Bryan M. Vance

I'm Bryan, a journalist and digital strategist based in wet and wonderful Portland, Oregon. I'm also the founder of Stumptown Savings and the Feed Your Curiosity newsletter.

How Portland’s Hot Mama Salsa Evolved To Become a Chip Company

May 1, 2026

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4 min read

How Portland’s Hot Mama Salsa Evolved To Become a Chip Company

Inside the Southeast Portland production facility where a salsa brand accidentally became Portland's best tortilla chip maker.

Market of Choice Completes Acquisition of Hillsdale's Basics Market

May 1, 2026

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3 min read

Market of Choice Completes Acquisition of Hillsdale's Basics Market

The Eugene-based grocer officially takes over the Hillsdale store on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 — with no closure and a grand opening celebration planned later.

Portland Grocery Deals (April 29-May 5, 2026): $1.99 Butter and Cinco de Mayo Carnitas

Apr 30, 2026

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19 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (April 29-May 5, 2026): $1.99 Butter and Cinco de Mayo Carnitas

$1.99 butter at Fred Meyer, $1.99/lb. strawberries at Albertsons and Safeway, and pork shoulder at $1.49/lb. through Monday. Plus Cinco de Mayo deals across 20+ Portland stores.

Portland Butcher Shops: The Complete Guide to the Best Meat Markets in the Metro Area

Apr 26, 2026

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10 min read

Portland Butcher Shops: The Complete Guide to the Best Meat Markets in the Metro Area

From century-old sausage kitchens to whole-animal butcheries — 20 Portland-area meat shops, with hours, addresses, an interactive map, and what to buy at each one.

Portland Grocery Deals (April 22-28, 2026): $0.99 Eggs and New-Crop Asparagus

Apr 23, 2026

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20 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (April 22-28, 2026): $0.99 Eggs and New-Crop Asparagus

Grocery Outlet has cage-free eggs for $0.99 this week. Fred Meyer has BOGO pork ribs. New-crop asparagus is at Roth's and Nap's for $3.99/lb. Plus oysters for $1 each and deals from 20+ Portland stores.

How An Oak Grove, Oregon, Senior Eats Well On $75 a Week

Apr 21, 2026

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7 min read

How An Oak Grove, Oregon, Senior Eats Well On $75 a Week

Meet Jevan W., a senior on a $75 weekly budget who masters flexible meal planning through a bulk prep and freezer strategy. Plus: get his spicy Thai basil chicken recipe that comes together in 10 minutes.

Portland Grocery Deals (April 15-21, 2026): $0.99 Eggs and Strawberries Galore

Apr 16, 2026

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20 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (April 15-21, 2026): $0.99 Eggs and Strawberries Galore

Grocery Outlet has cage-free eggs for $0.99/dozen — the best price we've tracked in months. Plus WinCo has strawberries at $1.98/lb., BOGO chicken at QFC, and the best deals from 20+ Portland stores.

Portland, Oregon, Grocery Prices: March 2026 Saw the Biggest Drop We've Tracked in 8 Months

Apr 14, 2026

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15 min read

Portland, Oregon, Grocery Prices: March 2026 Saw the Biggest Drop We've Tracked in 8 Months

Portland, Oregon, grocery prices fell 3.8% in March — the biggest single-month drop since Stumptown Savings tracking began. Here's which stores dropped the most, what items moved, and where to find the lowest prices right now.

Portland Grocery Deals (April 8–14, 2026): $1.18/lb. Chicken Drumsticks and BOGO Flank Steaks

Apr 9, 2026

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13 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (April 8–14, 2026): $1.18/lb. Chicken Drumsticks and BOGO Flank Steaks

WinCo has bone-in chicken drumsticks at $1.18/lb. — one of the best prices of the year. Plus BOGO flank steaks at Fred Meyer, $1.99/lb. pork loin at Albertsons and Safeway, and strawberries under $2. Deals from 20+ Portland stores.

Apr 7, 2026

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15 min read

We Blind Taste-Tested 9 Portland-Area Store Brand Cheddars To Find the Best

Stumptown Savings assembled a blind taste test panel to crown the best store-brand cheddar cheese you can buy in the Portland, Oregon region. See which cheese fooled two judges into thinking it was Tillamook.

Behind the Cart: Quarterlies Are Out, the Cookbook Is On, and Big Decisions Are Yours to Make

Apr 5, 2026

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7 min read

Behind the Cart: Quarterlies Are Out, the Cookbook Is On, and Big Decisions Are Yours to Make

Your Savers Club Quarterly is in the mail, the community cookbook is coming, and I need your vote on a second Savers Club Card. March was busy — here's everything that happened.

Portland Grocery Deals (April 1-7, 2026): Spiral Hams for Easter and Passover Finds

Apr 2, 2026

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12 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (April 1-7, 2026): Spiral Hams for Easter and Passover Finds

This week’s best Portland grocery deals include spiral hams as low as $0.67/lb., strawberries at $1.98/lb., and BOGO local chicken. Get the full list, plus recipes for Passover and Easter.

1 Store, 1 Week: Is Trader Joe's Enough for This Gresham Writer’s $100 Budget?

Mar 31, 2026

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12 min read

1 Store, 1 Week: Is Trader Joe's Enough for This Gresham Writer’s $100 Budget?

Becca Knowlton tested whether Trader Joe's alone could cover her weekly groceries — and stayed under $100 while managing low-energy days. Here's what actually costs more, what's a steal, and when convenience wins.

Portland Grocery Deals (March 25–31): Whole Chickens at $0.99/lb. + A Savers Club Card Deal

Mar 26, 2026

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13 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (March 25–31): Whole Chickens at $0.99/lb. + A Savers Club Card Deal

This week's standout Portland grocery deals include: whole chickens, ham, grapes, and frozen pizzas. Plus, 5 recipes that leverage this week's deals, and a guide to the best prices on staples across 20+ local stores.

The Ultimate Guide to the Pacific Northwest's Spring Harvest

Mar 24, 2026

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13 min read

The Ultimate Guide to the Pacific Northwest's Spring Harvest

Think spring is just about flowers and strawberries? The Pacific Northwest’s spring harvest is the most dramatic seasonal shift of the year — from the forest floor to the farm field, here's how to shop for it.

Portland Grocery Deals (March 18-24): Potatoes, Wings & Pork Shoulder Deals

Mar 19, 2026

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12 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (March 18-24): Potatoes, Wings & Pork Shoulder Deals

Rock-bottom potato prices, wing deals that can't be beat, and recipes for every occasion — from silky lentil soup to slow-roasted pork. These are this week’s best Portland-area grocery deals.

Portland Grocery Prices In February 2026: 7 Months of Tracking Show What Really Matters

Mar 17, 2026

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10 min read

Portland Grocery Prices In February 2026: 7 Months of Tracking Show What Really Matters

We've tracked 20 standard grocery items across 20 Portland stores for seven months (unlike that other local news outlet). February's data shows budget chains are getting cheaper while conventional stores jumped 7.9% in a single month. Here's why store choice matters more than any coupon.

Portland Grocery Deals (March 11-17): St. Patrick's Day Dinners + Local Whole Chickens For $1.59/lb.

Mar 12, 2026

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12 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (March 11-17): St. Patrick's Day Dinners + Local Whole Chickens For $1.59/lb.

This week's St. Patrick's Day Portland-area grocery sales inspire Dublin Coddle, cottage pie, and more comfort food classics. Plus: Where to score large cage-free eggs for $0.99/dozen, tri-tip roasts at $6.99/lb., and local whole chickens at $1.59/lb.

Your Complete Guide To Birthday Deals & Discounts in Portland, Oregon

Mar 10, 2026

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11 min read

Your Complete Guide To Birthday Deals & Discounts in Portland, Oregon

Skip the hunt. From free coffee and pizza to spa treatments and shopping discounts, here's every birthday freebie and deal available in Portland, Oregon.

Portland Grocery Deals (March 4-10): Reverse-Seared Steak & a Spring Pantry Load Up

Mar 5, 2026

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13 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (March 4-10): Reverse-Seared Steak & a Spring Pantry Load Up

This week's best Portland grocery deals: fresh chicken at $1.99/lb., Fuji apples for 99¢/lb., plus seasonal recipes that cost $5 or less per serving — including a reverse-sear steak recipe that is restaurant quality.

Mar 3, 2026

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16 min read

We Tasted 11 Portland Store Brand Tortilla Chips To Find the Best

We put 11 store-brand tortilla chips from Portland grocers to a blind taste test. From a $1.97 budget surprise to a local favorite's crushing defeat, here is which bag of tortilla chips is worth your money.

Behind the Cart March 2026: New Member Perks & Help Plan Our Next Event!

Mar 1, 2026

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6 min read

Behind the Cart March 2026: New Member Perks & Help Plan Our Next Event!

New Savers Club Quarterly perks launching in April —stickers, a zine, and more on the way just for members. Plus: February recap, referral program details, spring meetup vote, and a chance to help shape our crowdsourced cookbook.

Portland, Oregon, Events for March 2026: 300+ Free & Low-Cost Things to Do

Feb 27, 2026

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27 min read

Portland, Oregon, Events for March 2026: 300+ Free & Low-Cost Things to Do

Spring is here and Portland is bustling. We've curated 300+ free and low-cost events for March: cooking classes, Portland Dining Month (3-course meals for $35!), repair cafés, gardening workshops, and so much more. Your calendar awaits.

Portland Grocery Deals (Feb. 26-March 3): $1.99 Butter and $0.50/lb. Potatoes

Feb 26, 2026

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12 min read

Portland Grocery Deals (Feb. 26-March 3): $1.99 Butter and $0.50/lb. Potatoes

Beat the winter blues back with $1.99 butter, 18-count eggs for $2.50, and $0.50/lb. potatoes. We’ve got the best Portland grocery deals this week from 20+ stores, including WinCo, Fred Meyer, and New Seasons, plus a soul-warming Pasta e Fagioli recipe.

Free Food Resources: Groceries and Meals in Portland, Oregon and Beyond

Feb 24, 2026

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8 min read

Free Food Resources: Groceries and Meals in Portland, Oregon and Beyond

Cost of living in the Rose City is rising, but no one should go hungry. From community fridges to culturally specific pantries, here is how to navigate Portland’s decentralized web of food support with dignity.

Bryan M. Vance

How Portland’s Hot Mama Salsa Evolved To Become a Chip Company

Market of Choice Completes Acquisition of Hillsdale's Basics Market

Portland Grocery Deals (April 29-May 5, 2026): $1.99 Butter and Cinco de Mayo Carnitas

Portland Butcher Shops: The Complete Guide to the Best Meat Markets in the Metro Area

Portland Grocery Deals (April 22-28, 2026): $0.99 Eggs and New-Crop Asparagus

How An Oak Grove, Oregon, Senior Eats Well On $75 a Week

Portland Grocery Deals (April 15-21, 2026): $0.99 Eggs and Strawberries Galore

Portland, Oregon, Grocery Prices: March 2026 Saw the Biggest Drop We've Tracked in 8 Months

Portland Grocery Deals (April 8–14, 2026): $1.18/lb. Chicken Drumsticks and BOGO Flank Steaks

We Blind Taste-Tested 9 Portland-Area Store Brand Cheddars To Find the Best

Behind the Cart: Quarterlies Are Out, the Cookbook Is On, and Big Decisions Are Yours to Make

Portland Grocery Deals (April 1-7, 2026): Spiral Hams for Easter and Passover Finds

1 Store, 1 Week: Is Trader Joe's Enough for This Gresham Writer’s $100 Budget?

Portland Grocery Deals (March 25–31): Whole Chickens at $0.99/lb. + A Savers Club Card Deal

The Ultimate Guide to the Pacific Northwest's Spring Harvest

Portland Grocery Deals (March 18-24): Potatoes, Wings & Pork Shoulder Deals

Portland Grocery Prices In February 2026: 7 Months of Tracking Show What Really Matters

Portland Grocery Deals (March 11-17): St. Patrick's Day Dinners + Local Whole Chickens For $1.59/lb.

Your Complete Guide To Birthday Deals & Discounts in Portland, Oregon

Portland Grocery Deals (March 4-10): Reverse-Seared Steak & a Spring Pantry Load Up

We Tasted 11 Portland Store Brand Tortilla Chips To Find the Best

Behind the Cart March 2026: New Member Perks & Help Plan Our Next Event!

Portland, Oregon, Events for March 2026: 300+ Free & Low-Cost Things to Do

Portland Grocery Deals (Feb. 26-March 3): $1.99 Butter and $0.50/lb. Potatoes

Free Food Resources: Groceries and Meals in Portland, Oregon and Beyond

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