Big, big differences in grocery prices this week on BI- and in this post we give you some good examples. You can find the rest on the main BI pricing pages! (And don't forget to check that coupons.com ad for some great brand name coupons, like Cheerios and Betty Crocker Potato mixes!)

Rice, 20 lbs- Safeway: $13.99 (Limit 2, but why???); KTA: $10.99; Foodland/S'nS: $8.99 (Limit 2, for good reason!)

Beef Rib Steak Bone-in- Safeway: $8.99; KTA: $7.99; Foodland/S'nS: $5.99

Cabbage- Safeway: $1.25/lb; Choicemart: $.89/lb; Foodland/S'nS: $.69; KTA: $.59/lb (Local, too!)

Local Tomatoes- Foodland/S'nS: $2.29; Safeway: $1.49/lb; Choicemart: $1.49/lb; KTA: $1.39/lb

Grapes- KTA: $2.49/lb; Foodland/S'nS: $1.99; Safeway: $1.39

It really makes a difference where you buy your stuff!

Hey, I love coleslaw. I bet you do, too. It's easy to make, and goes with all kinds of outside (and inside) recipes. BUT, I was always annoyed at how much the stores charged for coleslaw dressing, so I made up my own very simple recipe, which you can customize as much or as little as you like:

Basic Coleslaw Dressing

About a half cup Mayonnaise- you don't have to measure it, just glop some into the bowl.

1 tablespoon vinegar (I use cider vinegar, but any kind will work)

1 tablespoon sugar (Yep, brown/white, all good. But no sugar substitute, please)

Couple shakes of salt

Couple grinds of pepper

Put it all into a bowl and mix well, taste it. Correct what you want- more sugar, more salt? Mix with about half a head of shredded cabbage. Pouf. Coleslaw. Double recipe for a whole cabbage if you're feeding an army.

Fancy and Optional things you can add (the list is endless):

Got an orange tree? Squeeze a little juice into the finished dressing, and use a little zest, too.

Got a lemon tree? Use lemon juice instead of vinegar. 

Paprika- as much or as little as you like. Adds a nice subtle flavor. Makes it pink, though.

Curry Powder. Some people really like this, some not so much.

Fresh Herbs- finely minced, please, and just a little thyme or savory is good.

Dried herbs- Uhhhh, be careful.

Plain yogurt or sour cream- makes the end product creamy and smooth tasting. I like it, but I don't always have these things in my refer.

Etc.... 

Grocery prices vary HUGELY between BI stores. Here are some grocery price comparisons that are great examples of why you should be using www.GroceryBagSavings.com to compare prices EVERY week: 

• Beef, Steak, Chuck, Boneless
  • Safeway - $2.99/lb
  • Choicemart - $3.49/lb
  • KTA - $3.57/lb
  • Foodland/S'nS - $3.99/lb
• Chicken Drumsticks
  • KTA - $1.69/lb (Foster Farms Brand)
  • Foodland/S'nS - $1.79/lb (Foster Farms Brand)
  • Safeway - $1.89/lb (Safeway Brand)
  • Safeway - $2.29/lb (Foster Farms Brand) 
• Shoyu
  • Foodland/S'nS - half gal for $4.69 ($9.38/gal - Aloha Brand)
  • Safeway - gallon for $13.79 (Yamasa Brand)
• Spam
  • Safeway - $1.44/12 oz with the coupon (gotta buy four to get that price, but who doesn't?)
  • KTA - $1.99/12 oz

I pulled these comparisons directly from our pricing pages in about 2 minutes total, so it doesn't take long to figure out which stores to go to for what. And if you bought just one package of each of these this week, the difference between the lowest and highest cost would be 30 percent!!!

Our job here at www.GroceryBagSavings.com is to provide the tools and information for you to make the kinds of choices and decisions that save you money, and all the info you need is on our main pricing pages. Sort the complete price list any way you want by clicking on the column headings; or, if you only want to know who has the cheapest beef or potatoes this week, narrow it to a category first (meat, produce, etc) and then sort those items the same way.

Remember, we never charge a fee or ask you to register to use the site!

Take advantage of our tools and SAVE MONEY ON GROCERIES!!!!

Yep, here I am, just like usual. Here's this weeks list of the best values on the BI:

• Sausage, Vienna, Libby's 18 pack 5 oz ea - $5.99 - Foodland/S'n S (I simmer 'em in BBQ sauce for a while and then put 'em in musubi. They just disappear...and you can eat a LOT of these.)
• Pasta Sauce, Prego 24 oz - $1.50 - Safeway Coupon Limit 4 (Great price for excellent sauce.)
• Local Cabbage - $.69/lb - Choicemart
• Pork Steaks Bone-in - $1.99/lb - Foodland/S'n S
• Mustard, Western Family 16 oz - $1.29 - KTA
• Muffins, Donuts, Danish, Dozen Mix/Match - $6.99 - Safeway (I'm freezing some cheese Danish for Sunday mornings.)
• Tea Bags 100 ct Lipton - $3.50 - Foodland/S'n S (To go with the cheese Danish.)
• Mushrooms, Large - $4.79/lb - Choicemart
• Crab, Imitation, Trans-Ocean 12 oz - $1.49 - Safeway Coupon Limit 2 (Good. Cheap. Twice thru line!)
• Vinegar, Heinz Cider Gallon - $4.99 - KTA

Hey! Show that BI support for GroceryBagSavings.com on Facebook - fan us!!! After all, this is where the whole thing started! Thanks!

Hoppin' values for Easter week on the BI:

• Easter Ham:
  • Farmer John Shank Half - $.59/lb with one "My Rewards" Certificate, $.99/lb without - Foodland/S'n S
  • Safeway, Whole or Shank Half - $.99/lb - Safeway
  • Farmer John Butt or Shank Half - $1.89/lb - KTA
• Tofu, Mori-Nu 12 oz - $1.25 - Choicemart
• English Muffins, Cascade Pride 10 ct - $3.49 - KTA (These are extra crispy. Great with peanut butter.)
• Deli Counter Salads 2.75 to 3 lb - $4.49 - Safeway (Potato Mac!!!)
• Onions, Yellow, 3 lbs - $1.99 - KTA (Onion soup for those cold spring nights? OK, maybe in Volcano!)
• Whipping Cream, 8 oz - $1 - KTA Must Buy 5, Coupon
• Salsa, Herdez, 24 oz - 2.25 - Choicemart
• Chili Sauce, Mae Ploy 25 oz - $2.79 - KTA
• Beef Steak, Tri-Tip - $3.97/lb - Safeway (Good marinated and grilled, then thin sliced onto french rolls.)

Have a great Easter....

Best values advertised on the BI this week:

• Croutons, Bulk - $3.49/lb - Choicemart
• Imitation Crab, Trans-Ocean 12 oz - $2 - Safeway
• Pork Shoulder Blade Roast Whole - $.99/lb - Foodland/S'n S
• Sloppy Joe Sauce, Del Monte 15 oz - $1.19 - KTA
• Pasta Canned, Chef Boyardee or Campbells 15 oz - $.99 - Foodland/S'n S
• Beef Flank Steak - $4.59/lb - KTA
• Beef 7-Bone Chuck Roast or Steak - $1.87/lb - Safeway
• Egg Substitute, Nulaid, 32 oz - $4.69 - KTA
• Octopus, Whole, Frozen - $2.99/lb - Safeway
• Mandarins, Canned, Green Acres 11 oz - $.50 - Foodland/S'n S

This weeks best grocery values on the BI:

• Asparagus everywhere on BI this week:
  • $1.78 Safeway
  • $1.79 KTA
  • $1.99 Choicemart
  • $3.29 Foodland/S'n S
• Lamb Shoulder Roast Boneless (Frozen) - $4.59/lb - KTA (And asparagus goes very nicely with lamb.)
• Cilantro - $.99/bu - Choicemart (Ad says $.99/lb, but that would make each bunch about a dime. Either way, a good value.)
• BBQ Sauce, Kraft, 18 oz - $.99 - Safeway (Must buy 4)
• Flank Steak - $4.59/lb - KTA (Load up!)
• Lettuce, Red or Green Leaf - $1.50/ea - Safeway
• Parmesan Cheese, Grated, Best Yet, 8 oz - $2.99 - Choicemart
• Chicken Breast, Split - $1.39/lb - Safeway
• Shrimp, 26/30 - 2 lbs for $9.99 ($5/lb) - Foodland/S'n S
• Tortillas, Resers, 15 oz - $1.67 - KTA (These freeze pretty good- get as much air out as you can.)

Hope your Saint Paddy's Day dinner was good. I made "His and Hers" corned beef briskets!

Some of this weeks best values on the BI:

• Corned Beef Points - $1.29/lb - Safeway (or $1.57/lb at Foodland/S'n S or or $2.29/lb at Choicemart, or $2.69/lb at KTA.) Comparison shopping really DOES work!
• Cabbage, Green Heads - $.21/lb - Foodland/S'n S (or $.29/lb at Safeway, or $.79/lb at Choicemart or Chinese type at KTA for $.79)
• Carrots - $.99/lb - Choicemart, (or 2 pounds for $1.99 ($1/lb) at Safeway, $1.19/lb at Foodland/S'n S, or $1.79/lb at KTA.)

Have a great St. Patrick's Day - Kiss someone Irish!

Best values on the BI this week:

• Black Cod Steak, Frozen - $9.59/ 2 lbs - Choicemart (Excellent price! Only $4.80/lb)
• Steak, Top Sirloin - $2.49/lb - Foodland/S'n S Limit 2 trays, Tuesday only (Also good price, but I can't be there on Tuesday this week! More for everyone else....)
• Asparagus, Green - $1.78/lb - Safeway   - or $1.79/lb - Foodland/S'n S
• Bananas - $.78/lb Safeway Sat and Sun Only (Or, visit my banana patch in the night....)
• Side Dish Mixes, Knorr/Lipton - $.99 - Safeway Must Buy 4 to get this price
• Chopped Pork - $2.57/lb - KTA Family Pack (I'm going to try stir-frying this. I'll let you know.)
• Ginger Root, Local - $1.39/lb - Choicemart  
• Corned Beef, Points - $1.99/lb - Foodland/S'n S (Decent price, but I'm holding out for St Paddy's day sales.)
• Ramen, Maruchan Cups 6 pack - $1.50 - Safeway
• Sprouts, Fresh, 10 oz - Taro Brand Local - $1.89 - Foodland/ S'n S (Always fresh on the BI!)

This weeks best values at Big Island grocery stores:

• Steak, T-Bone, Bone-in - $5.88/lb - Foodland/S'n S (Long time since t-bones at this price)
• Butter, Lucerne, 16 oz - $2.49 - Safeway coupon (hope they have more butter than they did string cheese last week. The first day at noon, shelf was empty)
• Canned Mandarins, Green Acres, 11oz or Mushrooms, Sunrich, 4 oz - $.50 ea - Foodland/S'n S Monday only, Limit 10 (Get there early....)
• Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Frozen 12 oz - $1.79 - Choicemart
• Celery - $.99/lb - KTA
• Steak, London Broil - $1.88/lb - Foodland/S'n S Tuesday only, Limit 2 trays (makes really good bulgogi, sliced thin)
• Cheese, Kraft Singles, 14.7+ oz - $1.99 - Safeway coupon
• Coffee, Ground, S&W, 34.5 oz - $5.99 - Foodland/S'n S (Stock up for the meeting...whatever your group is)
• Oatmeal, Western Family, 42 oz - $2.99 - KTA
• Poi, Pa'a'ai 12 oz - $3.99 - Safeway (For hand pounded, this is a great price)
• Corned Beef, Canned, Libby's 12 oz - $1.99 - KTA

This weeks best values at Western Washington area stores:

• Chickens, Whole - $.79/lb - Safeway (Whack 'em up yourself and make stock with the trimmings)
• Bok Choy - $.88/lb - Fred's (Nice in Won Ton soup. Use the stock from the chickens)
• Pasta, Frozen, Rosetta, 18 to 25 oz - $3.29 - Albertson's (Try these fried in a little butter for an appetizer sometime. But not with the Won Ton soup)
• Steak, Top Sirloin - $2.99/lb - Safeway
• Ice Cream Bars, Dove, 10.5 oz - $3.49 - Albertson's
• Cheese, American Singles, Kraft - $1.49 - Safeway coupon (OK, it's not cool to say you like this stuff, but...man, it is so good on a grilled cheese sandwich)
• Asparagus - $1.28.lb - Fred's
• Dover Sole Fillets, Frozen - $3.99/lb - Fred's
• Carrots - 3 lbs/$1.00 - Fred's (If you dip them in Ranch dressing, the vitamins work better. I swear it!)
• Corned Beef Points - $1.79/lb - Fred's  (I bet they will be cheaper on 3/18, but still a pretty good price if you want to be sure the freezer is loaded with these)