Shop Cheap

 Hard to ignore all the changes to the shopping scene - from front page headlines to farmers market mergers, but Shop Cheap is just going to concentrate on getting the most for our money.

There are a couple things going on where you need to make sure you're reading the fine print. Safeway has taken to offering a BOGO alternative - buy 2, get 1 free - and if you don't look closely, you won't see the difference. This week, Raley's is offering the "spend $75, get $10 off your next purchase" promo. It's only available Friday-Sunday and must be redeemed by June 17. Save Mart has 2 coupons worth noting: One is for a 6th package of meat free when you buy 5 and the other is for a free bottle of olive oil. Both require a $25 store purchase.

Here are the other highlights:

Raley's: Blueberries are cheapest here. $5.99 for a 2lb container. Cherry tomatoes are 2/$5 and personal watermelons are 2/$5. Cherries are $3.99lb and corn on the cob is 5/$2.

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are $1.99lb and fresh Sierra trout is $3.99lb. Chicken strips in the deli are $4.99lb.

Coupons include Gatorade for 89-cents; Pasta or Rice Roni for 78 cents; Minute Maid OJ for $2.49 and Crystal Geyser gallon jugs for 88-cents. Mother's Cookies are $1.99.

Propel waters are 2/$1 and a case of Crystal Geyser is $3.49. Chobani Greek yogurt is $4.99 for a 32oz. container. Clif and MoJo bars are $1 each.

Nob Hill Trading Co. Jalapeno cheese gocaccia is BOGO and you can try it before you buy it this weekend.

Save Mart has a pick 5 for $25 meat, poultry and seafood sale. Items include steak, ribs, chicken breasts and raw prawns. Clip the coupon and get a 6th for free. Other good buys include cherries for $2.67lb and seedless grapes for 97-cents a pound. Kellogg's cereal is buy 3, get 3 free. Works out to $1.88 a box. Breyers ice cream is BOGO.

A 10 items for $10 sale includes Hunt's ketchup, tomatoes and pasta sauce; Rosarita refries and Golden Grain pasta.

EarthGrains bread is $2.50 a loaf; Sunnyside Farms bread is $1.50 a loaf. Nestle or Arrowhead water is $3.33 a case.

In produce, red bell peppers are 3/99-cents; Roma tomatoes are 79-cents a pound and Driscoll's berries are 2/$5.

Over at Safeway, the seedless grapes are 99-cents and jumbo cantaloupes are BOGO. Whole Foster Farms chicken is 99-cents a pound and Nathan's franks are BOGO. But both Golden Grain pasta and Safeway peanut butter are buy 2, get 1 free.

If you got your $10 off reward coupon last week, don't forget to use it. There's also a promo for 2 free movie tickets when you purchase $40 in participating items. They include Kozy Shak pudding (BOGO); Fage Greek yogurt - $1 each; Simply potaotes 2/$4 and Kraft philly cream cheese $1.99.

Arrowhead or Nestle water is $3.50 a case; Caprisun is $1.99 and Ocean Spray cocktail drinks are 2/$4. Yoplait yogurt is 10/$5. If you're clippin' Lucerne large eggs are 99-cents a dozen; Pillsbury cookie dough, cinnamon or crescent rolls are $1.99 and Listerine is $3.99.

Friday $5 specials: Whole roasted chicken, Primo Taglio ham or Muenster cheese and Jennie-O ground turkey.

The 4-day, Friday-Monday specials include Open Nature sliced bread for $2.29; Safeway Select coffee for $5.99; BOGO string cheese and Gatorade 8-packs for $3.99.

Also be sure to check out the June issue of Relish magazine in Wednesday's paper. Lot's of great salad recipes for the warm days ahead.