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With the month of August almost history, we are officially at the beginning of the end of summer. Next week, it will be September with Labor Day approaching and fall in the air. Wish the stores would have a "so long to summer sale" but all they can scare up is "great deal on chicken," "Dollar Deals!" and "No Cards, just low prices."

Where's the creativity?

If you go gaga for grapes, head over to Raley's for red, black or green seedless for only 77-cents a pound. Vine ripe tomatoes are 77-cents a pound and Australian navel oranges are 97-cents a pound. Also in produce: Zucchini squash for 79-cents a pound; organic basil $1.99 a bunch; red bell pepper $1.99lb and Raley's romaine hearts for $2 a bag.

Chicken is everywhere this week. Raley's has split breasts, thighs, drumsticks or leg quarters in the club pack for 77-cents a pound. They also have cooked salad shrimpmeat for $3.99lb. But clip the coupon and shop on Saturday and you get the shrimp for 50-percent off. Now that's a deal! 

Raley's has some other stuff going on like a case of Aquarius Spring! water for $2.99; a buy 2, get 2 free offer on 12-packs of Coke and Arizona ice tea for 99-cents a jug. Frozen treats on sale include Dreyer's fruit or smoothie bars for $2.99 and Sunnyside Farms ice cream for $2.69.

In the clip & save dept., there are 30% off "Friday only" coupons for bath tissue, Nob Hill Trading Co. coffee; paper towls and homestyle or chunky soups. If you can wait until Saturday, the coupons get better. They are for 50% off and include the cooked shrimpmeat; Fresh Express salads, Porterhouse steaks; slow cooked ribs and cantaloupe. Raley's also has a whole page of BOGO coupons on the back of their "Health and Beauty Savings Event" ad. The BOGOs include mouthwash, cotton squares and swabs; ibuprofen, toothbrushes and Natural hydrating lotion.

If you like Milton's bread, it's on sale for $2.50 a loaf. French bread in the bakery is $1.59 a loaf and muffins are $3 for a half-dozen.

Over at Safeway, they are having $1 Days. Items for a buck or less include Wish-Bone salad dressing; bakery Filone breads; hot dog or hamburger buns; facial tissue and six-packs of Arrowhead water or a 20 oz. SoBe. For a special treat, artisan cake for one is only 99-cents. But who says you can't share cake for one?

The chicken on sale is fresh leg quarters for 77-cents a pound. If you are going to Q this weekend, lean ground beef is $1.67lb and Ball Park meat franks are BOGO.

The coupon page at Safeway is a good one. If you're looking for a light dinner, check out the flatbread pizza for $3.99 and the Signature Cafe salads at $3.99, too. Already cooked Tony Roma baby back ribs are $7.99; Golden Grain pasta is 69 cents (Classico sauce is BOGO); and frozen Freschetta pizza is $3.49. Other coupons include Mission Tortilla chips for $1.99; Sargento shredded or sliced cheese for $1.49; Pillsbury cookie dough 2/$4 and Safeway Breakfast breads for $1.49. In the non-food category, Caress, Axe or Lever body wash is $2.99; Bright Green cleaners are $2.49 and Downey or Bounce fabric softener is $3.99. Also, Safeway dishwasher detergent is $2.99; Ultra laundry detergent is $5.99 and Northern bath tissue or Brawny towels are $5.99 each.

In produce, English hot house cucumbers are $1 each; yellow squash or zucchini is $1 a pound; extra large hot house tomatoes are 99-cents a pound; gala apples or navel oranges are 99-cents a pound and Fresh Express salads in the bag are $1 each.

Save Mart has the best price on chicken - 79 cents a pound for Foster Farms whole birds. They also have London broil for $2.99lb and pork loin backribs in the butcher's block for $1.99lb.

The Save Mart produce aisle has jumbo cantaloupe for 77-cents each; Bartlett pears for 29-cents a pound; grape tomatoes for 79-cents a basket and those Australian oranges for 99-cents a pound. Ready Pac bistro bowl salads are $2.99; Iceberg lettuce is 99-cents each and English cucumbers are 99-cents each.

Yoplait yogurt is 50 cents a carton; Dreyer's ice cream is $2.79; whole fruit bars are 2/$5 and check out the Buy 4; Get $4 off sale on ice cream treats.Coke products in the 12-pack are buy 2, get 2 free; 2-liter bottles of Pepsi are $1 each; Laura Scudder's and Lay's kettle cooked chips are $1.99 a bag; and Quaker Quakes snacks are $1 each.

The Kellogg's cereal sale is a good one. Buy 4 boxes for $11 and get $6 off - works out to $1.25 a box. San Luis sourdougn bread is $2.49 a loaf; Ball Park buns are $1.99 and Rojo's fresh salsa is $1.69. In the bakery, fresh-baked cookies are $2.99 for 18. In the deli, John Morrell cooked ham is $2.99lb and sourdough baguettes are $1.49 each.

Smart & Final is back again this week. Check out the ad for Foster Farms drumsticks for 99-cents a pound; two pounds of seedless grapes for $1.99; honeydew mellon 4lbs for $1 and Crystal Geyser spring water - buy 2, get one free.