Quakes rice snacks cost a cool $.49 at Kroger.

Beverages Top Pick

Kroger’s Mega event includes some fantastic beverage prices. With discount, 2-liter bottles of Coke/Coke products are only $.49! Sobe Life Water & Vitamin Water bottles also work out to $.49 each.

Household Top Pick

Stock up on Chapstick for the dry air of fall & winter – only $.49 each with Mega event discount.

Find more deals by accessing the stores’ weekly ads online:

• Prices valid 7/12-7/19: Kroger, Ukrop’s, Target, Walgreen’s, CVS
• Prices valid 7/15-7/22: Tom Leonard’s, Whole Foods, Fresh Market

Check out more of Alison’s stellar cost-cutting tricks and tips over at Richmond Bargains or follow her on Twitter. Your wallet is sure to thank you.

July 15, 2009 12:00 PM 3