If you are new to Monroe on a Budget, here is my policy for my sales and deals posts: I verify that the deal is available to my local readers in Monroe County, Mich. before I will post it.

This vetting is easiest to do when I look at what ads that show up in my newspaper and in my mailbox. On other occasions, I find them on the company’s web site under a zip code search. Sometimes I tell you about unadvertised sales and specials I find while shopping at the local stores.

While I expand the postings occasionally into Ann Arbor, Toledo or the metro Detroit area stores, that is a pretty rare situation. After all, gas money for such a drive does eat into the potential savings. But a lot of Monroe County residents do commute to work and it would be very little effort to do some shopping on the way home.

You also should be aware that the businesses don’t pay me for these mentions. The ads on Monroe on a Budget are the banner ads on the top and bottom. It’s my decision what to post on the blog.

Sales announcements were not originally part of this site. But I saw how popular that information was on other blogs and decided to give it a try. You might find a deal you really want to chase down.

Here are some of the fliers that arrived in my mail or my home-delivery edition of The Monroe Evening News today. Yes, some are Black Friday specials:

• Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft mail flier lists 60 percent off all in-stock Holiday Inspirations from Friday Nov. 28 to Saturday Dec. 6. Coupons in flier include 50 percent off ALL DAY Friday Nov. 28 any one regular-priced item, and a 20 percent off total purchase from 6 a.m. to noon Friday Nov. 28. Rolling sewing machine tote 29.99 all day Friday Nov. 28. Butterick patterns 99 cents each, limit 10, Friday Nov. 28-Sunday Nov. 30.
• Cabela’s in Dundee has a four-hour sale 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday Nov. 28 on the Nintendo Wii hunting pack, also there are four-hour detals on Stillwater fleece vests and jackets for men and women. The regular sales flier is for Nov. 28 through Dec. 3 and includes a two-way radio set, binoculars, and Carhartt’s flannel-lined bibs.
• Ikea in Canton has a MALM queen bed frame, all finishes, on sale for $99 Friday Nov. 28 only. Check coupon in flier for free breakfast until 10:30 a.m. Friday Nov. 28. The Mysa Vete down comforter will be $49.99 Sunday Nov. 30 only.
• Ace Hardware has doorbuster specials Friday Nov. 28 that include pet beds, a digital photo frame and a Meyers Touch Screen GPS. Sales that are good Friday Nov. 28 through Sunday Nov. 30 include LED and mini light sets, and a wireless weather station with forecast.
• Aco Hardware has midnight madness sale hours 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 26. The coupons during midnight madness include 100-count mini lights two for $3, and Faygo 2-liter pop two for $1. During the Christmas Magic sale Nov. 24 through Nov. 30, you can buy American Greeting boxed Christmas cards 75 percent off and several extension cords on sale prices.
• Tractor Supply Co. has Friday-only specials that include flannel shirts at 40 percent off, selected pet crates at 40 percent off, and aluminum truck tool boxes at 20 percent off. Lots of toys, pet food and supplies featured in the flier.
• Toys R Us has a half-off sale Tuesday and Wednesday that includes Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, American Idol talent challenge game and preschool scooters.
• Food Town in Monroe will have a Saturday Super Sale Nov. 29 theat features beef tenderloin at $3.99 a pound and whole pork roast at 99 cents a pound. The regular weekly specials include Freshlike vegetables 79 cents a bag. Food Town does double coupons up to 50 cents and Wednesday is 10 percent off most items for senior citizens. Coupon on back of flier for Coca-Cola purchase.
• Hi-Lite Supermarket in Monroe Township has Jif peanut butter $1.49 a pound, Freshlike vegetables 79 cents a bag, Breyer ice cream two for $5. Coupon on back of flier for Coca-Cola purchase.
• Elder-Beerman has a two-day sale Tuesday and Wednesday with coupons in the flier. Items of note include Easy Spirit slippers for $12.98 and 50 percent off Carter’s and Little Me for baby. All Chicago Cutlery will be 55 percent off.