It's a fantastic week for deals at the drugstores with plenty of freebies and bargain-priced items. There's free chocolate, a free razor and 49-cent specialty toothpaste at CVS. At Rite Aid, there's bargain-priced Pampers, free toothbrushes and cheap Dawn dish liquid. Walgreens has got seven freebies, including free Crayola Washable Markers and Goody hair clips. I'd go early because they will sell out.

At Kroger, rotisserie chickens are just $3.99 each, a fantasic deal. And that doesn't even count the money you'll save by keeping your oven turned off in this heat.

Kroger also has the best price I could find on milk: $1.66 for a half-gallon or $3.32 a gallon.

Read on for all the deals and give me a shout if you found a good deal I missed.

What better way to get in the mood for North Carolina's upcoming tax-free weekend than giving away a little spending money?

Leave me a comment sharing your best shopping tips and strategies for the tax holiday and you'll be entered to win a $10 Target gift card.

I'm interested in hearing from all types of savvy shoppers and savers: parents, college kids, singles, empty nesters, retirees, you name it. If you love a bargain, I want to hear from you.

Are you of the every-penny-counts philosophy? Or do you only brave the crowds when you're buying a big-ticket item like a computer?

Do you take advantage of the tax holiday to stock up on a year's worth of underwear and socks? Or do you make a point of staying home and avoiding the whole mess?

I'll pick a winner Tuesday and send the card out ASAP. With any luck, it should arrive in plenty of time for the tax-free weekend sales.

Each of the drugstores has some excellent deals this week, including free pens and toothbrushes, along with cheap toothpaste, feminine products and hand soap. But Walgreens probably has the best deals among the drugstores this week, with free Irish Spring deodorant, free hair Scuncis and free tampons, along with bargain M&Ms and 39-cent Sharpie markers.

At Kroger this week, there's a terrific deal on General Mills cereal that gives you $6 off your order instantly when you buy four boxes. Match that with coupons and you get yourself some Cheerios for as low as 49 cents a box.

Kroger also has a 10 for $10 sale that includes store-brand pasta sauce, Crest, frozen veggies and many other items. After coupons, the Softsoap hand soap ends up being just 30 cents. (And remember, you don't have to buy 10 items to get the deal!)

Read on for all the deals. And as always, please post the bargains you find.

Check today's N&O for a couple of bonus coupons, two for Target and one for Ruby Tuesday restaurants.

Do your homework before heading out to buy school supplies.

The big sales have begun, but similar to last week, there's lots of fine print to read.

Some of the deals, such as those at Office Max this week, require a minimum $5 purchase. Some involve rebates. Most of the good deals also have limits and are only good while supplies last. So beware.

Here are the best deals I saw:

It's not a blockbuster week for deals this time around, but there are still a few opportunities for free items and a great week to pick up some great bargains on school supplies. Walgreens has 9-cent folders and mini highlighters and 19-cent packs of pencils. Target has free scotch tape.

At Kroger, the Mega Event continues with great prices on Pepsi 2-liters and Steamfresh veggies. It also has Hillshire Farm lunchmeat for 30 cents after coupon, a stock-up price for sure.

Read on for all the top deals.

Target is uttering those two little words that bargain hunters love to hear: Black Friday. Only they're not going to make you wait until November.

I — and I'm sure amost every other Target shopper — received an e-mail this afternoon promoting its "Black Friday in July" sale.

This is an idea that caught on with some stores last year and must have worked for Target to be repeating it this year.

The sale starts at midnight this Friday (Pacific time according to the email I received so make that 3 a.m. here) and is online only. So set your clock and put the laptop near the bed — and make sure you're awake enough to recognize a good deal from hype.

From the sneak peek in the email it looks as if they'll discount a Philips TV by $250, Barbie by 40 percent and a KitchenAid mixer by 20 percent.

Let us know if you score some good deals.

Last week, it was 10-cent glue sticks and 20-cent crayons.

Starting today, it's computer paper for a penny! And Sharpie markers for FREE.

It may still be early July on the calendar, but for retailers, the back-to-school sales blitz has begun in earnest.

There are plenty of deals to keep you busy at the drugstores, Target and Kroger this week. Free items are available at each of the drugstores, some of them free without even clipping a coupon. You can get a FREE two-pack of Sharpie markers at Target. And Kroger has got another Mega Sale with great stock-up prices on Steamfresh veggies, Pepsi 2-liters and Colgate toothpaste, just to name a few.

Read on for all the great deals. And let me know what you find.