Shop Cheap

Shop Cheap takes off for a week and returns feeling more like Old Mother Hubbard than a savvy shopper. But the family needs food so off to the market we go...

Starting at Raley's where you can get BOGO berries, cantaloupe, grape tomatoes and Fresh Express or Raley's salad blends. If you want rotisserie chicken without having to cook it, Raley's has them ready to serve at $4.98 each, when you buy 2 or more. If you'd rather cook or "Q" your chicken, Foster Farms split breasts are 99-cents a pound. Kellogg's cereal, Pop Tarts or cereal bars are $1.99 a box when you buy 4 or more and a dozen eggs are $1.98.

Minute Maid lemonade or fruit punch is $1 a carton; V-8 Fusion is $2.50 a jug and Crystal Geyser sparkling mineral water is 89-cents a bottle.A case of Aquafina drinking water is $3.99. Lundberg rice chips are $1.50 a bag; and Calidad tortilla chips are $1.29 a bag.

Corn on the cob is 5/$2;  and a 4-pack of sweet red corn is $2.99.

A 3-pack of Raley's paper towels is $2.99.

Over at Save Mart, a 2-pound container of blueberries is just $4.97; bananas are 37-cents a pound and a family-size seedless watermelon is $4.97. Earthbound Farm organic salad is BOGO as is Taylor Farms salad blends or baby spinach. Green onion, radishes or cilantro are 3/99 cents. Brussels sprouts, green beans or red bell peppers are $1.49lb and broccoli is 97-cents a pound.

London broil is $2.77lb and boneless pork chops are $1.99lb. Foster Farms fresh chicken breasts are BOGO. If you're clippin' 7-UP, A&W or Sunkist 12-packs are buy 2, get 2 free. Sunny D is $1 a jug; Johnsonville ground Italian sausage is $1.99 a pack and Busseto sliced salami is $3.99.

Sunnyside Farms sandwich bread is $1.99 a loaf; buy 10 Powerade drinks for $10 and get 5 free. A dozen large eggs at Save Mart is $1.69 and OJ or grapefruit juice is $2 a jug.

We're shopping Safeway for their coupons, 4-day and Friday only sales. The 4-day offerings include corn on the cob 6/$1; Kraft mac & cheese for 75-cents a box and Italian sausage for $2.99. Coupons worth clipping: SoBe Lifewater for 69-cents; 8-packs of little Cokes for $2.49; Powerade for 69-cents; dog or burger buns for 99-cents and a major jug of Tropicana OJ for $3.49. Other coupons include Oscar Mayer deli meats for $2.49; General Mills cereal for $1.79 and ice cream treats for $2.49.

In produce, hot house tomatoes, green beans and red bell peppers all are 99-cents a pound. Celery is $1 a bunch; cucumbers are $1 each and cantaloupe or honeydew are BOGO.

Refreshe water is $3 a case; 12-packs of soda are buy 2, get 2 free and you get a pack of Oreos, too. Butter and milk are still off the charts. A gallon of Dairy Glen milk is $2.99 when you buy 2 and Lucerne butter is $3.

Safeway has a nice price on fresh Salmon fillets -  $5.99 a pound in the value pack.

Mix & Match items are buy 4, save $4. They include Smuckers jams; Folgers coffee; Crisco and Pillsbury cake mixes.

The $5 Friday only specials include the All-American sub sandwich; 4 pounds of fresh strawberries; and Sugar Bowl petite brownie bites or Madelines.

Worth a note: Henry's and Sprouts farmers markets have merged and their combo ad is now appearing in The Bee. If you live near a Henry's or a Sprouts, it's definitely worth a visit. Their produce is quite reasonable. This week berries are 99-cents a basket; cherries are $1.99lb and California peaches are 88-cents a pound.

Extra large eggs are $1.50 a dozen. Extra lean ground beef is $2.99lb and marinated carne asada is $2.99lb. And those are just the highlights.

If you are going to the State Fair this Thursday (it's Thrifty Day!) be sure at stop at The Bee booth in Building C. Since it's Thrifty Day, Shop Cheap will be there!