Shop Cheap

This is the week we focus on the sweet savings. If you are crunched for time, not to worry. The Big 3 - and all the other stores, too - have everything you need to fix a special meal for that special someone...or at least get her some flowers!

Seriously, you can get everything from chocolate-dipped strawberries to a bouquet of roses or a complete dinner for 2 while filling your cart with the weekly essentials. Here's what we like this week:

Raley's has a 4-pack of delicious looking hand-dipped strawberries for $10. They also have hand-dipped caramel apples but I don't get the love there. Too hard to eat. Other sweets for your sweetie includce decorated cookies for $4.29 and cupcakes for $5.99. Then there's the mousse cake for $7.79 and a single layer Valentine cake for $5.99. Want to set the mood? Duraflame logs are $17.99 with coupon.

New York steak is $5.99lb; lobster tails are $6.99 each. Or you can order the complete meal for $59.99 - salad; sides; dessert and filet mignon or chicken ravioli ($39.99).

Whole Foster Farms chicken is 89-cents a pound. To go with, there's asparagus for $1.99lb; bell peppers for 99-cents each; Idaho potatoes, 5lbs for $1.99 and Haggen-Dazs for $2.99 with coupon.

Shop Cheap is sure you had your fill of chips on Sunday so we are going with the Quaker rice Quakes for $1 a bag. Mix & Match 10 items (General Mills cereal, Betty Crocker pancake mix, Chex Mis; Old El Paso taco shells and Progresso) and they will cost you $1.50 each. Otherwise, it's $2.

If you want to make it real simple, grab an already-cooked rotisserie turkey breast for $6.99 and a Taylor Farms chopped salad for $3. Dove chocolates and Hershey's kisses are $3 a bag.

Over at Save Mart, ribeye steaks are $5.77lb; boneless, skinless chicken breasts are $1.67lb and boneless cross rib roast is $2.49lb. Over in the bakery, Strawberry Boston cakes are $8.99 and Dove chocolates are $2.50 a bag.

In produce, fresh berries are BOGO; seedless grapes are 97-cents a pound and sweet pears are 97-cents a pound, too. Red or green bell peppers are 69-cents each; apples are 97-cents a pound and asparagus is $1.97lb.

Buy 3 boxes of Kellogg's cerea; amd get 3 boxes free - works out to $1.50 each. Sunnyside Farms eggs are $2.29 for 18; Crystal Geyser water is $3.33 a case and 2-liter jugs of Pepsi, Dew or Dr. Pepper are 4/$4. Sunny Select brands are a good buy. Canned tomatoes are 79 cents; beans are 89 cents and string cheese is $2.99.

If you're clippin', Sunny Select chicken noodle soupe is 2/$1; Old Orchard juices are 2/$3 and Uncle Ben's ready rice is 2/$3. Gallo salami is $4.99.

Safeway has your Valentine covered with their own hand-dipped strawberries for $6.99; decorated cupcakes for $6.99 and a fruit tart for $12.99. A chocolate torte topped with berries is $9.99 and a tiramisu bar cake is $10.99.

Rancher's Reserve ribeye steak is $4.99lb; whole Foster Farms chicken is 89-cents a pound and ground turkey is BOGO. If you like to Mix & Match, Safeway has a BOGO sale for you. There are 12 items that you can buy one and get one free, including: Johnsonville smoked Brats; Oscar Mayer lunchmeat; sliced bacon; beef franks and Foster Farms grilled chicken strips.

Dungeness crab has gone up in price to $7.99lb but you can buy an 8oz container of Waterfront bistro lump meat for $8.99.

Oroweat breads are BOGO; Safeway Kitchen sandwich bread is $1.50 a loaf. Refreshe water is $3.33 a case.

But when it comes to shopping for your sweetie, you best bet is probably the daily specials at Safeway. From Friday through Valentine's Day, lobster tails are $5 each. On Friday, the $5 specials include Boston Cream cakes (strawberry or chocolate); whole roasted chicken; an 18oz container of blueberries or blackberries and 128 ounces of Minute Maid OJ.

Add in the Friday-Sunday specials and you're talking asparagus for 99-cents a pound; Red Velvet cake for $6.99 and Froot Loops or Frosted Flakes for $1.99.

On Monday, there's a special Valentine bistro cake for $6.99; baby back ribs for $5 and PF Chang's or Bertolli dinner for 2 for $5.

Cheetos and Fritos are BOGO, Milano cookies are, too. In the coupon catergory, check out the Nestle cookie dough for $1.99; 18 Lucerne large eggs for $2.49; Minute Maid OJ $3.99 for 89-ounces and Lean Cusine meals for $1.99.

In produce Lady Alice apples from Washington are $1.99lb; hot house tomatoes are $1.99lb; broccoli is 99-cents a pound and strawberries are $3.99 for 2 pounds.

Have a sweet week..xxoo

Ah, what might have been. We really should be planning red and gold Super Bowl parties. Instead, we'll have to watch and wait until next year. But just because we don't have a Northern California team in the Super Bowl doesn't mean we aren't going to find super savings at the grocery store. It just would have been a lot more fun.

If you're eating healthy, this isn't the ad week for you. Lots of chips, guac, BOGO soda and pizza. There is the veggie tray but that's so not football!

Here's what we like this week.

We're stopping at Safeway first for that 5-day sale (Wed.-Sun) and the $10 reward coupon  when you spend $75 or more. In addition to that incentive, Safeway is advertising daily specials ranging from Tostitos ($1.69) and Pepsi (88-cents) on Wednesday to chicken wings ($6.99), deli salad ($3.99) and 20 cans of Coke for $5 on Sunday.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are $1.99lb; lean ground beef is $2.99lb and Nathan's beef franks are BOGO. Oscar Mayer dogs are buy 1, get 2 free!

Avocados are 50-cents each; vine-ripe tomatoes are $1.49lb;  and a 5lb. bag of potatoes is $2.50.

5-day specials include Signature Cafe baby back ribs for $5; 8-piece cooked chicken for $5.99; Ritz crackers for $1.99 and a dozen donuts for $3.99..See what we mean about eating healthy.

Wholly Guacamole is BOGO in the deli; cole slaw is $2.49lb. There's a whole page of coupons, including Skippy peanut butter for $2.99; Kellogg's cereal for $1.99; General Mills cereal for $1.88 and Mission tortillas for $1.49. Fresh Express salad blends are $3.99; Safeway buns are 99-cents  and a big jug of Welch's grape juice is $1.99.

BOGO mix & match items include Hillshire Farm packaged meat; Mt. Olive pickles; Safeway Select salsa; and French's mustard.

Safeway Kitchens whole wheat bread; Guerrero tortillas; brown rice; Safeway apple juice, Nabisco crackers, Quaker instant oatmeal and a 4lb bag of Navel oranges are all buy one, get one free.

A case of Arrowhead water is $3.50.

Save Mart knows what it's doing when it advertises avocado 3/99-cents. Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest day for guac on the planet. They also have fresh crab meet in a 16oz container for $7.77 and Ball Park franks for $1.99.

Roma tomatoes are 37-cents a pound; grape tomatoes and Fresh Express salads are BOGO. Bell peppers, cucumbers, green onions, radishes, cilantro and Italian parsley are all 2/$1. Baby lemons and limes are 5/$1 and a 5lb bag of apples is $3.99. Berries are BOGO, too.

Lay's chips are BOGO, Pepsi 12-packs are buy 2, get 3 free. Coke 12-packs are buy 2, get 2 free. Nabisco and Ritz crackers are $1.99. Fresh baby carrots are $1.99 for a 2lb bag.

A slab of ribs in the deli is $10.99 and fresh potato salad in $2.99lb.

Got the game face on as we head to Raley's. First purchase - Dungeness crab for $5.99lb. Next, a couple of take and bake pizzas 2/$10. Raley's tri-tip is $2.99lb; 8-piece fried chicken is $4.99 (includes a free liter of Pepsi) and a veggie tray for $4.99. A meat and veggie tray is $8.99 If you're making stuffed potato skins, the Russet variety is 49-cents a pound and there's a recipe at www.raleys.com

Lots of BOGOs in produce. They include avacados; fresh pico de gallo; Marie's dip and pistachios. Fresh limes are 5/$1; kiwi is 99-cents a pound; blueberries are BOGO and cucumbers are 69-cents each.

In the deli, Sabras Hummus is BOGO and hot soups are $1 off. The bakery has game day cakes for $14.99. If you'd rather socialize than cook, slow-cooked ribs are $7.99 when you buy 2 or more and family pack cookies are guy 2, get 1 free.

Not into the game? Sunday will be a perfect day to go to the movies, dine at your favorite restaurant or go somewhere that's normally crowded. It won't be from 2-7, guaranteed.

We start this week with a milestone for Save Mart - 60 years in the grocery biz. They opened their first store in Modesto on Jan. 17, 1952. To celebrate, the company is holding an online sweepstakes where one lucky winner will get free groceries for a year. (Works out to 52 $100 store gift cards). To enter, go to www.savemart.com

Other prizes include weekly drawings for $500 in free groceries. If you're not planning on winning any contest, here's what we like this week:

At Save Mart: BOGO blueberries; apples for 57-cents a pound; oranges for 57 cents a pound; a 4-pack of avocado for $1.97 and tomatoes for 97-cents a pound. If you've got a craving for eggplant parmesean, the deep purple veg is 2/$3.

Petite sirloin roast is $2.99lb; bags of Gallo salame or pepperoni are 2/$7.

Hansen's Apple juice is $2.28 a jug and Bayview Farms OJ is $3.59 for 128 ounces. But 2 cans of Sunny Select diced tomatoes and get a free package of Sunnyside Farms shredded cheese. The brands challenge this week: buy Nabisco saltines and get a free box of Sunny Select crackers. Also, buy a can of Progresso soup and get a free can of Sunny Select chunky soup.

If you're clippin' Farmer John ham steaks are $1.49; Foster Farms chicken breast strips are $1.99; Johnsonville ground Italian sausage is $2.49 and Sunny Select tomato sauce is 5/$1.

Since we're talking years in the grocery biz, can't not mention Raley's, which has been around for 75 years. That's quite a feat for both companies!

This week, Raley's is advertising deal days - a special coupon for each day of the week. Wednesday: $1.99 for a case of water; 69-cent Cokes on Thursday; $1.49 for a bag of tomatoes on Friday; 99-cents for fresh mushrooms on Saturday; 99-cent salad blends on Sunday; $1.99 for Best Foods mayo on Monday and 99-cents for Nabisco crackers on Tuesday.

Other stuff we like: Nob Hill Trading Co. soups are $3.99 when you buy 2 or more; 12-packs of Coke are buy 2 - get 2 free. Arm & Hammer liquid laundry detergent is BOGO; Viva paper towels are $1.99 with coupon and Angel Soft tissue is $5.99 for 12-double rolls.

In produce, oranges are 79-cents a pound; yellow onions are 69-cents a pound and baby potatoes are 2 bags for $5. Roma tomatoes are 99-cents a pound.

In the bakery, dessert for 2 is BOGO and fresh baguettes are $1.89. If you are planning ahead, Raley's chefs are preparing Valentine's meals for 2. $39.99 for chicken & raviolil; $59.99 for Filet Mignon & crab. Both are $5 off if you order online.

Last stop is Safeway where Oscar Mayer lunchmeat is BOGO. Open Nature sandwich bread is $1.50 a loaf and Chips Ahoy! cookies or Nabisco saltines are BOGO, too.

In produce, apples are 99-cents a pound; salad blends are 2/$4; berries are 2/$5 and oranges are 99-cents a pound.

Those weekend sales continue. The $5 Friday only items include Hillshire Farm Lit'l smokies; deli ham off the bone or Provolone cheese; 2-pounds of strawberries and Safeway paper towels or bath tissue.

The Fri-Sunday sales include deli ham, turkey or American cheese for $4.99; Classico Pasta sauce for $1.79; fresh pineapple for $1.99 and Powerade for 69-cents. On $5 Monday, there's Seattle's Best Coffee and Minute Maid OJ.

Other stuff we like at Safeway: Oroweat English muffins or sandwich thins are BOGO; and cinnamon rolls in the bakery are $1.99 for 6.

In the $1 or less category, there's toothpase and mouthwash; tissue; Safeway soups and French wheat bread in the bakery. For $2 or less: Ultra detergent; OJ; baby peeled carrots and a bag of oranges.

That's about it for this week.

Tip No. 1: If you are shopping for goodies for Sunday's NFC Championship game, do so on Friday or Saturday. Do not go to the grocery store before the game on Sunday. That's when all the chips & beer people do their shopping.

Tip No. 2: If you have no interest whatsoever in football, go shopping after 3:30 on Sunday. You will have the store to yourself. There won't be any snack foods, but that's a small price to pay.

Tip No. 3: Read this, save money.:

Safeway and Save Mart both are advertising blueberries - buy 1, get 2 free. Final cost at Safeway is $7.98 for 3- 6oz containers, which isn't a huge bargain. Save Mart has both blueberries and blackberries at the buy 1, get 2 free price. But guess what, you'd be better off get one 18oz container at Raley's for $3.99.

Need cereal? Safeway's mix&match sale is 4 boxes for $10. Oroweat Italian or Safeway Kitchen breads are $2 a loaf; Open Nature English muffins are $2 a pack.

In produce, Fresh Express salads are 99-cents a bag; bell peppers are 99-cents each and oranges are 69-cents a pound. Large avocados are $1.50 each - they're cheaper by 50-cents at Save Mart.

Safeway has coupons - more than a page worth - so we are only going to hit the highlights. Minute Maid OJ in the 89-oz bottle is $3.99; 2-liter Canada Dry ginger ale or 7-Up is 88-cents; Pantene hair care is $3.49; Listerine mouthwash is $3.99 and Ultra detergent is $3.49.

The $5 Friday specials are: 8-piece chicken; a pound of cooked shrimp; a pound of Sara Lee deli meat or cheese; Raspberry-Almond Bistro cake in the bakery; and 24-packs of Pepsi. The 3-day, Friday-Sunday sale has chicken tenders for $5.99; BOGO boxes of jumbo cookies; a case of refreshe water for $2.99 and grape tomatoes for 99-cents.

If you're having a group over, check out the Safeway insert.There you will find even more coupons like sandwich rolls for $1.49; Safeway OJ for  $3.49; Mission flour tortillas for $1.79 and $5 off Deli party trays. Ball Park Franks and Hillshire Farm smoked sausage and Ruffles chips are BOGO.

Heading over to Save Mart, their 3-day weekend sale has extra large raw prawns for $6.97lb; fresh asparagus for 99-cents a pound and 8-piece fried chicken for $5.99. Buy 3 boxes of Kelloggs cereal, bars or crackers for $9 and get a free case of Nestle or Arrowhead water.

If you're making guac on Sunday, get the avocado at Save Mart where they are $1 each. Green onions, cilantro, radishes or parsley are 2/$1 and apples are 97-cents a pound.

Bohemian Hearth bread is $1.99 a loaf; Tropicana OJ is $2.88. Save Mart continues to promote the national brand challenge. Buy a 67-oz bottle of La Victoria salsa and get a 70oz bottle of the Sunny Select brand for free. The same goes for Rosarita refries.

If you're clippin', Barilla pasta sauce is $1.98; Sunny Select apple juice is 2/$3 and cans of chili are 99-cents.

In the bakery, a container of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies is $3.99 and fresh Sourdough is $2.99.

Last stop on our weekly shopping tour is Raley's. If you are planning on some meaty meals, check out their mix&match sale. Select packages of pork, beef, chicken and shrimp are BOGO. Raley's also has an entire supplement on Chinese New Year.

Coupons include Campbell's Select Harvest soup for 99-cents; Marie Callender's or Healthy Choice meals foar $1.89 and Gatorade for 89-cents.

In produce, Fuji apples are 99-cents a pound; oranges are 69-cents a pound; asparagus is $1.99lb and bananas are 68-cents a pound. Tomatoes on the vine are $1.98lb and avocados are 4/$5.

That's it for this week. Go Niners!!! 

You probably heard that the Grocery Outlet at the corner of Sierra College and Douglas in Granite Bay/Roseville is closing to make way for a Walmart Grocery store.

The closing is more than a headline now because they are officially holding at "store closing" sale. Everything at the location is 10% to 20% off and by the way shoppers were filling their carts on Sunday, you'd better get there in a hurry if you want to do some bargain shopping.

As of Sunday, they still had plenty of stock - everything from breakfast cereal to bed comforters. Even their vast selection of wines is marked down. Word in the aisles, however, is that the Grocery Outlet plans to relocate somewhere in Roseville. In the meantime, it's a great place to Shop Cheap until the doors close in mid-February.

Want to save a nice chunk of change this week? 1. Don't forget to use your $10 rewards coupon that you got at Safeway last week. It's good through Sunday. 2. Shop Raley's this weekend and earn another $10 rewards coupon when you spend $75 or more. That coupon is good until next Sunday, Jan. 22.

Here's what tops the list this week:

Safeway has Foster Farms fresh whole chickens for 89-cents a pound; boneless crossrib roast for $2.49lb.

In produce, an 18-oz basket of blueberries is $3.99; avocados are 88-cents each; Gala or Granny Smith apples are 88-cents a pound and Iceberg lettuce is $1.50 a head. Mann's snack trays are $1 each.

Those crazy weekend sales include: $5 Friday - Signature Cafe chicken wings and pizza; Star olive oil; Hormel pork tenderloin and Bertolli dinner for 2. The 3-day, Friday-Sunday specials include Bing cherries for $1.99lb; BOGO bakery muffins and Foster Farms lean ground turkey; and an 8-pack of Yoplait yogurt for $3.77. The " $5 Monday Madness" includes frozen salmon fillet; Wrights hickory smoked sausage; Signature Cafe soups (2-15oz cups); and a 20-pack of Coke.

If you're clippin', Quaker cereal and chewy granola bars are $1.88; Hormel lunchmeat is $2.49; a 12-pack of Lipton teas are $3.99 and a 24-oz container of soup is $3.49. Kraft Philly cream cheese is BOGO with coupon.

A crazy thing is happening with cereal. Cheerios now come in a whole lot of flavors like chocolate, banana nut and dulce de leche. Cinnamon toast crunch is now frosted and Kellogg's has introduced a cereal called "Krave" that is shredded wheat filled with chocolate. They all are going for $2.99 a box.

To earn that $10 off coupon at Raley's here's a few suggestions. Their 2-day Sat. & Sun. sale has Fresh Express garden salad for 79 cents and a 3lb bag of Clementines for $2.79.

Boneless pork sirloin or chops is $1.99 and a BBQ beef tri tip in the deli is $9.99. Coupons worth clipping include 12-pack of Coke for $3.33; Del Monte canned veggies for 79-cents and Eggo waffles or pancakes for $1.99.

A case of Arrowhead water is $3.99; Nestle water is $3.49 a case when you buy 2.

In produce, apples are 69-cents a pound; green bell peppers are 2/$1; blood oranges are 99-cents a pound and blueberries are BOGO.

Buy 2 stir fry entrees in the Wok and age a third free.

Save Mart has a 3-day sale that includes 49er sausage or fresh bratwurst for $2.99; party wings in the deli for $4.99lb and avocado at 3/99-cents.

Campbell's chicken noodle or tomato soup is BOGO; Prego pasta sauce is $1.88 a jar. Foster Farms chicken breasts are BOGO as is Al Fresco chicken sausage.

They are continuing with their brands challenge. If you buy a national brand item, Save Mart will give you one of their brands free. Buy La Victoria salsa and get Sunny Select salsa free. Buy a can of Rosarita refries, get a can of Sunny Select refries free. Buy 3 jugs of Pepsi or Dew and get a bag of Doritos free.

In produce, berries are BOGO; leaf lettuce is 69-cents a head; bell peppers are 3/99-cents and Roma tomatoes are 97-cents a pound. Fuji apples are 97-cents a pound and bagged spinach is 2/$3.

I know grocery gurus mean well, but how about just one sale that lasts all week? Can't handle the Friday Only this and the Saturday-Sunday that. The only day that doesn't have a special sale designation is Tuesday. Time to simplify the savings, please.

Safeway is the store with a special just about every day. There's the Wednesday ad; the 3-day (Friday-Sunday) specials; the $5 Friday only specials; the Monday Madness specials and the Wednesday-Sunday $10 reward coupon for shopping. How is a busy shopper suppose to keep it all straight? Here goes:

For the weekly specials we like the Mix & Match meat sale. Buy 1 item, get another free...the classic BOGO. Choices are London broil; bonelss skinless chicken parts; boneless pork chops and 93% lean ground beef. In the regular BOGO buys, there are blueberries and blackberries; Fresh Express salads; Open Nature breads; Safeway apple juice; brown rice; Post Honey Bunches of Oats; 3lb bags of apples and Safeway Kitchens whole wheat bread.

The $5 Friday specials include Whole Roasted Chicken; Boston Cream Cake in the bakery; 24-pack of Pepsi and a box of California Clementines. Add to that the Friday-Sunday specials and you can pick up Progresso soups - buy 2, get 3 free; Yuban or Maxwell House coffee for $7.99; sliced turkey or cheese in the deli for $5.99lb; Lucerne butter for $2.50 and BOGO Quaker Oats. When $5 Monday comes around, there's a 20-pack of Coke; Signature Cafe pizza; Snapple and Jumbo Diapers!

There are plenty of coupons, but no outstanding bargains.

Over at Save Mart, there's a Mix and Match 5 for $25 meat sale. Items include Foster Farms boneless breast fillets; ground turkey and skinless chicken breasts. Also, lean ground beef; boneless New York steaks; boneless pork chops and ribs. Sounds like a pretty good deal.

Other stuff we like at Save Mart: BOGO strawberries and single serve salads. Bell peppers and cucumbers are 3/99-cents; tangerines are 69-cents a pound and baby lemons or limes are 6/96-cents. 5 pound bags of apples are $3.97. Tomatoes on the vine are $1.99 for a 14oz package.

Sunnyside Farm yogurt is 10/$5; Oroweat sandwich thins are BOGO and Nabisco saltines are 3/$5.

Save Mart has an interesting BOGO offer, which challenges shoppers to purchase a name brand item and get the same item in their brand for free. Choices include a Colgate toothbrush; Quaker instant oatmeal and Quaker Oats.

Bohemian Hearth bread is back under $2 a loaf. On Mondays, you can get chicken tenders in the deli for $3.99lb.

Raley's 2-day weekend sale includes cherries for $2.49lb; Fresh Express salads for 50% off and Russet potatoes 4lbs for $1.

Weekly specials that we like: boneless skinless chicken breasts for $1.88lb and boneless pork chops for $2.99lb. Progresso soups are $1 a can; Nob Hill gourmet soups are $4 in the deli.

An 18oz container of blueberries is $4.99 and large oranges are 79-cents a pound.

Skinny Cow ice cream treats are $3.99 a box. Coupons worth clipping include Jif peanut butter for $2; Lean Cuisine for $1.88 and Lunchables for $1.69.

That's the skinny on this week's ads. Hopefully, it won't be so complicated next week.

 It's New Year's so let's get messy and have some cioppino. Dungeness crab - which took a while to get here - is plentiful. Prawns, scallops and white fish are easy to find and Raley's Cioppino sauce makes the whole dish delicious.

With that in mind, here's what looks good for the last shopping tips of 2011.

Raley's headline in the Wednesday ad reads, "It's Cioppino Time!" and they have the ingredients to match. Fresh Dungeness crab is $4.99lb (cheaper by 10-cents a pound at Save Mart); raw shrimp is $6.99lb mussles are $2.99lb and clams are $3.99lb. That sauce we mentioned is $4.99 for a large jar. Fresh, crusty baguettes are $1.88 each. If you are toasting, Marinelli's cider is $2 a bottle.

For dessert, check out the Mousse Cake in either Black Forest, Mocha or Triple Chocolate for $7.79.

Other stuff we like: Avocado for $1 each; lemons or limes 5/$1; containers of grape tomatoes for $1 and Kellogg's Special K at $1.99 a box when you buy 4 or more.

Tri-tip roast is $2.99lb (whole and untrimmed).

Arrowhead or Nestle water is $3.99 a case; Powerade is buy 10, get 5 free.

Over at Save Mart - where the crab is $4.88lb - you can also get fresh salmon for $5.88; jumbo white prawns fcor $6.88lb and fresh lobster for $9.88lb. Fresh clams or mussles are $1.99lb. A jar of Dominic's chioppino sauce is $2.99. If you'd rather have beef, standing rib roast is a deal - $4.99lb.

Lots of great items in produce. Avocado is just 47-cents each; blueberries and blackberries are BOGO; cucumbers or bell peppers are 2/$1. Roma tomatoes are 97-cents a pound.

If you're having the gang over, party trays are $5 off with coupon. Other coupons worth clipping are: Classico pasta sauce for $1.69; a jar of fresh oysters for $2.99 and Oscar Mayer bacon for $3.99. To go with the Classico, Barilla pasta is $1 a box.

A dozen large eggs are $2; Sunnyside Farms Greek yogurt is 89-cents a container and Knudsen sour cream is $1.50. Gallo sliced salame is $4.99.

Martinelli's is $2 a bottle; a case of Sunny Select drinking water is $2.88 and 12-packs of Coke, Sprite or Barq's are buy 2, get 2 free.

Our last stop is Safeway. Shop on Friday and you'll get the best bargains with the Friday only $5 specials and the 2-day Friday/Saturday sale. The 2-day sale has Lloyds BBQ ribs for $8.88; BOGO berries and Prego pasta sauce. Lit'l Smokies are 2/$5; waterfront Bistro medium cooked shrimp are $7.99lb and Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops are $1.88 a box. For $5 on Friday you can get a family size cheese pizza; ring in the new year with a Bistro Cake; a 20-pack of Coke and Safeway Select marinated chicken wings.

Rancher's reserve tri-tip is $3.99lb; Guy Fieri sausage is $4.99 a pack.
 In the bakery, French bread is $1.89 a loaf; Dave's Killer Bread from Oregon is killer at $3.99 a loaf and Entenmann's donuts are $2.50 a box.

Golden Grain pasta is $1 a box; Rosarita refries are $1 a can and Nabisco snack crackers are BOGO.

Oroweat whole wheat or Italian bread is BOGO; Crystal Geyser spring water is $3.99 for a 35-pack and if you're really thirsty, Pepsi fridge packs are buy 2, get 2 free ... plus a free bag of Tostitos.

If you're clippin' Tropicana OJ is $3.49 for the 89-oz. jug; Lucerne creamer is $2.69; string cheese is $3.99 and ice cream cups are 59-cents each.

In produce, avocado is $1 each; tomatoes on the vine are $1.99lb and bags of baby carrots are $2.50.

That's it for the week and the year. Enjoy!

Greetings holiday shoppers. Got a quick look at the Safeway and Raley's ads before taking off to do my own holiday shopping. Here's what you have to look forward to.

Safeway has specials running each day Wednesday-Saturday.  They have everything from cake and ice cream on Thursday to sausage and eggs on Saturday. Best deal: 99-cents for a dozen eggs on Saturday. Their spiral sliced ham is $1.79lb; Oscar Mayer bacon and Nabisco crackers are BOGO.

Dungeness crab is $5.99lb; lobster tails and Ahi tuna steaks are $8.99lb. The Mix & Match beverage sale is still on. Buy 8 of any combination of SoBe drinks, Lucerne eggnog, Dunkin' donuts coffee, Pepsi, OJ, and Martinelli's sparkling cider and get 50-cents off each.

Raley's has their spiral sliced ham for $1.67lb; Sutter sirloin roast for $3.99lb and Diestel Ranch free range turkey for $2.49lb. Dinner rolls are buy 2 packs, get 1 free. 9-inch pies are the same.

Lots of good produce on sale. Oranges are 59-cents a pound; green beans are 99-cents a pound; pineapple is $2 and blue or blackberries are BOGO. Lemons or limes are 5/$1. Radishes, green onion or cilantro are 2/$1.

There's still time to order your holiday dinner. Pickup is Dec. 21-24.

Get a dozen eggs free when you purchase Johnsonville sausage 2/$6. Raley's boneless ham is $3.99lb and whole turkey breast is $2.79lb.

Be sure to check the store's hours. Safeway will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day until 5 p.m. Raley's is open Christmas Eve from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. They will be closed on Christmas Day.

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping

Got the list, got the pen, got the menu in mind. Then the ads arrive and POOF! We are seriously underwhelmed by the grocery ads this week. Maybe the Grinch stole the bargains. Maybe they are saving the good stuff until next week. Maybe we'll just shop for presents instead.

Shop Cheap usually doesn't have a problem getting excited over the sales but this just isn't working for a serious shopper like SC...and we're not talking Santa Claus.

Sure there's the spiral ham at Raley's for $1.67lb and BOGO berries, too. There's pineapple for $2 and lemons for 20-cents. But we keep asking...is that all there is? It's same old same old.

OK we did find Volpi rotola - mozarella and proscuitto for $4.99 and Sutter sirloin roast for $3.99lb and Martinelli's sparkling cider for $2. Even a case of duraflame logs is less than $20.

2-liter 7-UP is 99-cents and a case of Arrowhead is $3.99. Sunnyside Farms egg nog is $2.99. There's a free container of Cool Whip when you buy 2 or more Sara Lee pies for $3.99 each. Fritos or Cheetos are BOGO and General Mills Cereal is $1.50 a box when you buy 4 or more.

Raley's has all kinds of prepared holiday meals - but you must order ahead. There's the tamale dinner; maple glazed ham; rack of lamb and turkey. Prices range from $59.99 to $109.99. Order online and you get $5 off.

Save Mart has the spiral ham for $1.77lb and a coupon for $3 off a Butterball turkey. Cooked prawns are $4.99lb and Dungeness crabs are $4.99lb. Frozen turkeys are 69-cents a pound and master cut premium turkey breasts are $1.99lb.

Clip the coupons for Martinelli's sparkling cider - $1.88; StarKist albacore tuna - $1; Folgers coffee $1 off.

In produce, bell peppers and cucumbers are 4/$1. Fresh Express salad blends are BOGO and tomatoes on the vine are 97-cents a pound. Sweet pineapple is $2.97; bananas are 79-cents a pound; cherry tomatoes and blackberries are BOGO. Avocados are 79-cents each.

Oroweat sliced bread is BOGO; 7-UP is 79 cents for a 2-liter jug and Sunnyside Farms butter is $2.50.

The big news at Safeway is the Friday-Sunday reward coupon. Spend $75 or more and get $10 off your next visit.  They are also advertising "Holiday Daily Deals." Today, it's ham and pineapple; Thursday is's sugar, chocolate and coffee; Friday, chips and cookies. You get the idea.

Here's a few other items that are worth the list: Sara Lee frozen pies are BOGO; Cool Whip is 99-cents when you buy 3 and Safeway Select or Open Nature ice cream is $2.99.

Drinks are a pretty good deal with a case of refreshe water for $2.99; 7-UP for 79-cents and Tropicana OJ for $2.49. A Mix & Match sale is even better. You'll save 50 cents off each item when you buy any combination of 8: They include: Ocean Spray cranberry drinks; Martinelli's sparkling cider; San Pellegrino; refreshe Flavored Sparkling Water and 2-liter Pepsi products.

Clip-worthy coupons include: Tide or Gain for $5.99; Safeway frozen waffles for $1.99 and Bridgford rolls for $1.99.

In produce, GreenLine green beans are BOGO. Pears are 99-cents a pound and broccoli is 99-cents a pound.

$5 Friday has whole roasted chicken; Hillshire Farm Lit'l Smokies; 20oz pistachios and Holiday bistro cake in the bakery. The 3-day sale (Friday-Sunday) has Dungeness crab for $4.99lb; Post cereals for $1.88 and C&H brown or powdered sugar for $1.50.

If you like making your own pizza, pick up a couple Safeway Select dough balls. They make great crust.

And if for no other reason, head over to Sprouts for their chocolate chip cookies. Got to leave something for Santa!. While you're there, pick up a dozen large eggs for $1.50 and a whole pineapple for 99-cents.