Most of us have a routine for grocery shopping. We go to the same market and buy the same things. With this Frugal Yankee feature, we’re trying to shake that up a bit by taking a look at the best supermarket deals in the Boston area. If you see some tempting prices, you can switch to a different store this week. Or you can stop by and pick up the bargains.

There are people who shop in a number of stores and stock up on the best sales. This is too much time for most of us. But you can stop by an extra store near your home or work. The weekly specials are usually displayed at the end of aisles. You can run in and grab the specials and be on your way pretty quickly.

Strategies:
** Take a look at the store circulars and see what looks interesting. Most are updated on Thursday for prices in effective from Friday to the following Thursday.

• Demoula’s Market Basket no weekly flyer online.
• Hannaford http://www.hannaford.com/
• Johnny’s Foodmaster http://www.foodmasterinc.com/
• Roche Brothers/Sudbury Farms www.rochebros.com
• Shaw’s/Star Market http://www.shaws.com/
• Stop & Shop http://www.stopandshop.com/

** Combine sale prices with coupons. You’ll often get things for pennies, and occasionally items will be free
** Sign up for the loyalty cards at the stores you intend to shop. Yes, you’re giving up a bit of privacy. They know what you bought. But the best prices are often available only to people with cards. That said, if you ask, many stores will scan their own card and give you the same prices.
** Don’t be afraid to stock up. The expiration date is usually a “sell by” date. The product will be perfectly good for some period after that. Sale prices often go in 3 month cycles, so you can expect another good deal in three months.
** Be flexible. If you see a great price on something you don’t usually eat, give it a try. I don’t mean prepared foods – they’re often lacking in nutrition and full of way too much fat, sugar, and salt. But try new fruits, vegetables, fish, grains. You may be surprised.
** Use the freezer. For example, buy a large pack of chicken at a good price, repackage it into meal serving sizes. Zip bags are good because you can press out most of the air and write the date on the bag.

The Deals Friday Jan 29 to Thursday Feb 4

DEMOULA’S MARKET BASKET - If you know where to find their weekly flyer online, please let us know. If you have that flyer, tell us what you think are the best deals this week

HANNAFORD

• 4 cans Starkist tuna in water for $2.79
• Breyer’s yogurt 50¢ - their own brand is only 45¢
• Pepperidge Farm Goldfish 3/$5
• 12 rolls Hannaford toilet paper $6.89
• Boneless NY sirloin steak $2.49/lb
• Split chicken breast $1.49/lb
• Iceberg lettuce 99¢
• Broccoli crowns $1.99
• Broccoli rabe $2.99 (C’mon – give it a try)
• Deli oven baked ham $5.99/lb
  Or deli smoked ham $4.99/lb
• Cheddar cheese (aged 18 months) $6.99

JOHNNY’S FOODMASTER always has some remarkably low prices.

• Split chicken breast 88¢/ lb
• Whole beef tenderloin $4.99/lb – weekend only
• Chicken leg quarters 39¢/lb
• Green grapes $1.99
• Broccoli crowns $1.79
• Clorox bleach $1.79
• Polar soda, 2 liter, 79¢
• FM English muffins 79¢
• Croissants 99¢
• Italian or French bread $1.79

ROCHE BROTHERS/SUDBURY FARMS (BOGO means “buy one, get one free”)

• Chicken breast tenders – BOGO – works out to $2.49/lb
• Baby backpork ribs – BOGO – WORKS OUT TO $3.75/LB
• Pepsi 12 packs 4/$10
• Cheerios or Honey Nut Cheerios 2/$4
• Full Circle steel cut oatmeal $2.99
• Del Monte stewed tomatoes $1
• Freihofer Country white or whole wheat bread – BOGO
• Lean chuck stew beef $2.49
• 5 lbs Idaho potatoes $1.99
• Blueberries, 8 oz, $2.99<

SHAW’S/STAR MARKET

• Boneless chicken breast $1.88 (3 lbs or more)
• Cooked, peeled shrimp $4.99/lb
• Skippy peanut butter 2/$3
• I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter 2/$3
• Wishbone salad spritzer 2/$3
• 3 lbs potatoes $1
• 3 pack tomatoes $1 (winter tomatoes are never good, but it’s our only choice)
• Quaker products $1.99, this includes Quaker, Life, Aunt Jemima items
• Navel oranges 79¢

STOP & SHOP

• Boneless chuck $1.79
• Chicken leg quarters 70¢
• Petite sirloin steak $3.99/lb
• Italian sausages or spare ribs $1.99
• Chobani greek yogurt $1 (try it. It’s delicious and healthful)
• 4 12-packs coke or Sprite $11 (must buy 4 to get this price)
• Progresso soups $1
• S&S English muffins $1
• 5 lbs clementines $4.88

Tell us. What did we miss? Was this helpful? Louise@FrugalYankee.com