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You might have put the brakes on traveling this holiday weekend like a lot of other folks keeping a close eye on their wallet.

But fear not. You can still make your July Fourth staycation sparkle without blowing a hole in your budget.

Stores throughout the Triad are having big sales this week for your backyard barbecue and other stay-at-home, outdoor fun.

Highlights include a Banzai Titan water rocket for $39.99 at Kmart. It apparently blasts up to 100 feet in four seconds. Awesome.

You can check out some video posted on YouTube from customers, including this one at http://snipr.com/l8rk7.

Lots of kids screaming in that one. Always a good sign. Ear plugs optional.

Now, moving onto the grill. Like hot dogs? Me, too. Lots of deals on doggies out there, but this one in particular caught my eye. It's a buy one package of Hebrew National beef franks, get one free at Food Lion.

Ever had Hebrew National? I'm going to be frank here: We love 'em.

Other bargain grilling essentials include packages of ribeye steaks for $4.88 a pound (limit 4) at Food Lion and ground beef (73 percent lean) for $1.49 a pound at Compare Foods.

For beer lovers on a budget, cases of Budweiser, Miller Lite and Coors Light are $11.37 at Lowes Foods. Cheers.

For you soda drinkers out there, 24-packs of Pepsi are $5.98 at Walmart.

In the sides department, Aldi has pints of blueberries and strawberries and 4-packs of corn for 99 cents, and Lowes Foods has seedless watermelons for $2.88.

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Speaking of grilling, Consumer Reports' August issue features the best products for around the house this summer including a multitasking grill the magazine calls a "best buy."

The Fiesta Blue Ember FG50069-U409 ($450) features a side burner and a rotisserie so you can grill burgers, roast a chicken and simmer the beans.

See the manual at http://snipr.com/l8ua2.

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At ease, soldier.

Those serving our country can cast their lines or bag a deer for free in North Carolina under a new law that took effect Wednesday.

Here's the deal: If you're a state resident serving active military duty and are home on leave, you can hunt or fish without a license.

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Been playing with iPhone's No. 1 free app called Wild West Pinball.

Gameplay's a snap. You press down on the screen to launch the ball, then hit it with the left and right flippers by pressing down along the sides of the screen.

The game also allows the player to move the iPhone to simulate "tilting" the table.

My take? Not the greatest thing since sliced bread. But it's a fun way to kill some time.

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A reminder to check out my blog, Bargain Blog, to view a Google locator map regarding yard sales advertised in today's News & Record. It's posted by 9 a.m. Friday on my blog.

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Become Web savvy. Check out the Bargain Blog.

Also, subscribe to the weekly Bargain Bytes e-newsletter, which is free, at www.news-record.com/bargains.

You can also sign up for my Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/bargainblog.

Contact Mike Fuchs at 373-3465 or michael.fuchs.@news-record.com