Recipe: Simple Summer Marinade

Great with pork loin chops or chicken breast, this marinade is simple and easy. The next time you purchase meat at a great price, mix up a few batches of this marinade, divide your meat into meal-sized bags, top with marinade and freeze. When you're ready to grill, defrost a bag in your refrigerator to 24 hours - and the meat will marinate beautifully as it thaws.

Simple Summer Marinade from 30 Day Gourmet

Worth Reading: How Costco Primes Us to Spend More Money

“… knowing that stores are deliberately priming you to buy a reward for yourself, even if it’s just a little one, can help you stick to your list and walk away with a bit more money in your pocket.”

When you get a chance, hop over to The Greenest Dollar and read this fascinating article:

How Costco Primes Us to Spend More Money

Thanks, Monroe on a Budget, for pointing out this article!

Meijer: Starbucks Double Shot Moneymaker and more!

I didn't want you to miss these new great deals, created by the late addition of new Meijer Mealbox coupons. These prices are good through Saturday, July 11. They've been added to the matchup list this week:

$1.00 Starbucks Double Shot Energy Coffee, 15 oz [10/$10, get the 11th free]
-$1.00/1 coupon (from 6-21 SS), use 3
-$1.00/3 Meijer Mealbox printable
FREE after coupon (+$1.00 potential moneymaker to use on the rest of your order)

$0.80 Fruit 2 O Essentials, 18 oz bottle
-$1.00/2 coupon (from 6-14 SS), use 2
-$1.00/4 Meijer Mealbox printable
$0.05 each when you buy 4 with coupons

30% OFF Splenda Sweetener Products, assorted varieties
-$1.00/1 or $2.00/2 coupons (from 6-7 SS)
-$1.00/1 Meijer Mealbox printable
Final price will vary - save $2.00 per item!

Meijer: $0.19 Crayons, Glue and $0.05 Notebooks

Over the weekend, Walmart began advertising school supplies. Not to be outdone, Meijer has published a one-page ad with even lower prices.

From July 9 - July 31, these prices are guaranteed at Meijer:

• $0.05 Spiral Notebooks
• $0.19 Crayola 24 count crayons
• $0.19 Elmer's School Glue

Being a teacher, I LOVE new school supplies. I'm not sure I'm ready to start thinking about school quite this early in the summer, though!

What is the Best Price on Diapers?

It seems as though I could use a little help! And quickly!

Not all that long ago, I developed a price list for diapers. I did all of the math and divided by cost per diaper. Since I'm not necessarily brand-loyal when it comes to diapers, the hands-down winner was Target Brand Diapers, between $0.10-0.13 per diaper, depending on size. And they worked for us!

Target has since discontinued Target brand diapers - gasp! - and replaced them with Up & Up brand. Though Up & Up appears to be a discount store brand, they have both raised the price and reduced the count per box, making it no longer economical to purchase there. Warehouse stores don't really seem to be competitive when it comes to diaper pricing, either.

We rely on cloth diapers (Fuzzi Bunz) for my 2-year-old when hanging around home, but use disposables when out or traveling. It appears that our diaper stash is almost completely depleted and I have little idea where to turn. My sister has found herself in the same predicament, plus she's delivering her newest blessing in one week and has no newborn diapers!

Can you help? What do you use? And where's the best deal?

Value Center Marketplace: July 6-12, 2009

I've waited for Value Center to introduce a store website, and it appears that it has finally arrived! Now you can view sales circulars online or via email, check store hours and more! Visit valuecentermarket.com and see what you think...

PRODUCE
$0.99/lb Green Seedless Grapes
$0.99/lb Red or Black Plums
$1.00 Idaho Potatoes, 5 lb bag
$1.00 Red or White Onions, 2 lb bag

GROCERY
$1.00 Bayer Aspirin - 32 ct Daily Regimen or 36 ct Children's Chewable
-$1.00/1 printable coupon
FREE after coupon

$1.00 Edward's Pie Singles, 2 ct apple or cherry
-$0.75/1 coupon (from 5-10 SS) or $1.00/2 coupon (from 6-14 SS)
$0.25 or $0.50 each after coupon

$0.33 Spartan Mixed Vegetables or Whole Potatoes, 15 oz can

$1.00 Nexcare Active Foam Bandages, 30 ct
-$1.00/2 coupon (from 5-3 or 6-7 RP)
$0.50 each when you buy 2 with coupon

$1.00 Knorr/Lipton Pasta or Rice Sides
-$0.50/2 coupon (from 5-17 RP)
$0.50 each when you buy 2 with coupon

$1.00 Swiss Tea, half gallon
-$1.00/2 coupon (from 6-28 SS)
$0.50 each when you buy 2 with coupon

$1.00 Uncle Ben's Roasted Chicken Ready Rice, 8.8 oz
-$1.00/3 coupon (from 6-28 SS)
$0.67 each when you buy 3 with coupon

$1.00 Caribou Coffee Bars - Caramel High Rise, 6 ct

MEAT
$1.69/lb Mixed or Assorted Pork Chops
$1.99/lb Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast or Breast Tenders
$1.99/lb Boneless Beef English Cut Roast
$1.99/lb Ground Chuck, value pack
$3.99/lb Whole Boneless Tenderloin

View all of this week's specials in the Value Center circular.

______________________________________________

Value Center Marketplace is located in Clinton Township on the corner of Metro Parkway (16 Mile) and Harper. You'll find 2 more locations in Madison Heights and Livonia.

COUPON POLICY

• Limit 1 coupon per 1 item.


• Manufacturer coupons are doubled up to and including 50 cents. Coupons over 50 cents are taken at face value.


• Manufacturer coupons may not be used in conjunction with in-ad coupons.


• Coupons may only be used for the product and size stated. Sorry, no substitutions.


• When doubled, the coupon amount may not equal or exceed the price of the item. (MY NOTE: The register will double the coupon automatically, but when the cashier notices that the item will be free, they will manually override the coupon. Your mileage may vary, depending on cashier).


• Free, Red Box and In Store coupons are taken at face value only. Coupons that specifically state "NOT TO BE DOUBLED" are taken at face value only.


• Internet printable coupons are accepted up to and including $1.00. They are never doubled. FREE item coupons are excluded.

Value Center also offers a customer rewards card - details are available in the store.
For store hours or additional coupon information, visit the Value Center Website.

Randazzo: July 8-14, 2009

PRODUCE
$0.40 Cucumbers
$0.50 Green Peppers
$0.89 Aunt Mid's Baby Leaf Spinach, 10 oz
$0.99 Personal Seedless Watermelon
$1.50 Blueberries, pint
$1.50 Romaine Hearts, 3 pk
$1.50 Jumbo Honey Dew Melons
$1.99 Idaho Potatoes, 10 lb bag
$2.00 Organic Apples, 3 lb bag

MEAT/DELI
$1.49/lb Randazzo Homemade Italian Sausage
Recipe: Grilled Italian Sausage

$1.89/lb Spare Ribs
$2.79/lb Ground Beef from Round, 3 lbs or more
$4.89/lb Boneless Sirloin Steaks

$3.99/lb Eckrich Ham Off the Bone

$3.99/lb Mastro Mortadella

DAIRY
$1.50 Country Fresh Cottage Cheese, 16 oz

PRINTABLE COUPONS
$0.50/1 Naked Juice, 64 oz
$0.50/1 Conte's Frozen Gluten-Free Ravioli
$0.50/1 Grab-n-Go Roasted Chicken

View the entire Randazzo Fresh Market ad this week for more specials, plus store locations and hours.

VG's Update: New Deals Added

ADDITIONAL MATCHUPS
I just wanted you to know that after a few VG's trips this week, I've added additional matchups for the in-store sales I've found. View the most recent matchups here. New deals include:

$0.25 after coupon - Luigi's Italian Ice, 6 pk
$0.75 after coupon - Ben & Jerry's Flipped Out!, 2 pk
$1.00 after coupon - Starbucks Ice Cream
$1.34 after coupon - Tyson Chicken or Steak Strips, 6 oz
$1.50 after coupon - Grande Tortilla Chips, 13 oz

MEAT MARKDOWNS
VG's has had a wonderful amount of meat markdowns lately (FYI: We shop the Shelby location). The best part? The meat is discounted anywhere from 55-75% (Meijer and Kroger are famous for wimpy 30% markdowns). It is still good quality and usually has 1-2 days left before expiration. I've also seen dairy markdowns. Be sure to check for the little yellow tags!

VG's KIDS CLUB

If you ever shop with your kids, it's worth taking a moment to sign up for this club. They'll get a membership card which entitles them to a free cookie from the bakery when you visit, along with other scheduled events. My kids now look forward to the shopping trip. Not to mention that a well-timed snack curbs both hunger and whining!

PLEASE PASS ALONG YOUR COMPLIMENTS
Have you enjoyed this triple coupon even as much as I have? For the most part, the store has been well-stocked and the cashiers friendly. Be sure to call and speak to your store manager or send an email using the online form here. When customers respond favorably with compliments, it encourages the management to consider another triple coupon event in the future!