Shop Cheap

Before we get going on this week's BOGO bonanza, a few words about Sunflower Farmers Market, the newest arrival on the grocery scene.

Sunflower opened last Wednesday in Roseville Square, home to Trader Joes and Wise Buys. Shop Cheap visited on Saturday, along with many other shoppers. Yep, the store was crowded and very, very similar to Sprouts, which opened last month a couple of miles away on the Roseville/Rocklin border. These two stores could be sisters - they are so much alike. Both call themselves Farmers Markets and both have lots of fresh produce, meat and deli counters and a good supply of organic and specialty items. As far as location goes, we give the nod to Sunflower. But for size and ease of shopping, we like Sprouts better. After that, there's not much difference between the two stores.

Now for the skinny on this week's savings. To be honest, it depends on where you like to shop because each store has items to buy for.

Let's take Safeway, for example. They are going BOGO...but you have to be careful. Lots of times they inflate the single-item price so that you think you're getting a great deal. Just be sure you check before you check out. For example, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes are BOGO. A single box of flakes is $4.49, which means you are paying $2.25 a box for the BOGO.

That said, here's the BOGOs we'd buy: Berries, Ball Park franks, Ruffles chips, grape tomatoes; Kraft cheese and A&H laundry detergent. Safeway's also advertising items for 99-cents or less . They include: Eating Right baby carrots, Bush's black beans, Clif bars, Knorr rice sides and Lucerne Greek yogurt.

The Friday-Monday sale items include Signature Cafe chicken tenders for $4.99; a case of refreshe water for $2.88; Safeway salsa for $1.79 and hickory smoked bacon for $2.99lb.

If you like Milton's bread, its $2.99 a loaf; English muffins are $1.50 a pack and cinnamon rolls in the bakery are $1.99.

In produce, 'chokes are $1 each; navel oranges are 99-cents a pound and cherries have arrived but they are a bit pricey at $3.99lb.

The $5 Friday only specials include: Signature Cafe whole roasted chicken; a 24-pack of Pepsi; a 10-pack of StarKist chunk light tuna and for the first time - a bouquet of fresh flowers.

Grabbing the cart and heading into Raley's, we like their 10 items or more for $1.50 special. All we have to do for this one is count to 10 and there's plenty to choose from: General Mills cereal, Chex Mix, Betty Crocker cake mix and Bisquick. Old El Paso taco shells and Progresso bread crumbs.

Raley's natural boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are $1.97lb; red potatoes are 77-cents a pound; bell peppers are 2/$1 and a 2lb bag of onions is $1.77. Raley's also has fresh cherries aor $3.97lb. Our favorite deal is the case of Crystal Geyser spring water for $2.98.

There's lots to like in produce. Blueberries are $3.97; Sonya aookes are $1.27lb; corn on the cob is 5/$2 and apricots are $1.97lb.

Driving to Save Mart just got a little easier because of their fuel promotion. Last week, the fine print was a little too fine. But this week, we have more of the details. Here's what the ad says: "Save Mart Rewards is a free program that rewards you with savings on fuel when you buy qualified products at participating stores." Shoppers can earn 5-cents off per gallon of fuel for every $50 spent. Here's the important part: "You don't need to spend $50 in one visit - we'll keep track of the spending for you." The fuel rewards can be redeemed at participating Shell locations.

Now, let's start spending so that we can save on fuel! Here's what we like: Aquafina drinking water for $3.50 a case; Dannon yogurt 10/$5; Jet Dry for $3.99 and Lysol cleaners for $2. Girard's salad dressing is $2.99 and Hunts tomatoes are $1 a can. The weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) sale includes ground beef patties for $2.49lb; strawberries for 97-cents a pound and Tropicana OJ - in the 89oz. jug for $2.99.

In produce, Iceberg lettuce is 37-cents a head; berries are 2/$5; 'chokes are 2/$1; Italian squash is 67-cents a pound and radishes, cilantro or green onions are 33-cents each

Smart Ones frozen entrees or desserts are $1.88 each; chunk chicken in the can is $2.69 and Don Francisco's coffee is $4.99. It had to happen - Bohemian Hearth bread, which had been under $2 a loaf since Shop Cheap started nearly 2 years ago, is now $2.19. But Sunnyside Farms eggs are only $1.50 a dozen and Minute Maid OJ is buy 2, get 1 free.

Coupons worth clipping include Top Ramen 10/$1; Aidells chicken sausage for $3.99 and Hinode long grain rice for $1.99.

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