Making Cents of It

Free $2 MP3 Credit on Amazon

2012-05-18T17:48:00.000-04:00

There is currently a promotion on Amazon. Allow them to post a comment on your Facebook and you will get a free $2 MP3 credit to Amazon. The promotional value must be used by May 24, 2012.

Upon completion of the "Share & Claim" action, a $2 MP3 credit will be automatically applied to your Amazon account. Promotional credits must be redeemed by 11:59 PM PST on May 24, 2012. Amazon MP3 music is available to customers located and with billing addresses in the United States. You must have an Amazon.com account and accept the Amazon MP3 Service Terms of Use to redeem your credit. Limit one promotional credit per customer.

Free Screenings of Beasts of the Southern Wild

2012-05-17T17:43:00.000-04:00

Winner of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, Beasts of the Southern Wild is about a young girl trying to survive as the universe around her falls apart. From what I'm reading in the synopsis, it has a small sci-fi aspect but I'm honestly not positive what it's about.

Select cities will have a free screening prior to the official release. Head over to Furst Access and use your zip code to search for local screenings. If you find one, use the promo code bathtub to get your free passes.

Even if you don't see a screening this time, it pays to create your free account. They are currently listing Disney/Pixar's Brave but no actual screen locations/dates are posted yet. I'll keep an eye out for the promo code.

Free Rental From Blockbuster Express

2012-05-16T17:20:00.000-04:00

There is currently a new promotional code available for the Blockbuster Express. The code MAYMOVIE (expires May 17, 2012) is good once per credit card.

Note: I do not have a Blockbuster Express machine near me, so I can not verify these codes through personal use.

Free Brita Water Bottle (First 250)

2012-05-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

At 10am, the first 250 to enter for a chance to win on Self will get a free Brita water bottle. These bottle are great for a day out because you can keep refilling it from water fountains and you won't have to worry. The bottle's built in filter will clean it as you drink. Remember to try and drink eight glasses of water each day.

The water bottle is a sign-up bonus for the first 250 people at 10am on May 14, 2012. The grand prize for this contest is you'll be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino for five nights.

Free Address Stamp at Staples

2012-05-13T22:42:00.000-04:00

If you missed this deal in March, it's back. For readers that took advantage of the deal in March, this is a new promotion and therefore you can get another free stamp.

If you need or want a cool personalized stamp, check out the upcoming deal from Staples. From May 13-19, 2012, you can get the Brother 1850 instant stamp for 100% back in your Staples Reward account. These stamps are custom made in the copy center and are available in black, blue, red, or green ink.

The stamps can be customized with any words that fit. I personally created a "great job" stamp last time which I use when grading homework. The possibilities are endless.

Order in store or online at staples.com/instant. Valid on Brother® 1850 instant stamp. Excludes third-party stamps. Price eligible for Rewards is the amount paid at checkout after application of all promotions, coupons and Rewards redemptions. Purchaser is responsible for sales tax. No cash/credit back. Limit 1 per customer per promotion. While supplies last.

Free Rental From Redbox

2012-05-13T16:01:00.001-04:00

Use the promotional code MAY13 at any Redbox machine for a free Mother's Day rental.

Source: Redbox

Free (After Rebate) Bag of By Nature Pet Food

2012-05-12T18:34:00.000-04:00

Head over to By Nature Pet Food's Facebook page and request your rebate form for a free bag of dog food. I checked their website and it looks like you're more likely to find this brand at the higher-end pet stores and local vets.

As always, if you don't have a dog please consider picking up a bag for your local shelter. They can always use free food.

Leave Non-Perishable Items Near Your Mailbox Tomorrow

2012-05-11T22:57:00.000-04:00

Is your kitchen overflowing from your great deals? The USPS wants to help you empty the shelves by donating your non-perishable items to local food shelters. Tomorrow (May 12, 2012) is the annual Stamp Out Hunger campaign and your postal carrier will collect items to be delivered. Just put any donations in a bag and leave it next to your mailbox. That's it. The post office will take care of the rest.

Helping Stamp Out Hunger is as easy as checking your mailbox. Just leave a bag of non-perishable food where your letter carrier normally delivers your mail on Saturday, May 12. Your letter carrier will then pick up and deliver the food to a local food bank. Examples of non-perishable items include:

Canned soup

Canned meats and fish

Canned vegetables, fruits and juices

Boxed goods (such as cereal)

Pasta

Rice

Possible Free Or Cheap Cherry Berry Chiller at McDonalds

2012-05-11T22:35:00.000-04:00

I heard an advertisement on the radio this afternoon for a great deal at McDonald's. When I looked online, I couldn't find the deal I heard about so I either misheard the radio or it's a local (Philadelphia) promotion. McDonald's had released a new Cherry Berry Chiller and they want you to try it.

On the website I was able to find a coupon for $1 off a Cherry Berry Chiller. The radio ad I heard mentioned the small Cherry Berry Chiller being $1 all weekend. If I heard correctly, that means you can get a free small Cherry Berry Chiller at McDonald's this weekend by combining the $1 promotional price and the $1 off any size coupon.

Movie Review: Dark Shadows

2012-05-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

I was very excited that my passes to see Dark Shadows was at a dome IMAX theater. This was my first time seeing a non-educational film in such a theater and I just want to say that I was blown away. While it wasn't necessary for this film, I can see action films being a lot of fun in the dome setting because I truly felt wrapped in the action. The screen was in my entire field of vision.

After the movie, I spoke with someone who had seen a previous screening of Dark Shadows at a normal theater and he explained that the film felt distorted from the curve of the screen. Therefore, I cannot advise if this movie is worth the IMAX cost because most IMAX screens will be flat. Additionally, some of my complaints regarding the camera shots might be explained by this curve and therefore I have decided to leave them out of the review. These few items were not going to impact my final opinion because they did not affect the film as a whole.

Now for the movie review...

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp teamed up again for their eighth collaboration in Dark Shadows. Prior to the trailers beginning to air, I had never heard of Dark Shadows so I found myself behind the majority of the crowd. Most people at the movie were fans of the 1970s soap opera. If you, like me, find yourself unfamiliar with the origins of the story, don't panic. The movie is not a continuation and therefore most of the characters are introduced in a way that allows you to enjoy the film without that prior knowledge. I say most, because there were a few parts where I was confused.

The film began with a short story in the 1700s as we see how the young Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) is cursed by a witch and then betrayed. Almost 200 years later, Barnabas is released by unknowing people and the story begins. I liked this early scene because it helped introduce characters and explain behaviors later in the film. Keep an eye out because some of the actors are in both the 1700s and 1970s and it effects the story.

The majority of the film takes place in the 1970s. I thought Tim Burton did a great job with the sets because they were dull and run down but in a retro kind of way. Johnny Depp played his part very well and as usual he emerged himself into the roll. The rest of the cast also did a great job playing their parts.

My personal opinion of this film is that it will have a pre-determined fan base. If you enjoy fantasy, this film will really entertain you and you will like it. If you are not a fan of vampires, witches, werewolves, and mythical creatures, you probably won't like this film. I personally enjoyed the film and would go see a sequel if they released one.

Dark Shadows will be released nation wide on May 11, 2012. Check your local theater's Facebook page for coupons on snacks.

Movie Rating for DARK SHADOWS

The passes for this pre-screening were through a trade on Cinemit's message board. Making friends with other movie lovers is a great way to find out about local screenings. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Free Sample of Milk-Bones Trail Mix (For Dogs)

2012-05-10T21:56:00.002-04:00

Milk-bone has a great offer right now. You can get a free sample of Milk-Bone trail mix. It's made with beef and sweet potatoes so it sounds like something your dog will enjoy.

Free Bodywash from CVS and MinuteClinic

2012-05-09T17:45:00.001-04:00

Go like MinuteClinic on Facebook and you'll get a coupon for a free bottle of body wash at CVS. The coupon will be emailed to you and must be redeemed before May 20, 2012.

MinuteClinics are located nationwide inside CVS stores and provide medical care when your doctor isn't available.

Free $5 CVS Gift Card With Each $25 Gift Card Purchase

2012-05-08T16:46:00.000-04:00

This is a repeat deal from earlier in the year. For every $25 worth of gift cards you buy for CVS, you'll get a $5 gift card free. They must be CVS eGift Cards which means you will have an email to print, not a physical card. It still works the same and can be used in the stores and online.

For every $25 worth of Gift Card by Email (eGift Card) purchased, the purchaser receives a $5 eGift Card.

Limited time offer.

You will receive one eGift Card based on your total purchase.

eGift Card purchase total is limited to $150 per single transaction.

The website mentions it being a limited time offer but doesn't give an expiration date.

Free Sample of Mrs. Dash

2012-05-06T18:04:00.000-04:00

Right now on Facebook, you can get a free sample of Mrs. Dash. Mrs. Dash makes salt free seasonings which means that they are a healthy way of adding flavor to your favorite dishes. The free sample is limited to the first 30,000 people so hurry over before they run out. It might sound like a large number, but it will go fast.

Possible Free Toliet Paper at CVS

2012-05-06T09:10:00.001-04:00

While I can't find this deal posted anywhere on CVS.com or their weekly flier, I did see it today when I stopped by CVS. They currently have a cardboard display advertising Cottonelle Toilet Paper with a designer roll cover for $1.99 with $1.99 back in Extra Care Bucks. The display says limit one, but when I purchased the toilet paper my receipt didn't say I had reached my limit. By the end, I got four free rolls of toilet paper with nice plastic cases.

Cottonelle has been advertising the free designer toilet paper covers with purchase for a while with $1.99 shipping or $2 (plus $1.99) for additional covers. This deal at CVS will give you the case AND a roll of toilet paper for free. The roll cover is a nice plastic case and comes in three designs.

While you're at CVS, make sure you pick up your free Snickers bar this week.

$5 Off at Payless (In Store or Online)

2012-05-05T15:53:00.000-04:00

To help celebrate Cinco de Mayo, there is currently a $5 off coupon for Payless Shoe Stores. The coupon is valid today and tomorrow (expires May 6, 2012). If you find something for $5, it will be free.

Source: Maven of Savin'

$2 Off Popcorn at Regal Theaters

2012-05-04T20:38:00.000-04:00

Just in time for The Avengers, Regal Theaters is offering a $2 off popcorn mobile coupon. The coupon is valid until May 6, 2012 and will be sent as a text message.

Movie Review: The Avengers

2012-05-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

It's been four years since the first Iron Man film was released in theaters. Since then, we have slowly been introduced to many superheroes from the Marvel universe. The Avengers is the culmination of years of anticipation. Before I begin my review, I need to be honest with my readers and admit that I never saw all of the original films. In fact, the only film I saw prior to The Avengers was Captain America: The First Avenger.

Right from the first scene, there was action as our villain for the film makes his first appearance. The action continues throughout and I found even the slower parts moved quickly. Each hero was reintroduced in a way that fitted them and allowed viewers to receive a background if they hadn't seen the previous films.

The story was well written and flowed nicely. I thought the battle scenes were full of action, but nothing seemed overly forced which was a nice change from most superhero films. The best part of the film was how the team learned to work together. Fans have seen them each as an independent force prior to The Avengers and the characters felt the same way. While still a world of fantasy, it added a small bit of realism. It wasn't just a "hey we're superheroes, let's stop the bad guy" feeling. They even joked about it in one of the many funny quotes during the film.

As usual, I wasn't super impressed with the 3D action. Perhaps it's my eyes, but I just still don't see the technology worth the extra money. I do feel that anyone that is a fan of superheroes will enjoy the film. I do plan to rent Iron Man because while I originally had no interest in the film, Robert Downey Jr's performance made me want to see the film that started it all.

The Avengers will be released nation wide on May 4, 2012. If you buy your ticket on Fandango, you can get a free song download from the soundtrack. Check your local movie theater's Facebook page for possible concession stand coupons.

Movie Rating for The Avengers

The passes for this pre-screening were won by a friend and I don't know the source. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Free 14 Day Supply of Clinique Sunscreen from Macys

2012-05-03T21:37:00.000-04:00

Macys and Clinique want to help you stay skin safe this summer. Stop into any Macy's Clinique counter for a consultation and leave with a free 14-day supply of Super City Block sunscreen.

Free Screening of Girl in Progress

2012-05-01T21:34:00.001-04:00

Right now, people in select cities can get free passes to see an advanced screening of Girl in Progress. The film is about a single mother.

As of this posting, the following cities still have passes available:

Chicago, IL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Houston, TX
Miami, FL
Ontario, CA
Orange County, CA
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY

My Head's In the Clouds

2012-04-30T21:12:00.002-04:00

With the release of the Google Drive, clouds are more confusing than ever. Which one should I use? Do I need to upgrade? How do I decide? These are just a few questions you might be asking yourself. The answer is not simple. It really depends on what you plan to use your cloud for.

For readers that don't know what a cloud is, this might sound even more confusing. Check out my original post on Riding the Cloud: A Guide to Online File Storage.

If you are ready to join the online storage craze you might be looking at the pros and cons of each cloud along with the cost. Almost every cloud offers a free tier, but some are very small and very restricted. ars technica has written a wonderful article comparing the free and pay tiers for the major cloud providers.

I found it interesting that Dropbox, while one of the most popular clouds, is also the most expensive paid services. The free tier only starts with 2 GB but the free upgrades are easy to get. I love that the app on my phone automatically uploads every picture I take. That's a 3 GB (500 MB at a time) free upgrade. You can also earn free storage from referrals, installing the app, and more.

Google Drive is providing 5 GB to start but I don't see any free upgrades. Of all the drives, they are the cheapest for paid upgrades. I haven't really played around yet but it looks good so far and Google is reliable for quality. The only problem I see is that ars technica listed the con of Google Drive as having loose privacy policies. This makes me worry that they might be looking at your documents, pictures, etc.

Check out the whole article on ars technica to compare the different clouds for yourself.

New Design Coming Soon

2012-04-29T21:20:00.001-04:00

Have you checked out fiverr before? It's a really cool site where people can offer to do anything for $5. They have some really crazy "gigs" like screaming your message in a chicken suit on a street corner but they also have some really valuable gigs like proofreading, app designs, and more.

As you know, I have been trying to redesign Making Cents of It for a while, but we all know my brain is all math and science but not very creative artistically. Today, I ordered a gig from a designer to overhaul Making Cents of It. Over the next few days you will see the site going through changes as he helps me make the site get the design it deserves.

So please be patient as dilshan1987 helps give Making Cents of It a new style.

$49 for Kindle After Gift Card at Walmart

2012-04-29T17:09:00.003-04:00

It's very rare for large ticket items like the Kindle to go on sale. The manufacturer sets the price and stores can't really lower them. The difference between stores is the promotion that goes with the item. For example, some stores might offer free cases or extra games to get you in the door.

This week, Walmart is promoting the Kindle e-ink. Until May 5, 2012, you can get a $30 Walmart gift card when you purchase a Kindle, (6" E Ink Display). That means that the $79 Kindle will end up being $49 after the gift card. This is one of the best promotions I've seen on a Kindle. It is not available online, so you will have to head out to the store if you want to pick one up.