Shop Cheap

Let's face it, this week is about costumes and candy - at least until Saturday. To make life easier on Halloween, we'll cut to the chase and tell you that Safeway's Friday $5 special is pizza. Raley's has a Take & Bake pizza for $6.49  and 8-piece fried chicken in the deli is $5.99 (both are available all week). If you're planning to invite the neighborhood, Savemart has a 50-piece chicken meal for $37.99 and pumpkin pies for $5. If it's tradition to have cereal before trick'or'treating, head over to Vic's Markets where most varieties are $1.99 a box.

Now for the other stuff.

SAFEWAY: Let''s promise to get some fresh fruit so that it's not an all-candy weekend. Apples are 88-cents a pound for Fuji or organic Braeburn and Texas red grapefruit is 79-cents each. Pomegranates are BOGO and pears are $1.29 a pound. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are $1.99 a pound, lean (93%) ground beef is $3.99 a pound and fresh Atlantic salmon filets are $5.99 a pound. Safeway has a bunch of BOGO  items including, Keebler cookies or Cheez-Its, sliced bacon, Nathan's beef franks, Steak-umm sliced steaks, Smithfield smoked sausage links, Minute Maid or Florida's Natural orange juice, 12-packs of Coke or 7-UP; Oroville Redenbacher's microwave popcorn; frozen orange juice and waffles; butter top breads, Breyers ice cream and Safeway Select vitamins. Arrowhead water is $3.99 a case; Campbell's and Progresso soups are $1 a can and pumpkin pies are $3.99. The 8-hour weekend sale includes Yoplait multi-packs for $2.99; Betty Crocker cake mix for 59-cents each; a 10-pound back of Russett potatoes for $1.99 and a 4-pound bag of frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $7.16.

RALEY'S/BELAIR: You can get apples (88-cents a pound for organic red or golden delicious) here, too. Broccoli crowns are 77-cents a pound and large artichokes are $1 each. Avocados are $1 each and butternut, spaghetti or acorn squash is 99-cents a pound. Pears are $1.29 a pound and pomegranates are 2/$3. Dr. Pepper is $1 for 2-liters; Crystal Geyser spring water is $3.99 a case and Martinelli's sparkling cider is $2 a bottle. Large eggs (18-count) are $2.49 and milk is still the best bargain at 2 gallons of non-fat for $4.29. In frozen foods, Michelina's budget gourmet entrees are 79-cents each and Campbell's chunky soups are 2/$3.

SAVEMART has a deal on avocado - 69 cents each - and Roma tomatoes - 79-cents a pound. Washington state apples are $1.29 a pound; large pomegranates are 2/$4 and raspberries (12 oz) and strawberries (2lbs) are $4.99 each. Martinelli's sparkling cider is $2 a bottle and Sunny Select drinking water is $3.50 a case. Gallo sliced salame is $4.99 a pound and large eggs (18-count) are $3. Sunnyside Farms cottage cheese is $1.99 a carton and shredded cheese is $2 a bag. Green Giant veggies are $1 a can; Marie Callender's salad dressing is $2 a bottle, English muffins are $1.99 a pack and General Mills cereals are $2 a box..

FOODS CO. has the deals this week. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are $1.87 a pound; large eggs (18-count) are $2.50 and an 8-pack of Yoplait yogurt is $3.98. One-pound chunks of Joseph Farms cheese are $3.50 each; large Hass avocados are 57-each and large boxes of General Mills cereals are 2/$6. 7-UP or Sunkist soda is 88-cents for a 2-liter jug. Rome apples are 2lbs/98-cents; fresh whole pineapple is $1.98; kiwi is 4/$1 and Nissin cup noodles are 10/$3. Wishbone salad dressing is 2/$4; Challenge or Danish butter is $2.98 a pound; a twin pack of Layton Farms bread is $1.98 and Take'n'Bake pizza is $5.98.

VIC'S MARKETS (Folsom and Fulton Ave.): The deal of the week - by far - is the sale on cereal at $1.99 a box (use the coupon inside and get another $3 off if you buy 5 Quaker varities). Other items worth noting include Crystal Geyser water for $3.99 a case; Anderson's soups for $1.39 a can and Michelina's budget entrees for 99-cents each.

And, lastly, for all you last-minute shoppers, Halloween candy:

Safeway: Reese's, KitKat, Hershey's or Mars fun size bars $1.50 a bag (Wed-Friday)

Raleys: Hershey's, KitKat or Reese's for $1.88 a bag.

Savemart: Buy 4 bags get one Free.

Come back tomorrow for recipes that will take the edge off all that candy.