The real deal on saving cash: Cache Valley offers students various options to help save a little extra money on basic needs
When it comes to shopping, students should never pay full price. Why pay more when there is a way to get it for less?
Bargain shopping is not a game for the weak. It requires patience and a good eye. But simply said, saving money feels good. While many college students are on tight budgets, here are a few good places to get in on the deals.
Pepperidge Farm
After driving north on Main Street to Richmond, a sign with the words “cookies sold here” at 901 N. 200 West indicates the turnoff to Pepperidge Farm. For some, the long drive is worth it to satisfy a cookie craving or stock up on some munchies. There, they sell “not quite perfect, but almost” cookies, crackers and other Pepperidge Farm products.
Cookies, such as Milanos, can be purchased in bulk bags for between $1.25 and $1.75 per pound. Boxes of Goldfish varieties, Chessman, soft-baked chocolate chip cookies, stuffing and other goodies line the shelves and are sometimes half the price found in grocery stores.
Pepperidge Farm employees Jill Feller and Janet Bosen explained that some of the items are leftovers from orders that had extra, some may not meet the weight requirement and others are in slightly damaged boxes. Packaging aside, they said these products still have the same great taste.
New to the store are Godiva Chocolates, which employee Janet Bosen said can be sold for about $30 a box in a store like Dillard’s. At Pepperidge Farm, two pounds of the chocolates are sold for $7.50.
Frozen food items such as cinnamon rolls and garlic bread can be purchased at discount prices, Bosen said. Other frozen food items are sold in the store, but are not discounted because they are not made at the Richmond plant.
Gossners
While many students stop by Gossners Cheese factory at 1000 N. 1000 West simply to sample the array of cheeses, cracker dips and flavored milks – visitors can also take home economy bricks of cheese at a discount price.
Economy cheese, said employee Katie Hodges, is the “not perfectly square” pieces of cheese sold at a reduced price. She said that while mild cheddar can cost as much as $5 a pound at a grocery store, it is sold for $1.90 at Gossners.
“It’s not ‘pretty’ cheese,” said Hodges. “That’s all economy is. It may be missing a piece or have a hole in it, but there is no problem with the flavor.”
Hodges said students come in to buy the smaller pieces of economy cheese because they don’t want a full loaf. She said the shaved edges that are pressed together are the perfect size for a snack.
A favorite of many students that can also be found discounted are bags of cheese curds or “squeaky cheese.”
This is sold for about $2.50 per pound at Gossners.
Regular bricks of cheese can also be found in many varieties, as well as flavored milks and cracker dips.
Ross/TJ Maxx
While searching a clearance rack at a clothing department store may only yield remnants of the latest fashion flop in a size the average person can’t fit into, stores like Ross and TJ Maxx offer more variety.
Many racks of clothes fill the store and as employee Desi Child pointed out, it may take some time to look at everything.
“You have to search,” Child said. “It’s a store that you need a lot of time for.”
Inventory ranges from home and bath items, shoes, ties, clothing, purses and bags, as well as an assortment of decorations and picture frames.
All items are sold indicating the original price and the Ross sale price, showing customers how much they are saving.
Ross carries many different brand names that always seem to be in style, Child said.
The items are sold for much less than normal stores. Shirts in the girls’ juniors section usually range from $4.99 to $11.99.
“Since I started working here, I haven’t shopped anywhere else because I can’t justify paying more,” Child she said.
Jeffrey Jeppesen, assistant manager at Ross, said Ross has buyers who purchase overstock from other stores.
Sometimes the items may be clearance from other stores.
They may have things that didn’t sell or are out of season, but he said any items that are imperfect are visibly labeled.
– ashleykarras@cc.usu.edu
