Best Halloween Candy Price? Check Package Weight!

October 27, 2024

It’s already time to stock up on Halloween candy! But how do you know you’re getting the best deal? There’s a bewildering assortment of brands, package sizes, and prices. Those big Halloween candy bags boast about how many pieces they contain. You’ll see this information displayed prominently on the front of the package: “55 PIECES”, “200 PIECES”, “250 PIECES”, and so on. Dividing the selling price by the number of pieces will give you the cost per piece of Halloween candy. But the size of the pieces varies greatly. Some are mini-size or fun-size bars while others are only bite-sized. How do you determine the best sale price for bags of Halloween candy? Simple. CHECK THE WEIGHT!

By law, all solid food items sold in the U.S. must contain the net weight near the bottom front of the package. This is the only true measure of how much product you are receiving. Do the math. Divide the price by the weight indicated on the package. Move the decimal point 2 places to the right if you’re using a dollars and cents amount as the price ($9.88, for example.) This gives your cost in cents per ounce of Halloween candy. Now, you can compare different sized bags of the same candy and find the best value. This works whether you’re comparing bags from the same store or competing stores.

How much should you pay? For many years, my recommendation was 20 cents per ounce for the popular assortments. Due to food price inflation, I have increased this to 25 cents per ounce. This includes Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Kit Kat, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Twix, M&Ms, Snickers, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, Almond Joy, Whoppers Malted Milk Balls, Skittles, Starburst, Heath, and Milk Duds. You’ll have to hunt around to meet the 25 cents per ounce price point, but it’s out there. Good sources of cheap Halloween candy include Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Kmart, RiteAid, CVS, Sam’s Club, Costco, Kroger, Cub Foods, King Soopers, and Osco/Jewel.

The absolute BEST Halloween candy deals are found on November 1st. That’s when the half price clearance begins at most stores! But who wants to wait that long? Remember to check the weight, do the math, and shoot for a per-ounce cost of around 25 cents. It’s not the size that counts. It’s the weight of the bag that matters.

Menards October 11% Credit Check Rebate Sale

October 27, 2024

Menards 11 percent rebate sale has returned! Are you familiar with this promotion? Menards will frequently offer an 11% Merchandise Credit Check against the entire cost of your purchase. It’s a mail-in rebate that gives you 11 percent back on merchandise purchased that day. Both regular-priced and sale items are eligible.

In 2024, there have been 36 weeks of 11% savings so far:

– February 22-March 2
– March 3-9, March 10-16, March 17-23, March 24-30, March 31-April 6
– April 7-13, April 14-20, April 21-27, April 28-May 4
– May 5-11, May 12-18, May 19-25, May 26-June 1
– June 2-8, June 9-15, June 16-22, June 23-29, June 30-July 6,
– July 7-13, July 14-20, July 21-27, July 28-August 3
– August 4-10, August 11-17, August 18-24, August 25-31
– September 1-7, September 8-14, September 15-21, September 22-28, September 29-October 5,
– October 6-12, October 13-19, October 20-26, October 27-November 2

In 2023, there were 40 weeks of 11% savings:

– February 19-25, February 26-March 4
– March 5-11, March 12-18, March 19-25, March 26-April 1
– April 2-8, April 9-15, April 16-22, April 23-29, April 30-May 6
– May 7-13, May 14-20, May 21-27, May 28-June 3
– June 4-10, June 11-17, June 18-24, June 25-July 1
– July 2-8, July 9-15, July 16-22, July 23-29, July 30-August 5
– August 6-12, August 13-19, August 20-26, August 27-September 2
– September 3-9, September 10-16, September 17-23, September 24-30
– October 1-7, October 8-14, October 15-21, October 22-28, October 29-November 4
– November 5-11, November 12-18, November 19-22

In 2022, there were also 40 weeks of 11% savings:

– February 20-26, February 27-March 5
– March 6-12, March 13-19, March 20-26, March 27-April 2
– April 3-9, April 10-16, April 17-23, April 24-30
– May 1-7, May 8-14, May 15-21, May 22-28, May 29-June 4
– June 5-11, June 12-18, June 19-25, June 26-July 2
– July 3-9, July 10-16, July 17-23, July 24-30, July 31-August 6
– August 7-13, August 14-20, August 21-27, August 28-September 3
– September 4-10, September 11-17, September 18-24, September 25-October 1,
– October 2-8, October 9-15, October 16-22, October 23-29, October 30-November 5
– November 6-12, November 13-19, November 20-23

Menards 11% off Everything includes major appliances: refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, ranges, microwave hoods, cooktops, washers & dryers. Does not include freezers and range hoods. Save 11% just for mailing in some paperwork. Under Menards current promotional schedule, this event occurs several times per year. Pretty cool, huh?

Here’s the best news: Menards is holding their 11% rebate sale THIS WEEK! Dates are Sunday, October 27 through Sunday, November 3, 2024. Don’t miss this chance to save 11% on the things you buy every day. See store for complete details and restrictions on this special offer. Most Menards home improvement stores will be closed Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 28.)

Eat FREE Sam’s Club Weekend Food Samples

October 27, 2024

Sam’s Club is a great place to stock up on large quantities of the stuff you use every day. Most of us know that Sam’s Club is also a great source of FREE FOOD! What? You didn’t know about the free samples at Sam’s?

Sam’s Club regularly offers free samples of promotional grocery items which are being sold in the stores. The hope is that you will like what you taste enough to buy some product. Usually, the items being displayed by vendors are being sold at a special sale price. Free food samples can be found most anytime at Sam’s. However, they are most numerous on Saturday and Sunday mornings. These are peak shopping times, so it makes sense this is where we would find the best offerings.

What kind of free eats can be found at Sam’s? Last time I was there, I enjoyed all of the following: pulled pork, pot stickers, turkey bacon, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries, soup & crackers, sushi, cinnamon rolls, Hershey kisses, hot dogs, popcorn, cheese corn, and caramel corn! Yes, these are only sample sizes. But if you take some time and sample everything, you can easily make a lunch out of it. Truth be told, I come for this practically every weekend. Why? Because I’m a cheapskate! The only thing better than cheap food deals is FREE food!

Items to be sampled change daily, so you never know for sure what you’re going to find. But that’s what makes it interesting. If you’re not doing anything for lunch this weekend, head to Sam’s Club and check out the free food samples!

FREE FOOD at Election Rallies & Campaigns

October 26, 2024

Who says blabbering politicians are useless? As Election Day nears, I have found political candidates and their campaigns to be a valuable source of FREE FOOD! Many candidates running for public office will offer free eats at their rallies and campaign stops as an enticement for people to show up. In just the past few weeks, I’ve come across free sandwiches, subs, pizza, doughnuts, hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks, bottled water, and much more!

I guess it’s kind of like those timeshare deals in Florida where you sit through the sales pitch, listen to a bunch of hot air, then are rewarded with a few free nights in one of their condos. But what the heck? It’s FREE FOOD! As everyone here knows, FREE food is GOOD food! Especially in this “challenging” economy. Find out where the upcoming campaign rallies will be held, show up and get fed for free by your local politicians!

Papa John’s $9.99 Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Pizza

October 26, 2024

Papa John’s Pizza is getting in on the fun this year with Jack-O-Lantern pizzas! Because they don’t want to smash your pumpkin, this pepperoni masterpiece arrives uncut. It’s a Halloween treat the entire family can enjoy. Best of all, a large thin crust Papa John’s Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Pizza is just $9.99 in most markets. Same price as last year! Your kids will love Papa John’s Jack-O-Lantern Pizza. They’re perfect for Halloween gatherings, spooky events, and late October pizza parties.

Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Pizzas available through Thursday, October 31, 2024 at participating locations. Price may vary by location. Not valid in conjunction with any other coupon or special promotional discount. Most Papa John’s Pizza restaurants will be open holiday hours on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 28.)