RVA Deals

With Halloween a week-and-a-half away, it’s time to start planning candy purchases. Find out where (and how) to get the best deals around town. Meanwhile, the pumpkin price watch continues…

October 20, 2010; 12:00 PM • by Alison Brown

With Halloween a week-and-a-half away, it’s time to start planning candy purchases.

If you can find the brand name Fun/Snack Size bags for $2, snap ’em up. Currently these bags are priced $2.50 at most stores around town. The cheapest deal is at CVS; when you scan your ExtraCare card at the CVS coupon center, you’ll receive a coupon for $1 off 2 Fun/Snack Size bags, making them $2 each after coupon.

If trick-or-treating hoards descend upon your house, the jumbo bags or warehouse store bags might be the best deal, but run the math on a piece-by-piece or ounce-by-ounce basis.

For the non-traditional and charity-minded, local Wendy’s restaurants sell $1 “Trick or Treat Gift Books” containing 10 certificates for free Jr. Frosties. The proceeds are donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Friendly’s offers a similar program, with coupon books containing 5 free kids cone coupons in exchange for a $1 donation to Halloween Cones for Kids benefiting Easter Seals.

Pumpkin price watch:

Expect to pay $4 or less for your carving pumpkins:

Trader Joe’s – $3.49
Fresh Market – 3 large for $10
Whole Foods – 3 for $12
Walmart – $3.88
Walgreen’s (some locations) – $3.99

Kroger is running a Frozen 10 Item Mega Event this week and next: buy any 10 participating items and receive $5 off your purchase.

Meat Top Pick

Boneless chuck shoulder roast or stew meat $2.99/lb at Whole Foods; Choice boneless bottom round roast $2.69/lb at MARTIN’S

Veggie Top Pick

Asparagus $1.99/lb at Kroger

Fruit Top Pick

Cantaloupes $1.29 at MARTIN’S

Refrigerated Top Pick

Kroger sour cream or dip, 16 oz $1

Staples Top Pick

Amy’s frozen entrees (in the “Nature’s Market” freezer section) are $2.49 at Kroger when buying 10 participating Frozen Mega Event items

Snacks & Sweets Top Pick

Pillsbury refrigerated cinnamon rolls $1 at Kroger. Use $.35 coupon from the 9/12 General Mills insert (final price $.30), print a “$.40 off 2” coupon from Coupons.com, or look for a coupon dispenser in the refrigerated case with “$1 off 2” coupons. Crescent rolls are also $1, and have a “$.50 off 2” coupon on Coupons.com

Beverage Top Pick

Mike’s Hard Lemonade $6.99/6-pk at Kroger

Household Top Pick

Select varieties Crest toothpaste $1 at Kroger. Use $.50 coupon from 9/26 P&G insert (doubles to $1, making it free!)

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

• Prices valid 10/17-10/23: Kroger, Ukrop’s, Target, Walgreen’s, CVS, MARTIN’S
• Prices valid 10/20-10/26: Tom Leonard’s, Whole Foods, Fresh Market

October 20, 2010 12:00 PM 0