Shop Cheap

Get out the pen and paper, shoppers. There's a lot to report on this week.

First, we tackle the Safeway ad, which is rather complicated - but in a good way. For all of you who shop at Safeway to earn the 10-cents off a gallon of gas, get ready for some changes. Instead of getting the flat 10-cents for spending more than $50 on groceries, you will now earn reward points by shopping with your Club Card.

Here's what's new: You get 50 points for prescriptions; you earn 1 point for every $1 you spend and 2 points for every $1 you spend on gift cards (*see below for more on this). In the end, 100-points = 10-cents off per gallon; 200 points = 20 cents off, and so on.

*But, shoppers, if you need gift cards, now is the time to buy because for every $1 you spend, you earn 4 points. For example, buy a $50 gift card, get 200 points and save 20-cents per gallon of gas.

Now for the real sales...If you shop this weekend (Friday-Sunday) and spend $75 or more, you will receive a $10 off coupon for your next shopping trip. Here's how to earn that $10 off coupon:

Raspberries are buy 1, get 2 free; refreshe water is $2.88 a case and Signature Cafe pizza is $6.99 in the deli.

Eating Right boneless, skinless chicken breasts are $1.99 a pound; fresh spare ribs are $1.99lb and chuck steak is $1.99lb.

In produce, tomatoes are 99-cents a pound; seedless grapes are 99-cents a pound and a box  of Clementines is $5.99. Kiwi fruit is 3/$1; large avocados are 2/$3 and Cara Mia artichoke hearts are $1 a jar.

They are crazy for coupons this week. Here are the highlights: Nabisco snack crackers for $1.99; Oscar Mayer deli fresh lunchmeat for $2.49; Kraft sliced cheese for $2.49; Prego pasta sauce for $1.49; Goldfish crackers for $1.50; chunky soups for $1.25 and Lucerne butter for $2.79.

Quaker Quakes (mini rice cakes) are $1 a bag; Rosarita refries are 99-cents (get free tortillas when you buy 4 cans); Gatorade and Powerade are 79-cents each and Oroweat breads and English muffins are BOGO.

The Friday only $5 specials include: Signature cafe meatloaf; personal size watermelon or cantaloupe; and a chocolate chewie Bistro Cake in the bakery.

Over at Raley's they are celebrating Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16) with pork shoulder roast for $1.99lb; Tia Rosa tortillas for $1.99; shredded cheese for $4.99; and Pace picante or salsa for $2.50.

In produce, white corn is 12-cents an ear on Saturday and Sunday only. Roma tomatoes are 69-cents a pound; limes are 6/96-cents; cilantro is 4/$1; strawberries and raspberries are BOGO; melons are 2/$3 and onions are 2lbs/$1.

Clip the coupon and get Gatorade for 78 cents; 8-piece fried chicken is $4.99 in the deli. Raley's Take & Bake pizza is buy 2, get 1 free.

Save Mart has pork roast for $1.27lb; ribs for $1.57lb and tri-tip roast for $2.99lb.

The price of Bohemian Hearth bread has finally come back down to $1.99 a loaf. Barilla pastas are $1 a box; Powerade is $1 a bottle and 12-packs of soda are buy 2, get 2 free.

In produce, seedless grapes are 79-cents a pound; red bell peppers are 4/$1; Roma tomatoes are 79-cents a pound and onions are 69-cents a pound. Raspberries are BOGO; cantaloupes are 2/$4 and pears are 97-cents a pound.

Special K cereal, bars or crackers are 4/$10, plus you get a free 35-pack of Sunny Select water when you by 4 items.

Save Mart coupons include: Ramen 10/$1; Farmer John sliced ham for $2.49 and Sunny Select tomato sauce is 5/$1.

To round out the week, we must report on Sprouts' produce. Seedless grapes are 69-cents a pound; white nectarines and black plums are 88-cents a pound; beefsteak tomatoes are 88-cents a pound; apples are 88-cents a pound and corn on the cob is 4/$1. Baby peeled carrots are 88-cents a bag and leaf lettuce is 88-cents a bunch. Even organic bananas are only 88-cents a pound. Sprouts is also offering $5 off you next shopping trip when you spend $30.

Happy Shopping!