👀 Philly is the epicenter of national politics today

🪧 White House Hopefuls Take on Philly

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, will hold her first rally with her still-TBA running mate at the Liacouras Center tonight. [Fox 29]

• Meanwhile, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio — the Republican candidate for vice president — will make an appearance at South Philly’s 2300 Arena today at noon. [PhillyVoice]

☔ Will Tropical Storm Debby Affect Philly?

It’s not quite clear yet. Plumes of moisture emanating from the tropical storm that hit northern Florida yesterday morning could help create heavy rains and storms here today, and possibly also later in the week. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch from this afternoon to tomorrow morning. [Inquirer 🔒]

• Philadelphia International Airport has been seeing a surge of canceled flights due to the storm. [KYW]

📈 Prepare for a Property Tax Hike

The average Philly homeowner will see a $330 increase in property taxes this year due to an increase in the assessed value of their home, Mayor Cherelle Parker announced yesterday. [NBC10]

Here’s a piece of positive news: Food shopping costs have been on the decline in the Philly metro area for at least part of this year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Between April and June, the cost of “food at home” dropped 0.7% across the board, and the prices of produce, cereal, and dairy products were all lower in June 2024 than they were in June 2023.

All that said, groceries can still cost a decent chunk of money — and everybody has to eat! — so why not try to knock a few bucks off the sticker price of your weekly trip? I’ve got some handy tips and tricks for spending less. Keep scrolling for a starter guide ⬇️

🛒 Familiarize Yourself with Your Options

The Philly area has a range of grocery stores, from specialty to bulk to discount. The City Cast Philly team runs through them on this podcast episode.

For lower prices across the board, you can shop at a discount grocery store. Philly Mag has a great rundown of the discount markets in the region — Aldi, Grocery Outlet, Trader Joe’s, and Lidl — and each of their strengths and weaknesses.

If those aren’t accessible to you, or if you’re looking for a broader selection, then it can pay to comparison shop among other stores near you. Take note of which stores have higher base prices than others, and learn what kinds of sales and coupons are available to lower costs. Consider whether you might want to buy different items at different stores in your neighborhood.

🔎 Prowl the Flyers

If you can, plan your grocery trip around what’s on sale for the week. Many stores post their weekly circulars online. When you’re reading the ad, pay attention to what you need to do to get the discount (e.g. use a rewards card or clip a coupon), and specific quantities you have to buy to get a good deal.

⭐ Join Rewards Programs

For stores that have them, free rewards programs — like Target Circle, Acme for U, Giant Choice Rewards, or Fresh Grocer Price Plus — may save you money instantly by tapping into sale prices that are only available to members. Some programs also give you the chance to earn “points” on everything you buy.

Politics, A Very Public Dating Profile, and Cheesesteaks

On the midweek news roundup, City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri and producer Abby Fritz talk about the presidential race coming to Philly today, the lengths a local man took to find a date, and the latest update in Trenae’s Great Summer Cheesesteak Quest.