Lenten Challenge AKA the Big Dump

I was shown the 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge by a friend, and decided it would go well with my decision to quit computer gaming for 40 days.  Since I'll have all that extra time on my hands, I will start this challenge in conjunction with it.  You don't have to be religious to participate in the challenge.

If you too are starting spring cleaning (it's that time of the year, isn't it?) I'd love to work together to get the job done.  I am one to make lists but then forget to look at them or lose them.  Because of that, I'm just going to list a few areas that need attention here.  Add your own, and we can all work together.  Leave comments telling what you have done.

• In the bathroom: medicine cabinets, under the sink, countertops and shower area.  What do you do with your expired medications?  Our town has a day where they collect them all for disposal.  I know flushing is not correct, nor is it a good idea to just throw them in the trash.  You should be able to contact your local hospital or pharmacy to find something in your area.
• In the kitchen: dishes, tupperware cupboard (I get rid of anything that doesn't have lids), pots and pans, under the sink, pantry, spice racks.  There are so many areas in our kitchen where extra items collect.  I have the added bonus of a tiny kitchen, so this area needs to be cleared out often.   

I did a blog post in October that listed some places to donate your extra items, so you can check that out HERE if you don't want to just throw it all out.  

Locally, our Food at First in Ames is looking for plastic containers, tupperware, etc., with lids so that they can send leftovers home with some of the diners.  If you have any to donate, please contact them.

I thought it would be fun to keep a running tally of the actual number of bags removed so that I wouldn't feel that I haven't done much.

Donated:

1. One bag of sample-sized, some full bottles of shampoos and lotions, and bars of soap to the food pantry.
2. One bag filled with outgrown winter coats and jackets, to the clothing closet.
3. One bag filled with my clothes, to the clothing closet.
4. One bag filled with puzzles, to the nursing home.
5. Four bags of childrens clothes, to the clothing closet.
6. Two bags of childrens clothes, for hand-me-downs.
7. One bag of towels, to the animal shelter.
8. One bag of linens, to the clothing closet.

Tossed:

1. One bag from the bathroom of mostly used or expired soaps and cosmetics.
2. Two bags of random junk from storage shelves.
3. One bag of clothes too worn for donating.
4. Two bags of paper clutter/mail, etc.

Sold:

1. 29 DVDs, on eBay and through Amazon's trade-in program, after fees and shipping supplies, $22.
2. 1 bag of childrens clothing to the consigment store, will update later.

Special Circumstances:

1. One bag of expired meds, sent to hospital for disposal.
2. One bag of old cleaning supplies, saved in garage for household waste disposal day.
3. One bag of sticks and leaves, to the fire pit for s'mores (gotta have some fun).
4. One bag of dog poop, still pending.
5. One bag of shredded mail to the compost pile. 
6. One bag of plastic grocery sacks, recycled.
7. One bag of reusable grocery bags, in the trunk.

Totals so far:
Total bags: 27
Total income: $22

FREE This Week 3/6-3/12

I'm a little late getting this done, but here are the best free items I see in the ads for the second week in March 2011.

Menards

Starting with the ad labeled 3/6-3/20.  There are more great deals to be found, but I'm sticking with my freebies.  Find all ads here.

• 2 inch Handi-Clamps, $4 with a $4 rebate, limit 4 per household.
• Landscape block adhesive, $3 with a $3 rebate, limit 12 per household.
• 3 piece paint roller kit Includes 9" x 3/8" roller cover, 9" roller frame and rust-resistant 11" paint tray, $7 with a $7 rebate, limit 2.
• Smart caulk tool, $5 with a $5 rebate, limit 2.
• 4 inch pad edger or two pack replacement pads, $2 with a $2 rebate, limit 4.
• 2 pack painbrushes, $4 with a $4 rebate, limit 2.
• Flat paint gallon (in white, antique white, or ceiling white, $11 with an $11 rebate, limit 5.
• 3 pack lint roller $5.09 with a $5 rebate (so 9 cents per pack) limit 4.

Moving on to ad labeled 3/2-3/20

• Insta-peel veggie peeler, $4 with $4 rebate, limit 6.

Next ad 2/27-3/13

• Subfloor adhesive, $4 with $4 rebate, limit 12.
• 25 pack sandpaper 9" x 11" Includes 5 coarse (50 grit), 10 medium (80 grit) and 10 fine (120 grit) sheets, $4 with $4 rebate, limit 2 packs.
• Safety glasses, $2 with a $2 rebate, limit 4.

I'll send this one as is, but come back and add in the Walgreens and Target freebies later. 

Amazon March Black Friday SALE

This is today only, and they have even lower magazine prices than a couple of days ago. Just be sure to check it out, because it's only for today.  All the links and details:

• The link to all the magazines is here.  Every one of these is $5, and it's a lot of magazines not normally involved in their sales.

Be sure to check it out for yourself, because there are MANY more than the ones I've selected here.

Amazon March Grocery Deals

Wow, are there a lot of deals this month for Amazon. Expect some of the prices of these products to drop lower as the month goes on. Even if they sell out, most items are restocked throughout the month. I don't see any crazy wild deals yet, but they will happen. Here, then, the coupons page and the extra coupon codes to go on top of the 15% discount for Subscribe and Save.

There are more deals than the ones I'm posting, but these look the best to me.  Remember you get 15% off most of these IN ADDITION to the discount from the coupon codes.

• Lipton Teas, an additional 15% off with code LPTONTEA
• Eight O'Clock coffees, an additional 25% off with code SOLOCOF5 --this gets 4 bags of coffee down around $10, which is about $2.50 each.
• It's a great month if you buy Kellogg's!  10% additional off their cereals with code KELRTEC2
• Code POPTART2 will get you an additional 10% off poptarts.
• Get an additional 10% off with Kellogg's Nutrigrain Bars with code KLGWS3II.
• Get an additional 10% off Organic Valley milks with code VALLEYM4, bringing these all down to about $1 per serving.
• Get an additional 10% off Crispy Green snacks with code GOCRISPY.
• Code BROTHERS will get you an additional 10% off Brothers All Natural Crisps.
• Udi's Granola, all natural and many are gluten-free, have the 15% off with S&S and also an extra 15% off with code UDISO3II.  
• Campbells Soup at Hand 8 packs are 15% off and 15% off with code CAMPBE78.
• Bumblebee products, use code TUNABBB8 for an additional 10% off.
• Use code SPICEIS5 for an extra 10% off of Spice Island products.

Again, there are many more, but these were the ones that looked good to me.

Here are a few that have already dropped to low prices and are moving fast.



I have just found that Skippy Peanut butter has a new discount code for March. Use code SKIPWISH to get an additional 15% off these items.

I'm also adding this code for Baby Mum Mums BABYCRA4, making them 40% off, and this code for Plum Organics, making them 45% off.

Amazon March Magazine Deals

The magazine deals came in like a lion this month. There are some really great magazines--already cheap, but then take an additional $5 off the list price. I'll share links galore to cover all the great deals.

• Start here--everything on this list is $5 off what is listed.
• Under $5 magazines.
• Under $8 magazines.
• Under $10 magazines.

My favorite deals:




There are many more than the few I picked out, so check out all the links.