Tomorrow is Monday Madness at Aunt Millie's

Aunt Millie's (101 W. Memorial) is having it's Monday Madness sale tomorrow.  Every Monday they discount their already lower-than-retail prices.  Get bread, bagels, and more for just 65 cents!

Muncie Deal: Printable Coupons to Area Businesses

Great Deals Magazine has printable coupons to more than 100 area businesses.

Current Menards Rebate Deals--Lots of Freebies

Menards is a great place to get free items.  To find out how to take advantage of the freebies offered at Menards, read here.  Currently 68 items are advertised with rebates, giving you a great opportunity to get what you need at a great price!

From the Ad Valid 1/23-2/6

9” Magnetic Torpedo Level, Free after $2.50 MIR, limit 2

Physique Salon Quality Hair Products, Free after $6 MIR, limit 4

2 Pack Project Pack Locksets, $9.99 after $10 MIR, limit 2

Resin 4-Shelf Kit $9.99 after $7 MIR, limit 2

Heavy Weight Sweatshirts, $4.99 after $5 MIR, limit 4

2 Pack 8’6” x 8’6” Tarp, $1.99 after $5 MIR, limit 2

Cordless Swivel Sweeper, $14.99 after $10 MIR, limit 2

CeilingMAX Ceiling Mount Grid System, $50 MIR with purchase of $199+, limit $100 MIR

13’ Emergency Escape Ladder, $21.99 after $3 MIR, limit 4

Multi Stand, $24.99 after $10 MIR, limit 2

12-Volt Lithium Ion 3/8” Drill/Driver, $39.99 after $20 MIR, limit 2

12-Volt Lithium Ion 3 Piece Combo Kit, $79.99 after $50 MIR, limit 2

4 Pack 10’ Padded Ratcheting Tie Downs, $9.99 after $6 MIR, limit 2

2 Ton Bottle Jack, $4.99 after $4 MIR, limit 2

300 Amp Jump Starter with Compressor, $29.99 after $10 MIR, limit 2

300 Amp Jump Starter, $24.99 after $5 MIR, limit 2

20 Pack Batteries, $1.99 after $3 MIR, limit 2

Jar Candles, $.79 after $3.50 MIR, limit 5

Blackwater Folding Knife, $.99 after $7 MIR, limit 2

Remington PowerClean with Foil Shaver, $19.98 after $20 MIR, limit 2

48” High Performance Fluorescent Shoplight, $9.99 after $5 MIR, limit 4

Roll-A-Bag, $.49 after $4 MIR, limit 2

From the Ad Valid 1/26-2/6

5 Pack Respirator Masks, Free after $8 MIR, limit 5

Tums Ultra 3000, $3.99 after $6 MIR, limit 2

Soap and Sanitizer Caddy, $1.99 after $5 MIR, limit 2

Hand Lotion, $1.49 after $2 MIR, limit 3


From the Ad Valid 1/30-2/13

Interior Flat Paint, Gallon (White, Antique White, or Ceiling White), Free after $11 MIR, Limit 5

Wide Angle Broom of Perfect Mop, Free after $4 MIR, limit 3

Stain Away, Free after $1.50 MIR, limit 2

Cat Pan Liner, Free after $3.50 MIR, limit 10

Doggie Duty Bags, Free after $1.50 MIR

Battery Storage Rack, Free after $8 MIR, limit 2

3 Pack brush set, Free after $6 MIR, limit 2

4 piece clear car mat set, Free after $5 MIR, limit 2

Shoppers Bag, Free after $.98 MIR, limit 10

Assorted Wet Wipes, Free after $1.50 MIR, limit 4

Seeding and Potting Mix, $.99 after $1 MIR, limit 4

5 Day – 2 Day Programmable Thermostat, $9.99 after $10 MIR, limit 2

Easy Cleaner Deluxe Steam Mop, $19.99 after $30 MIR, limit 2

27 piece screwdriver bit set, $1.99 after $8 MIR, limit 2

Air Filter, $2.99 after $3 MIR, limit 2

2G MP3 Player, $7 after $15 MIR

Combo Pack Outdoor Extension Cord, $8 after $2 MIR, limit 2

Acrylic Serving Dishes, $.99 after $1 MIR, limit 8

LED Crank Flashlight $.99 after $5 MIR, limit 3

60 Pack Alkaline Batteries, $6.99 after $3 MIR, limit 4

Dimensions Interior Flat Paint, $16.97 after $5 MIR, limit 10

3006 Ultra Sealant, $.99 after $2 MIR, limit 6

Stackable 6’ scaffold, $119 after $20 MIR, limit 1

17’ Multi-position ladder, $78 after $20 MIR, limit 1

8” FrameWizard Software Suite and Digital Frame, $49 after $100 MIR, limit 2

Top Load Washer, $399 after $50 MIR, limit 2

Affinity Washer, $449 after $50 MIR, limit 2

Bravos Top Load Washer, $499 after $150 MIR, limit 2

Bravos Electric Dryer, $499 after $150 MIR, limit 2

Bravos Gas Dryer, $579 after $150 MIR, limit 2

Stanley 5-Gallon Wet-Dry Vac, $29.99-$10 MIR, limit 2

12-pack cotton shop towels, $.99 after $1.50 MIR, limit 2

Wiper Blade, $.99 after $5 MIR, limit 2

100 Watt Inverter with USB Port, $9.99 after $5 MIR, limit 2

Pre-Finished Engineered Wood Siding, Price “Too Low to Advertise”, $1 MIR, limit 200

Castle Brook Laminated Architectural Shingles, $19.99/bundle after $2 MIR, no limit specified

Ultra Comfort Blow In Fiberglass Insulation, Price “Too Low to Advertise”, $5 MIR, no limit specified

R-13 Easy Touch Fiberglass Insulation, $8.77 after $2 MIR, no limit specified

22” Toolbox, $4.99 after $10 MIR, limit 2

2’ x 5’ Tufted Runner, $4.99 after $3 MIR, limit 4

Duct Tape, $.79 after $2 MIR, limit 10

Toilet Tank Repair Kit, $6.99 after $2 MIR, limit 2

Muncie Deal: Free Breadsticks at Mancino's

Text Tasty to 40491 for a free order of breadsticks.

Two Orders of FREE Breadsticks (one for me, one for Josh)

5 Free Boxes of Kellogg's Cereal



Kellogg's is doing several rebates on cereals right now.  In the past week, I've been able to purchase five boxes, all of which will be free (unless you count the stamp, but even then, it's a great deal!).

Kellogg's Fiber Plus--downloadable rebate form.  One rebate/flavor (Cinnamon Oat Crunch and Berry Yogurt Crunch).  Expires 11/30/11
Smart Start--specially marked boxes only--must say "Try Free" at the top.  Expires 12/31/11
Cinnabon--specially marked boxes only--must say "Try Free" at the top.  Expires 6/30/11
Crunchy Nut--specially marked boxes only--must say "Try Free" at the top.  Expires 1/31/12

Saturday's Shopping Trip

Today was a fun day out.  We went shopping, and we turned it into a "scan date" using Shopkick and Checkpoints on Josh's iphone.  We were able to get some excellent deals today, and we also walked 3.94 miles, which I consider success!

Our first stop was Walgreens, where we wanted to take advantage of their January coupons expiring. 
We had to do two transactions because our coupons had a limit of 4 per transaction (had I read that before, I could have gotten an even better deal, but I still did well.).

5 Crest Pro-Health (-$2 Walgreens coupon x 5) (-$2 manufacturer's coupon x 5), regularly $4.99, now $.99
4 pencils (original filler) $1/4--I'll take these to school for my students to buy with their tokens in the class store
3 Snickers--these were because I had to do a second transaction after everything else was rung up, and I had $2RR expiring today.  One is for me.  The others will be a special snack I'll send to work with Josh (I send him with snacks every few weeks so that he can resist the temptation of the vending machines at work)
Total:  $2.95 + tax, savings of $25.39

Our next stop was at Wal-Mart, but not to buy anything.  We had a Field Agent job for $4 to take a picture of a makeup display.  It took about two minutes, and then we wandered the store scanning things for Checkpoints.  Between all of our scans and our Field Agent job, we probably earned about $8 today, which was nice.  It's not often you make money shopping.

Then we went to Meijer.  We did two transactions to take advantage of mPerks, as we both had -$1.00 on Oscar Mayer carving board meats (plus -$2 coupons from Facebook).

We purchased:
Brown Rice
2 Packs of tortilla's
Milk
5 bananas
2 tomatoes
Grapes
Romaine lettuce
Russet potatoes
2 sweet potatoes
Frozen gnocchi
3 dozen eggs (1 dozen was free from mPerks on Josh's card--none for me)
2 boxes of Kellogg's cereal, both of which will be free after rebate
Total after coupons:  $27.05 - $21.38 from a giftcard = $5.67 OOP
After rebate for two boxes of cereal ($4.75), we'll have spent $.92!

We went to Marsh for apples, which are $.98/lb.

Total Cost:  $4.16
I'll be using these tomorrow for freezer cooking when I make cooked apples to mix in with baked oatmeal and for apple pie muffins for Josh to take to work on Monday (he apparently volunteered to bring muffins for breakfast).

Target was our next destination. 

I went there planning to buy Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cereal (if I could find it with the rebate, which, obviously, I did, plus I had a -$1 coupon), Rimmel make up (I had a Target coupon for -$2, plus two -$2 coupons from Facebook, and a BOGO coupon for nail polish from All You), and Shout wipes (-$.50 Target coupon and -$.55 manufacturer's coupon), which will be going to work with Josh.  While scanning items, we came across the clearance shoe section and found each of us a pair of boots (his:  $7.48, mine: $9.98).  Neither of us has a pair of boots, so this was a good deal.  They're not the most beautiful, but they're perfect for shoveling the driveway.
Total:  $19.50 plus tax.  $16.51 after a $2.99 rebate for the cereal.

Our final stop was at Bath and Body Works, which is giving away free candles this weekend.  We both printed the Facebook coupon, so we got 2 free.

These are going into my stocking stuffer box, along with my make up purchase from Target.  These will make great little gifts come Christmas.
Total:  Free (regularly priced $3.50, for a savings of $7)

Taking Control

January is a time for new beginnings, though I suppose that could be said about many times of year--spring with life re-emerging, August/September with school restarting, etc, so I guess any time you're ready to restart is a time for new beginnings, but now is our time.

Our new beginning starts with Josh's new job.  After being under-employed for the past year and a half after earning his master's degree (he's been working as an adjunct at a local community college), he now has a full time job.  This is a huge change for us.  We'll be better off financially, but we're losing much of the time we used to spend together, so it's a huge adjustment.  We've been used to having him home much of the time, and he's been able to run errands whenever, take care of the house, and just do anything that's needed done.  That's changing now, as he's working 45+ hours a week, so we're discovering a new balance of running the household, and I'm having to take much more responsibility for it, which I'm not sure he's loving (I have much higher standards than he does when it comes to taking care of the house).

We're also getting our finances in better order.  This is a journey we started last year.  Our immediate goals are to have the car paid off by July and to start setting aside $100/month to increase our emergency savings account.  We're also going to be paying cash for my master's degree, which I'll start this summer.  All of our increased income from Josh's job will be going towards meeting these goals.

We're taking control over our health, too.  I'm making a big effort to cook more of our meals from scratch, so we can avoid food filled with preservatives and also eat out less, which saves money and calories.  We're also working out more.  I mainly stick to walking, but Josh has been doing an amazing job with EA Sports Active 2 on the Wii.  It has a heart monitor, unlike the other workout "games," so it does a much better job calculating actual calories burned.  He's been waking up at five most mornings to work out before work, and he's generally burning 400+ calories, which is great.  I need to use him as inspiration to do more.

So join us on our journey to take control of our lives, and share your journeys with us, too, as you do the same.