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Hurry up! We recently reported that the Vons on White Lane is closing for good.

Today? It's nuts out there. Reporter Courtenay Edelhart is there right now, and says there are two lines of people waiting to get into the store. One is 38 people deep.

Some people in line say they've waited five hours to get in to the bargains. (There is a guard at the door, apparently for crowd control.)

What kind of deals? Well, one woman told Courtenay she bought at least $300 worth of groceries for $130. Courtenay hasn't gotten in the store to see the prices for herself, however.

Alas, while one woman wheeled out two shopping carts full of groceries, Courtenay said, other people were giving up and going home.

The store shutters for good at 5 p.m. May 31. You've been warned!

Read Courtenay's full report here.

— Christine Peterson

A staffer found this How I spent My Stimulus site and urged me to share it.

There are some varied stories there — from the luxurious to the charitable to the meeting-basic-needs kind of stories.

— Christine Peterson

I had occasion to visit the East Hills Mall this past weekend and ended up walking through the Harris Gottschalks store.

I was surprised to see that the place was half empty and the only items in there were clearance racks, all marked 75 percent off.

Since I am a man, that means very little to me. I can't recall ever bothering to look for sales when I buy clothes (couple times a year I make big purchases) and in fact I tend to avoid sales racks since its usually weird stuff.

But as I was making a b-line for the exit I overheard not one, but TWO women on their cell phones urging their friends to come down and check it out. There was a tone of glee in their voices that told me there must have been something special.

I even considered texting a friend of mine who is a shoe shopping junkie.

Eventually I decided against. Wouldn't be very manly, I figured.

But for our blog readers I'll make an exception. Ladies, you have been notified.

-- Davin McHenry

We recently ran a package of stories on miniatures gaming. Well, now one of the stores that caters to enthusiasts is having a sale: 10d6 percent off on Warmachine and Hordes figures.

The way it works, technically, is this: For every item, you get to roll 2d6 (that's two six-sided dice). If it comes up a 1, you get to reroll. (If it comes up a 1 again, you get to reroll until it's not a 1, which is a violation of the rules of almost every game but works well for our purposes.) The maximum number of dice you can roll is 10.

The sale doesn't apply to books, and it doesn't apply to other lines — no Warhammer, no D&D, no Yu-Gi-Oh.

I went there last night and picked up full units of Immortals, Kayazy Assassins with Underboss, Kossite Woodsmen, two catapults and Yuri the Axe — $250 worth of figures for $150, after rolling a 42.

The sale at The Gaming Experience lasts through the end of June. There are a bunch of people just starting out, so if you want to join the addictionhobby, now's the time to start.

— James Geluso, Khador/Skorne/Eldar/Dogs of War player

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This week's Longs Drugs ad says the store is now selling 90-day supplies of some generic prescriptions for $12.95, and 30-day supplies of some meds for $9.85.

Here's what they say, "If you have little or no prescripton coverage, the free Longs Wellness Partnership Card may be right for you. Use the card on medications for which you have no prescription drug coverage or for which you have not met your deductible."

Of course, there are rules and exceptions in fine print.

Read more about the plan here in the store's weekly ad. Just type in your ZIP code.

— Christine Peterson

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For the fourth year, Dreyer's is giving away 1,500 ice cream block parties across the country. They've given away 6,000 parties since starting the promotion.

They'll give you Slow Churned ice cream for 100 people and party supplies, too.

But first you have to tell the Dreyer's folks why your neighborhood should be picked.

They'll ask you to say, in 350 words or less, why you and your neighbors deserve a party on a weekend sometime between July and September.

— Christine Peterson

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Attention ice cream lovers — Longs Drugs is selling Dreyer's Ice Cream is $2.99 for a 1.5- to 1.75 quart container.

The sale runs through Saturday.

Where do you find the best ice cream for the best price?

— Christine Peterson

If all you have is pocket change, Taco Bell is launching its "Why Pay More?" value menu on Thursday.

It's to include 10 products, including four new items (Triple Layer Nacho, Melted Three Cheese Roll-Ups, Cheesy Double Beef Burrito and the Big Taste Taco) with prices at 79 cents, 89 cents and 99 cents, according to a report by USA Today.

Taco Bell also has its new Fresco Menu that's touted to have items "all with less than 9 grams of fat each!" (Yikes.)

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Someone let me know about daily specials at the IHOP just off Buck Owens Boulevard.

For example, Tuesday is crepe day and for about $5.99 you can pick any crepe off the menu — and get an ice cream sundae.

I don't think any meal on the "specials" list hits $7, and some days include a drink or ice cream.

This isn't Mama Tosca's or Mama Roomba's. It's more like what your Mom might serve.

But it's cheap — and I'd argue a better price and better qualiy than all-too-easy fast-food.

— Christine Peterson

After my blog last week about a colleague sharing the joys of 99 cent and dollar stores, I pretty much had to go check one out.

So Sunday, I ventured to the 99 Cents Only store on Mount Vernon Avenue. The first thing that struck me? All the slips of paper flying around the parking lot. Seemed like every receipt was flying around. That, and the place was PACKED on Mother's Day.

But I was undaunted, and had to see what the store sold for myself.

The ground rules (set by me): Buy only brands you recognize. Spend $20 tops. Buy only what you will use in the next week.

I spent $5.29, with tax. I bought two bottles of Langers juice, each 99 cents. I bought tissue paper for gift wrapping for 99 cents. I bought a big package of table napkins for 99 cents. And I bought a package of cookies for 99 cents. (Oddly, or not, that's where I broke a rule. I didn't recognize the brand, but I did know the city, Los Alamitos, where they were made!)

What will make me go back? Gift wrap and party goods. They had a huge selection of gift bags, mostly for 59 cents, that would cost $3 or $4 in a high-end store. They had tons of bows and wrapping paper and tissue paper.

— Christine Peterson

Raising Bakersfield.com has started a new discount program called Parent Perks. There's all kinds of offers on this new local site, including cheap haircuts, lunch deals and more.

Raising Bakersfield.com is likely to become an invaluable source for local parents.

Check it out here.
 

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The sandwich wars are on!

I drove by a Subway last night, and it had a large sign saying foot-long subs were $5.

Less than half an hour later, I spotted a TV ad for Quizno's that clearly was battling against Subway, as it offered $5 Large Deli Favorite Subs.

They fight for customers, you win.

— Christine Peterson

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I've never known much about 99 cent (or dollar) stores.

But today as I ate my boring lunch, a colleague basically told me I really haven't lived until I have taken some serious time to stroll the aisles of 99 cent stores. (Whatever. He says stuff like this.)

OK. Fine. What do they have that I might want?

Eight or 10 mini candy bars for 99 cents, he said. Brands I would even recognize? Yes, he said, like Snickers and 3 Musketeers. Mints too, he said excitedly.

Oh, and the peanuts and sunflower seeds.

Wrapping paper too. And he went on .... toothpaste and rice cakes and batteries.

He even said you could buy bunches of bananas, and once saw a nice man buying an entire cart for one of the homeless centers.

I always wonder, though — do you get suckered in to buying a bunch of stuff you don't need just because it's cheap?

— Christine Peterson

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Albertsons has heavily advertised its plan to add a bonus to your economic stimulus check if you spend it there.

Check out the bottom of this flier.

I haven't found fliers for other stores that might be doing this yet — if you know of any, please add them here for other readers.

— Christine Peterson

ps ... click "larger view" to read the small print a bit better. The really tiny print says you get a $30 bonus to purchase a $300 gift card, a $60 bonus to purchase a $600 gift card and a $120 bonus to purchase a $1,200 gift card.

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Moms and grandmas get in to the California Living Museum for half-price on Mother's Day.

Regular adult admission is $7, so on Sunday, it's $3.50 for them.

Check out the attached flier.

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Want some 'free' chicken?

McDonald's is offering free Southern Style Chicken Biscuits and Sandwiches at its 14,000 U.S. restaurants on Thursday, May 15.

Here's the deal: You have to buy a medium or large drink at a participating restaurant.

The offer's good from 7 to 10:30 a.m. for the biscuits, and 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the sandwiches.

Here's what Niel Golden, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, said in a press release: "By giving customers - many of whom are unfamiliar with chicken for breakfast - the opportunity to try the new menu items on May 15, we anticipate 2 million Southern Style Chicken Biscuits and 6 million Southern Style Chicken Sandwiches will be given away nationwide.'

Check out the nutrition info here.

— Christine Peterson

Last weekend I went to Linens 'n Things to buy an iPod dock. I ended up at the register with a new sheet set and comforter as well. I had thought the comforter was just $99 but at the register it rang up at $160.

"Oh, no thank you, then. I don't want to pay that much today," I told the clerk.

Then I had a thought.

"Unless, of course, you have one of those extra 20 percent off coupons lying around," I added, with a smile.

She punched a couple keys on the register and took 20 percent off my entire purchase. What a wonderful surprise!

Moral of the story: Don't be shy to politely haggle in department stores. But the key is to be nice to the hard-working clerks. Gruff demands won't get you anything but bad karma.

— Jennifer Baldwin

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What woman does not like to receive beautiful flowers?

Here's a smattering of good buys for Mother's Day flowers:

• I was in the Albertson's on Mount Vernon Avenue last night. They had a rather large selection of bouquets and the flowers appeared nice and fresh. Bunches of five tulips were $4. (I couldn't resist and left with a bunch of pink ones and a bunch of purple ones, spending $8 total and using the pretty tulip vase I already have.)

They had larger and more elaborate arrangements too, many for about $20.

• There was a $5 coupon for Telflora flowers in Sunday's paper, within the "Smart Source" ads. It said you can use it at a Telflora florist or at teleflora.com, with promotion code ADORES.

• Target says it's going to sell a dozen roses or a mixed floral bouquet for $19.99 starting Wednesday. Their ad says a vase is included.

— Christine Peterson 

Trying to convince us we're getting a break, Coke and Pepsi plan to roll out cheaper bottled sodas this summer, according to a USA Today story out today.

They're looking at charging 99 cents for 12- and 16-ounce bottles, rather than selling as many 20-ounce bottles.

So you get less but you pay less.

Brian Wynne, vice president of  business development for Coca-Cola Enterprises, told USA Today that the idea is to offer Coke products "at a great price in a difficult time."

Will people buy it?

— Christine Peterson

The competition is on!

Now Target has announced it's selling more than 300 generic drugs for $4 for a 30-day supply.

(They're also offering some meds at a 90-day supply for $10, just like Wal-Mart unveiled on Monday.)

Here's a list of medicines that are included, listed by condition.

Or look at a list in alphabetical order.

Some over-the-counter meds will be sold for $4 too.

— Christine Peterson

Nothing says, "Mom, I love you" than a free print from Walgreens.

It's Wednesday only. A free 8x10 print.

Here are the details.

Wal-Mart is now offering 90-day supplies of some prescriptions for $10.

The offer applies to about 350 generic meds, according to the company Web site. The prices are offered at Wal-Mart, Neighborhood Market and Sam's Club pharmacies in the United States.

The list is long, and broken up by kind of condition, such as "skin conditions" and "asthma."

Click here for links to the lists.

You can also view medication lists by medical condition.

Some caveats: Wal-Mart has some lengthy descriptions of what qualifies, and an asterik warning that some prices may be higher in California and other states. 

Wal-Mart is also selling more over-the-counter medications for $4. Check out the blue box for details. The flier says this list includes just some of more than 1,000 meds available for $4 or less.

— Christine Peterson

In the past few days, I received a flier in my mailbox from Lowe's urging me to "update with your tax rebate."

It included two "Project Starter" cards, one for $10 off my next $50 purchase and one for $25 off my next $250 purchase.

Something tells me the $10 card is the one I'll be using.

I also got a Home Depot ad declaring they are my "source for everything outdoors." That one too came with $10 off my total purchase of $50 or more.

Advice? Don't dump the fliers stuffed in your mailbox until you take a closer look. This was perfect timing for the flowers I want to plant in the back yard. 

— Christine Peterson

For anyone who's still planning a party for tonight — or just wants to get some basics at a cheap price — an Albertsons ad has some good coupons.

For example — four 12-packs of selected varieties of Coke, Pepsi and 7-Up products for $9, with a minimum $10 purchase on qualified items. (They exclude milk and some other stuff.)

So for you soda-drinkers, that comes out to $2.25 for a 12-pack of soda, much cheaper than that vending machine at work.

There are also coupons for tortilla chips and other items too.

— Christine Peterson