Brooke's Bargains: Save A Fortune On Fruit, Freebies And Flowers!

Need a little pick-me-up during these winter doldrums? How about something succulent and bright that will also help build your immunity to the crud going around the office?

Fruit is what to buy now! Prices are awesome in produce sections everywhere, and the quality is at its very best right now. How often do you get highest quality and lowest pricing at the same time?

This is a particularly great time to buy citrus. The Navel oranges and Clementine "Cuties" my kids love to peel for their lunches are a great buy and utterly bursting with nutrition. I've seen navels 5/$1.00 and Clementines for $2.89 a box! Studies show the scent of them alone can perk you up and might even help you lose weight! And, they may keep the doctor away, fighting heart disease and birth defects, maybe even stomach lining pain. So, who knows how much eating citrus could save on your medical bills!

The best citrus picks are firm, not squishy.

Mangoes (buy them green), pineapples, Fuji apples, and grapes are at peak flavor with lowest prices right now, too. Grapes are super-sweet right now, for 69 cents a pound! That's an antioxidant bargain! I'm seeing mangoes for 69 cents each and Fujis for 69 cents a pound!. Cantaloupe is at top quality and lowest price point right now, too.

Talk about a vitamin punch, Haas avacados are as low as 3/$1 right now. This is a great time to kick your New Year's resolution up a notch and infuse your diet with tons of colorful, healthy produce - at bargain prices. It's a delicious luxury almost anyone can afford. It's always best to buy produce in season, so I make sure to adjust my weekly shopping list to fit what's on sale and in season - not just what the kids decide they like at the moment :).

By the way, after serving fruit, I always grind a few citrus peels (small pieces) in my disposal - it freshens up the whole kitchen - free of charge!

To learn more, click here for a good fruit buying guide.

If you live near a Sunflower Market, keep in mind you can shop sale prices from the previous week's and new week's ads on Wednesdays for double the savings possibilities. I've seen great deals at all of our local grocery stores this week – you can check their circular at the front of the store, or find it on the store's website.

Turning now to Valentine's Day for a quick tip; don't let your beautiful flowers wither! To get the most bang for your (or your significant other's) buck out of your Valentine bouquet, put a conservative drop or two (depending on arrangement size) of bleach into the water of your vase. It will kill the bacteria that kill the flowers faster, so you'll have more time to feel the love!

Now, for some freebies:

If you'd rather eat your fruit with a FREE taco... click here for a link.

Buy one, get one free entree at Qdoba on Valentine's Day ONLY - no coupon required.

Click here for a coupon for a free dessert.

Or, fix yourself a fruit tray and grab a free movie. Click here.

Watch the front page your paper for a $10 off anything coupon at Kohl's.

And, on a Valentine note, don't let your beautiful flowers wither. To get the most bang for your (or your significant other's) buck out of your Valentine bouquet, put a conservative drop or two (depending on arrangement size) of bleach into the water of your vase. It will kill the bacteria that kill the flowers faster, so you'll have more time to feel the love!

I'd love to hear your tips, questions, and latest bargain finds in comments! And, don't forget to check out our CBS4 Deal of the Day.