By Eric Wolf Schoen
It’s August. Summer is officially for many of us half over. I get tired of writing about the Bidens, Chris Johnson, the Trumps, global warming, ash in the sky, the same things every week. I bet you get tired of reading and listening on TV and radio 24-7 about these things too.
So we take a break this week and Skip the Politics. Let’s Save Some Money this week with cool thoughts in our minds given the weather we have just experienced. Nothing beats a frozen Coke or Orange drink from McDonald’s for $2 to beat the heat. Or a delicious vanilla cone or hot fudge sundae from McDONALDS for about the same price. And if you have the McDonald’s App you can quickly stack up points for free food.
Speaking of the McDonalds app, it will get you hot or iced coffee for $1 and senior coffee is always $1. Cheat on one of their cookies and cream pies, hot Oreo crust filled with warm Oreo type cream. It’s almost as good as the fried apple pies from years ago, much better than the baked ones served nowadays.
Have you been to the movies lately. Showcase with theaters at Cross County, Ridge Hill and White Plains City Center has all movies for members for $7 on Tuesdays. But the real deals are for a number of movies at a fixed price per month. I see 3 movies with a guest monthly for $32. That’s a little over $5 a movie, a deal that can’t be beat. As for movie snacks, the dollar stores have the snacks the theaters charge $5 for $1.25, offering a greater selection including bags of my favorite, cotton candy. Bring your water or other beverage from home and the $5 bottle of water turns into the $1.50.
Though the theaters offer Starbucks hand crafted beverages, if there is a Starbucks physical store get your latte there as it will be fresher and probably half the cost. And like years ago the ticket taker won’t tell you that you can’t bring food or drink into the movie. Nowadays most people will bring food like sandwiches and salads into the theater rather than eating stale, salty popcorn.
Kudos to County Executive George Latimer for bringing us another summer of free County bus rides. Matinee ladies and gentleman this includes the WESTCHESTER County bus that goes down Central Avenue into Manhattan and back during the week.
What better place for a hot summer day then in a supermarket with its air conditioning and dairy and freezer cases blasting cold air. I noticed a new locked refrigerator in the front of Stop and Shop called Flashfood. Flashfood is a relatively new app that works with grocery stores to offer deals of up to 50% off items that are near there sell-by date. Pay for the items through the app and pick them up at a designated zone aka Flashfood refrigerator at Stop and Shop.
I keep two shopping lists. One for what I will need during the week and one for items I may run out during the week that I can stock up on when they go on sale. When they are on sale I’ll buy enough to last a month or so. Saves a lot of money.
I just learned something from my Produce Manager this week. Who doesn’t love summer berries. Moisture is the reason berries go bad, so when selecting berries flip over the container at the grocery store. If they are not sticking to the bottom chances are they will keep fresh longer. Freeze extras for smoothies and to casually snack on.
Large grocery stores may have multiple places where they sell cheese (I.e. deli, gourmet cheese section and dairy case for mozzarella cheese). The prices vary from section to section so check to see that you are getting the cheese you want at the best value price.
As we see in Yonkers, new supermarket chains are opening in suburban areas. Lidl is opening in Yonkers, and Aldi has opened in Westchester and Rockland. These German chains keep prices low by selling a large selection of private label items. I was not happy with the grapes I got at Aldi, small and very mushy so check out what you are buying and take advantage of return policies these stores offer. A bargain is not a bargain if you toss it in the trash.
Have you downloaded the apps for the grocery stores where you shop. Sometimes you can only get the item if you have the app or courtesy card. If you don’t have the courtesy card ask the cashier if you can use hers or his or the managers card.
With many name brands raising their prices during and after the Covid climax, grocery stores have come out with cheaper house brands which contain the same ingredients and are often manufactured by the company that makes the name brands.
Try a new supermarket. So many of us have gone to the same market for years and don’t realize selections and prices change often. A box of healthy frozen pancakes at a store I have gone to for many years was $2 cheaper at another neighborhood store.
A dollar here, 50 cents there it all adds up to savings for you and your family.
Note that All deals and prices are subject to change so check before you go.
Briefs: When Will the Target Store at Cross County open? There’s no signage nor signs up on the outside to indicate its’ opening. I haven’t even seen employee recruitment signage up or ‘COMING SOON’ signage. Granted it’s an old store so a lot of work had to be done but still. WESTCHESTER Community College went up in less than a year what’s taking Target so long, City and Target Officials?
Whenever you hear someone say they saved a lot of money, chances are they shopped at Walmart. Yonkers is the 3rd largest city in New York State. When are we getting a Walmart. Next to Stew Leonard’s and at Ridge Hill. Two of the many places Walmart would fit in perfectly. We need those Roll Backs!
At press time overstock.com and Bed, Bath and Beyond have announced a merger. Going to be interesting to see what kind of merchandise they sell.
Support a Yonkers Boy. Former Yonkers Resident and New York Times Critic Alan Kozinn is the author of ‘The McCartney Legacy. Volume 1. 1969-1973. Adrian Sinclair is the Co-author. Kozinn wrote for the Arts and Leisure Section of the Times from 1977-2014. He graduated Yonkers High School in 1972.
Listen to Eric Schoen on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge. Reach him at thistooisyonkers@aol.com.
