SoDu Morning Brief: Save $20 with Local Shopping Strategies
Plus, work sessions today for Durham City Council and the Board of Education. Support Southpoint Access and benefit the Hope Valley Elementary School PTA!
Your weekday local lowdown, powered by Southpoint Access.
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☀️ South Durham Weather Forecast – Nov. 6, 2025
Looking for the latest weather update for South Durham, NC? Here's your hyperlocal SoDu forecast:
Bottom line: A classic fall day. Sunny with a high near 66°F and a light north breeze (3–7 mph).
Tonight: Clear and chilly, low around 39°F with calm wind.
What this means for your day
- Morning school run/commute: Jacket weather early (40s/low 50s).
- Midday & after-school: Comfortable in the sun - great for a walk at Piney Wood or American Tobacco Trail.
- Evening: Heaters click back on; bring pets and porch plants in if they’re cold-sensitive.
Quick checklist
Layers • sunglasses • light moisturizer/lip balm • bring in porch cushions after sunset
If this helps you plan your day, help us keep it free for South Durham.
If you’re raising kids in South Durham, this one’s for you. The first-ever SoDu Compass Family Resource Guide - a free, curated handbook with everything families need to navigate local life.
Inside, you’ll find listings for preschools, schools, youth sports, after-school activities, parks, libraries, pediatricians, and parent support groups - all focused on South Durham and nearby neighborhoods.
It’s a living resource we’ll keep updating as our community grows.
📘 Download your free copy here!
🛒 South Durham Grocery Price Check – Week of Nov. 6, 2025
Where can you stretch your grocery dollars the furthest in South Durham this week? We priced 17 everyday items - from eggs and milk to meat, pasta, and toilet paper - at nine major grocery stores serving the SoDu area.
This week’s SoDu Shopping Basket finds that the gap between the highest and lowest totals this week is A whopping $38.78 - a reminder that where you shop really matters.
🥇 Best Grocery Deal in South Durham This Week
Walmart claims the top spot again with the lowest basket price at $53.86, followed closely by Target ($54.18) and Food Lion ($54.66).
📊 Total Grocery Basket Cost by Store – Nov. 6, 2025
| Rank | Store | Total Basket Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walmart | $53.86 |
| 2 | Target | $54.18 |
| 3 | Food Lion | $54.66 |
| 4 | Harris Teeter | $56.46 |
| 5 | Wegmans | $55.85 |
| 6 | Aldi | $61.53 |
| 7 | Publix | $76.66 |
| 8 | Sprouts | $87.05 |
| 9 | Fresh Market | $92.64 |
📉 Average total across all stores: $65.88
🔍 Best Buys & Price Trends
✅ Best Buys This Week
- 🥚 Eggs under $2 at Walmart, Food Lion, and Wegmans
- 🐔 Chicken breast under $2.60/lb at Walmart, Wegmans, and Food Lion
- 🍝 Spaghetti under $1 at Walmart, Target, and Food Lion
- 🧀 Cheddar cheese for $1.94–$2 at Walmart, Target, and Food Lion
- 🍌 Bananas still under $0.60/lb at most stores
⚠️ Highest Prices Noted
- 🥩 Ground beef up to $8.49 at Sprouts, vs. $5.99 at Wegmans
- ☕ Coffee is $15.69 at Publix, more than double Wegmans’ $7.49
- 🧻 Toilet paper ranges from $5.99 (Harris Teeter) to $11.99 at Fresh Market and Wegmans
- 🥛 Milk remains $7.99 at Fresh Market — still more than double most other stores
🛍️ How to Shop Smart This Week in South Durham
- 🏆 Best all-around savings: Walmart, Target, and Food Lion
- 🍗 Best protein prices: Wegmans and Harris Teeter for meat and poultry
- 🛒 Pantry staples: Walmart, Target, and Food Lion win on pasta, cheese, and canned goods
- 🍎 Produce picks: Aldi, Walmart, and Food Lion offer competitive fruit and veggie prices
💡 Want to save $15–$20 a week? Try splitting your grocery run between Walmart or Target and Wegmans or Food Lion.
📬 Want grocery updates every Thursday?
Subscribe to Southpoint Access and get weekly comparisons, gas prices, school lunch menus, and family events - all in one place.
🛒 What’s your favorite store for savings? Hit reply and share your strategy!
Keep checking the shopping basket page on our newsletter site for updates on comparisons.
Durham Public School Lunch Today
All student meals are free. Menus include choice of milk, fresh fruit, and 100% juice. Items subject to change. Get the full week of menus here.
Southpoint Access: Supporting Hope Valley Elementary PTA
South Durham neighbors: help fund local news and local classrooms.
From now through Dec. 31, 2025, Southpoint Access will share a portion of every revenue stream with the Hope Valley Elementary PTA (HVE PTA):
- 20% of subscriptions (after standard processing fees)
- 10% of donations (after fees)
- 10% of sponsorships (net of documented hard costs)
Why it matters: Your support keeps independent, neighborhood reporting alive, and puts real dollars into classrooms, school improvement projects, and family programs at Hope Valley Elementary.
Choose How You Want to Help
- SUBSCRIBE: Quick, affordable, and the most reliable support for both local news and HVE PTA.
- DONATE: Any amount helps! 10% goes to the HVE PTA.
- SPONSOR OUR NEWSLETTERS: Local businesses can reach South Durham neighbors while giving 10% to the HVE PTA.
Thanks for helping us keep South Durham informed - and for investing in Hope Valley Elementary’s students and teachers.
Wes Platt
Neighborhood News Guy for Southpoint Access
DON'T MISS
- [VIDEO] Office Hours with Wes Platt - Changes in Durham Leadership and Empowering Schools with New Grants
- West 94th St. Pub Offering Free To-Go Thanksgiving Meals
- DPS Foundation Funds Wellness & Innovation - South Durham Schools Among Grantees
🎟️ Events in South Durham – Nov. 6
🎨 Playdough Playtime (Ages 3–6) — 11:15–11:45 a.m.
Durham County Library – Southwest Regional Library
Hands-on, squishy fun that builds fine-motor skills.
🗣️ Community Listening & Learning Session — 1–3 p.m.
Durham County Main Library
Share feedback and hear updates on community priorities.
🏛️ Durham City Council — Work Session — 1–3 p.m.
101 City Hall Plaza
Agenda previews, briefings, and discussion—no public hearings.
🦉 All Things STEAM: Let’s Learn About Birds! — 4–5 p.m.
Durham County Library – Southwest Regional Library
Kid-friendly science with feathers, flight, and fun facts.
🦃 Friendsgiving (DPR) — 5–7 p.m.
Holton Career & Resource Center
Neighborhood-style gathering with activities and community time.
📚 Durham Public Schools Board of Education — Work Session — 5:30–7:30 p.m.
511 Cleveland St
Operational updates and discussion items for DPS.
📅 More local happenings on the SoDu Events Calendar.
Have something to share? Submit using this Google Form.
🚗 Need a Traffic Update?
Check our Southpoint Access Live Traffic Map for real-time road conditions across Fayetteville Road, NC Highway 55, and I-40.
Avoid delays and plan your route smarter!
Looking for the best deals on gasoline? Check out the SoDu Fuel Tracker!
🤝 Support Our Sponsors
Local journalism in South Durham survives thanks to the generous businesses and organizations that make this work possible. 🧭
By supporting these sponsors, you’re helping Southpoint Access continue to deliver trusted, hyperlocal news and resources for our community - from school updates to neighborhood stories that keep SoDu connected.
💛 Shop local. Hire local. Support those who support Southpoint Access.
