| Sunday, August 17, 2008 |
| Crafting With Kids |
As the days start getting shorter it's time to start thinking of indoor activities for your kids. It's sometimes hard to fight off boredom as winter drags on. Luckily there's still plenty of time too get a jump on cabin fever! In fact, this is the perfect time to build up supplies for crafting projects. Craft stores have a large display of kids crafts during the summer months when kids are home from school and that means big fall savings!
Need ideas? There are a ton of great websites with craft projects for you and your kids!
Don't forget to look for ideas at the store too! Craft chains like Michaels and JoAnn Fabric & Crafts often have FREE tear sheets located right next to the needed materials. It's an easy way to plan your project without taking up a lot of time.Labels: activities, clearance, FYI |
posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 8:11 AM
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| Friday, August 15, 2008 |
| Scholarhip Essay Contest |
| I was in Family Dollar recently and found out they are giving away scholarship awards in the "Make a Powerful Difference" essay contest. The contest is open to all legal U.S. residents 15-18 years of age. To enter you must submit the Official Contest Entry Form found inside Family Dollar stores along with a 100-250 word essay on an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper. The essay must describe "How can higher educations make a powerful difference in your life?". A parent or legal guardian must sign the entry form if the contestant is a minor. All entries must be postmarked by 9/30/08 and received by 10/07/08. See store display for more details. Labels: FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 7:48 AM
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| Monday, August 11, 2008 |
| More Library Book Sales |
I'd like to thank Kate for sharing this with me. I really wish I wasn't preparing for a move because I love book sales!
The Friends of the Marguerite deAngeli Branch Library in Lapeer are holding their annual book sale this week. Tuesday evening is a member's only sale, and Wednesday through Saturday the sale is open to the public from 10am-7pm.
Saturday will have bags of books for a buck, too!
The deAngeli Branch is at the corner of M-21 (aka Imlay City Road and/or Genesee Road, depending where you're at in town) and M-24 in Lapeer.
Call 810-664-6971 or visit the Marguerite deAngeli Branch for more info.Labels: fundraising, FYI, sales |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 9:15 PM
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| Library Book Sales |
If you are anything like me your bookshelves are overflowing. Don't despair, this is the perfect time to thin out that collection and find some new gems! The Hazel Park Memorial Library semi-annual book sale is just around the corner. Wednesday, August 13 through Saturday August 16 books as well as audio/visual materials will be on sale. Most merchandise cost less than $1.00! Proceeds will raise money to purchase new media for the library. Call 248-546-4095.
I know, that's great for new books, but what about freeing some room? The Madison Heights Public Library is still seeking donations for their annual used book sale to be held in October. Bring your books in good condition (no magazines, text books or Reader's Digest please) to the library at 240 W. 13 Mile Road. You can drop off the books any time during normal business hour. Mon. and Tues. 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Wed., Fri., and Sat. 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.Labels: fundraising, FYI, sales |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 11:40 AM
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| Tuesday, August 5, 2008 |
| Vote for the Zoo! |
This is a quick reminder for my friends in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties to get out and vote in support of the Detroit Zoo. The Zoo is looking for your help to pass their millage. If all 3 Counties vote "yes" on the zoo millage it will mean 15 million dollars a year in funding for all of the zoo's wonderful programs.
Need to hear more? Check out my post here.Labels: attractions, FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 10:00 AM
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| Saturday, August 2, 2008 |
| Click to Donate to Team USA |
The Olympics start in 7 days and it's not too late to support the amateur athletes who, through their years of work and dedication, are representing our country in the games. Just click and The Home Depot will donate $1.00 to Team USA!Labels: FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 11:00 AM
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| Friday, August 1, 2008 |
| Support the Zoo! |
Tuesday, August 5 is a very important day for the Detroit Zoo. It's the day they are asking you to show your support by getting out to the polls and voting in a millage to keep the zoo funded. Residents in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties will find the question on their ballots this coming Tuesday. The proposed millage would increase property taxes for residents in these counties to help fund the zoo. Increase taxes? I know, but the increase is minor. For a home valued at $200,000 taxes would increase around $10 a year. Yes, ten dollars A YEAR! That's less than one dollar a month to help keep our zoo running. A small price when you consider all the zoo has to offer.
The Detroit Zoo is one of America's best zoo. They were the first in the nation to use barless cages and influenced the ways zoos still operate. They continue to work hard to educate, conserve and entertain.
The zoo is also quite a bargain at just $68 a year for a family membership. Regular admission is $11 for adults and $7 for children. When you add in your parking costs the yearly membership pays for itself after 2 visits for a family of 3! That's under $5 a month for year-round family entertainment. And it is truly year-round. Even in the winter there is plenty to see and do at the zoo with indoor exhibits scattered throughout the zoo a few minute's walk apart.
This is a primary election and only 1 in 5 registered voters are expected to turn out. That means you won't be facing long lines at the polls. You don't have to vote on anything you're not prepared for either. If all you want to vote for it the zoo millage then that's all you have to vote for. Take a minute and show your support for the zoo. You won't regret it!
Complete list of primary candidates
Sample Oakland County ballot
Sample Wayne County ballot
Declare Yourself (register to vote)
I was unable to find a sample ballot for Macomb County.Labels: attractions, FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 11:34 AM
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| Wednesday, June 25, 2008 |
| Good News and Bad News |
First the bad news. The free Thomas Train coupon I posted is no longer being honored by Toys R Us. I asked the customer service desk why and they didn't have an answer. I emailed Toys R Us today to tell them how disappointed I was that they honored some of the coupons, but not everyone's. We'll see if they reply.
The good news also has to do with Toys R Us and their sister store Babies R Us. First up is the Toys R Us news. They are having a clearance sale starting this Friday, June 27th through July 5th. You get an extra 20% off clearance toys, clothing and shoes. Sale prices are up to 70% off!
Lastly, for anyone concerned about BPA in their baby bottles and who would like to replace them, Babies R Us on Gratiot in Roseville is accepting returns on these bottles. You can bring them to the store and exchange them for BPA free bottles. This is not a corporate wide event but varies from store to store. Some managers are choosing to take back these bottles as part of the Toys R Us/Babies R Us switch away from BPA bottles (by the end of the year they will only carry BPA free). The Toys R Us on Gratiot and the Toys R Us on Telegraph near 12 Mile are not participating.Labels: clearance, FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 4:25 PM
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| Friday, June 20, 2008 |
| Events Calendar |
I'm working on an Events Calendar as an augmentation to my weekly events posts. I'll still highlight inexpensive or free family-friendly events each week, but I'll be concentration more on a few spotlight events. The calendar will be the place to check for the complete listings. This way I can add events as I find them rather than my current system of digging through the notes scattered on my desk. It will be better for you and will give you more time to plan your weekends. It'll be better for me because I won't be spending such big blocks of time organizing and typing huge entries!
If you have an event you'd like me to add to the calendar or a tip you'd like to share you can email me: Bargains 4 Detroit.Labels: FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 11:32 AM
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| Tuesday, June 17, 2008 |
| Coupon Bar |
I'm pleased to announce that I finally have my coupon bar up and running. Now you can print coupons from Coupons.com without every having to leave the page. Just click on the "see all coupons" tab to open the list of coupons. Then you can check off the ones you want and hit print without having to open a new window! And I don't have to link all over the web when I have a post that matches coupons with sales.
The best part of all of this is it makes me money so I can continue scouring the city for sales, promotions and things to do!Labels: FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 11:57 PM
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| Another SE Michigan Bargain Blog |
I'd like to point you to another money saving blog with a SE Michigan slant, Economic Endeavors. Lavonne writes about freebies, deals and couponing around town.
In her own words:
I started this blog as a means of detailing my endeavors to become more frugally and economically minded.
Finances are tight, and my husband works hard to provide a nice home and everything our family needs. I have recently started changing the way that I have always thought about money, and am now striving to live on less than we make.
Check back often to see my progression and take advantage of the money-saving deals and money-earning methods that I find along the way!Labels: FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 10:46 AM
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| Friday, June 13, 2008 |
| Weekly Events |
| I've been trying to post a list of upcoming events every Thursday, but this week time just got away from me. I was out all day running errands and this is the first chance I've had to sit down at the computer all day. Sadly, it's after midnight and I'm too beat to stay up another couple of hours putting together the post. Never fear! I'll do my best to get it up by tomorrow afternoon. Labels: events, FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 12:35 AM
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| Saturday, June 7, 2008 |
| FDA Warning on Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream |
The FDA has issued a warning to consumers about Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream. The cream contains two potentially harmful chemicals, chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol, which may interact with each other and cause respitory depression in nursing infants.
Sign for which to watch:
- decrease in appetite
- limpness of extremities or decrease in strength of grip and
- a change in skin color
If your child shows any of these symptoms after injesting the cream please seek medical attention.
MOM Enterprises has issued a statement and a voluntary recall.
Please check the above links for more information.Labels: FYI, recalls |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 4:00 PM
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| Thursday, June 5, 2008 |
| Other SE Michigan Bargain Blogs |
Since most of my entries are focused on my neighborhood north of Detroit, I'd like to introduce you to Paula at Monroe on a Budget! I'm really excited to find another SE Michigan blog focuses on frugality.
Monroe on a Budget: Frugal Finances in Southeast Michigan is a blog featuring personal finance stories, public service announcements, frugal living tips, web resources and national and local headlines that are of interest to families on a budget in Monroe County, Mich.
You can find her on Blogs Monroe
I'd also like to thank Paula for pointing me to Me vs Debt in Ann Arbor. One of these days I'll get off my butt and update my links with a section for local blogs. When that day comes you'll find them at the top of the list.Labels: FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 7:48 PM
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| Michigan CVS Stores With Coupon Scanners! |
Every week I check some of my favorite bargain blogs to make sure I haven't missed any great deals. One thing I kept coming across were references to CVS coupon scanners. I learned that some CVS stores have scanners where you can check prices or scan your Extra Care Card to print coupons. As soon as I learned this I knew I had to find one or I'd forever be tormented by the great deals I was missing! I started searching my local stores to no avail. I turned to the internet to see if I could find a definitive list, but it didn't seem to exist. Finally I emailed CVS and asked them if they had a list they could send me. Today I got my answer!
Michigan CVS stores with coupon printing scanners!
5756 Clarkston Rd. Independence Township MI 48346
5529 Sashabaw Rd. Clarkston MI 48346
3960 E. Highland Rd. Oceola Twp MI 48843
61019 Silver Lake Rd. South Lyon MI 48178
31250 Beck Rd. Novi MI 48377
1025 Saint Clair River Dr. Algonac MI 48001
50980 North Avenue Macomb Township MI 48042
53069 Van Dyke Shelby Township MI 48316
46960 Van Dyke Ave. Shelby Twp MI 48317
51000 Romeo Plank Rd. Macomb Township MI 48044
15121 24 Mile Rd. Shelby Twp MI 48315
37050 Gratoit Clinton Twp MI 48036
36540 Garfield Rd. Clinton Twp MI 48035
33021 Garfield Fraser MI 48026
30920 Southfield Rd. Southfield MI 48076
30900 Woodward Royal Oak MI 48073
I hope this helps you in your quest to save money. I know it will for me!Labels: FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 3:55 PM
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| Tuesday, May 27, 2008 |
| Free Skin Cancer Screenings |
 Have you heard about The Skin Cancer Foundation's Road to Healthy Skin Tour? The Skin Cancer Foundation has joined Aveeno and Rite Aid in teaming up up to provide free Skin Cancer Screenings by a registered professional.
The Michigan dates are:
July 18, 2008 in Livonia at the Rite Aid located at 37399 6 Mile Rd.
July 19, 2008 in Troy at the Rite Aid located at 2971 West Maple Rd.
You can visit Aveeno Sun Care or The Skin Cancer Foundation for more information, dates and locations.Labels: freebies, FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 11:35 AM
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| Sunday, May 25, 2008 |
| Be an Educated Shopper |
This post was prompted by incidents from my life. I wish it weren't so, but as a consumer you need to arm yourself with knowledge. Stores can and will try to convince you that they are somehow exempt from that laws that protect shoppers. It's up to you to get to know those laws and make them work for you.
All of the following links and examples are applicable to the state of Michigan. If you aren't in Michigan you can find information specific to you by checking your state government's website.
They said: You have to leave the store and return on a different day before claiming the scanner reward.
The Law says: (Michigan Act 449 of 1976 445.360a)
Sec. 10a.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (3), this section applies to a sale at retail which meets all of the following conditions:
(a) There is a price stamped on or affixed to the item.
(b) The sale is recorded by an automatic checkout system.
(c) The buyer is given a receipt which describes the item and states the price charged for the item.
(2) Before bringing or joining in an action as provided in section 10(2), within 30 days after purchasing an item, a buyer who suffers loss because the price charged for the item is more than the price stamped on or affixed to the item shall notify the seller in person or in writing that the price charged is more than the price stamped or affixed. The notice shall include evidence of the loss suffered by the buyer. If, within 2 days after the notification, the seller tenders to the buyer an amount equal to the difference between the price stamped or affixed and the price charged, plus an amount equal to 10 times that difference but which is not less than $1.00 or more than $5.00, the buyer is barred from any further recovery for that loss. If the loss is suffered by 1 buyer within 1 transaction on 2 or more identical items, the amount to be tendered by the seller shall be the difference on each item, plus an amount equal to 10 times the difference on a single item but which is not less than $1.00 and not more than $5.00. If the seller does not tender this amount, the buyer may bring or join in an action as provided in section 10(2).
(3) This section does not apply to a sale at retail in which the seller intentionally charges more for an item than the price stamped on or affixed to the item.
What this means: Once the sale is complete, you've paid for the merchandise and collected your receipt, you are able to collect the scanner reward. There is no need to leave and come back. However, if you have the cashier correct the price during the sale you cannot collect the reward.
They said: We type the code in rather than using a scanner so we're exempt from that law.
The Law says: (445.351)
(b) “Automatic checkout system” means an electronic device, computer, or machine which determines the price of a consumer item by using a product identity code, and may but is not required to include an optical scanner.
What this means: They are only exempt from the law if they don't use any kind of automatic codes. Your local mom & pop grocery whose cashier type "3.99" in manually ARE exempt from the law. A store whose cashiers type the code "35902739" into the register ARE NOT exempt from the law. And, of course, any store with an optical scanner is covered by the law.
They said: Markdowns and clearance items don't fall under the law.
The Law says: There are a couple sections of the law that deal with sale items. Section 445.360a, quoted above, lists only one exception which covers fraud. Section 445.355 covers items at sale price, special price, or reduced price.
What this means: There are no listed exemptions for markdown or clearance merchandise. In fact, the law talks specifically about sale items. In short, if the item has a price tag and the store uses an automatic check-out system it is covered by the law, even if it is marked down.
As of today, I keep a copy of Sections 445.360a and 445.351 in my coupon caddy. It's rare that I run into a retailer who doesn't understand and fulfill their obligations (mostly because I try to correct the cashier rather than claim my rewards), but it does happen. I feel it's important to protect myself.
The More You Know...
Pricing and Advertising of Consumper Items Act 449 of 1976 "The Scanner Law"
Consumer Protection Act, PA 331 9f 1976
And for those of you who buy pseudoephedrine products: A breakdown of Michigan's Law versus the Federal Law and how it effects retailersLabels: FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 1:46 PM
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| Tuesday, April 15, 2008 |
| For those using a feed to read |
| If you're reading this through a feed I'd like to invite you to come check out the updates I've made to the page. I just added 25 new links to clubs you can join for freebies. Some are birthday clubs, some are for anytime, some are for adults and most are for kids. Come and see, there's something for everyone! Labels: FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 1:05 PM
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| Saturday, March 29, 2008 |
| Metro Parent Model Search |
Do you think your little cutie is the next big thing? If so Metro Parent wants to see them. The magazine is holding its annual model search on April 5 & 6, 2008 at Oakland Mall. Bingham Farms talent agency will be on hand looking for kids to sign, too. Registration is $30 and kids get a tee-shirt, photo and family fun pack. Register in advance to avoid waiting in lines. Check out the link for rules and more information.
PS: Check out the sidebar for a new freebie feed!Labels: events, FYI |
| posted by Michelle at Bargains 4 Detroit & Beyond @ 9:46 AM
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