diff --git a/migrations/20131022_purchased_and_newStuff.js b/migrations/20131022_purchased_and_newStuff.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..862d9e107f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/20131022_purchased_and_newStuff.js
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+db.users.find().forEach(function(user){
+  if (!user.purchased) user.purchased = {hair: {}, skin: {}};
+  user.purchased.ads = user.flags && !!user.flags.ads;
+  db.users.update({_id:user._id}, {$set:{'purchased': user.purchased, 'flags.newStuff': true}, $unset: {'flags.ads':1}});
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/migrations/new_stuff.js b/migrations/new_stuff.js
index fa517671a6..df2d59e795 100644
--- a/migrations/new_stuff.js
+++ b/migrations/new_stuff.js
@@ -1 +1 @@
-db.users.update({},{$set:{'flags.newStuff':'show'}},{multi:true})
\ No newline at end of file
+db.users.update({},{$set:{'flags.newStuff':true}},{multi:true})
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/public/js/controllers/footerCtrl.js b/public/js/controllers/footerCtrl.js
index 7a31b9532c..3757f3cffb 100644
--- a/public/js/controllers/footerCtrl.js
+++ b/public/js/controllers/footerCtrl.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ habitrpg.controller("FooterCtrl", ['$scope', '$rootScope', 'User', '$http',
       $.getScript('//checkout.stripe.com/v2/checkout.js');
 
       // Amazon Affiliate
-//      if ($rootScope.authenticated() && User.user.flags.ads !== 'hide') {
+//      if ($rootScope.authenticated() && !User.user.purchased.ads) {
 //        $.getScript('//wms.assoc-amazon.com/20070822/US/js/link-enhancer-common.js?tag=ha0d2-20').fail(function() {
 //          $('body').append('<img src="//wms.assoc-amazon.com/20070822/US/img/noscript.gif?tag=ha0d2-20" alt="" />');
 //        });
diff --git a/src/controllers/user.js b/src/controllers/user.js
index c98fdd845d..ecd75a3d28 100644
--- a/src/controllers/user.js
+++ b/src/controllers/user.js
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ api.buyGems = function(req, res) {
     },
     function(response, cb) {
       res.locals.user.balance += 5;
-      res.locals.user.flags.ads = 'hide';
+      res.locals.user.purchased.ads = true;
       res.locals.user.save(cb);
     }
   ], function(err, saved){
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ api.buyGemsPaypalIPN = function(req, res) {
           if (err) throw err;
           if (_.isEmpty(user)) throw "user not found with uuid " + uuid + " when completing paypal transaction"
           user.balance += 5;
-          user.flags.ads = 'hide';
+          user.purchased.ads = true;
           user.save();
           console.log('PayPal transaction completed and user updated');
         });
diff --git a/src/models/user.js b/src/models/user.js
index d5f4725170..587bcf22d1 100644
--- a/src/models/user.js
+++ b/src/models/user.js
@@ -78,10 +78,9 @@ var UserSchema = new Schema({
   flags: {
     customizationsNotification: {type: Boolean, 'default': false},
     showTour: {type: Boolean, 'default': true},
-    ads: {type: String, 'default': 'show'}, // FIXME make this a boolean, run migration
     dropsEnabled: {type: Boolean, 'default': false},
     itemsEnabled: {type: Boolean, 'default': false},
-    newStuff: {type: String, 'default': 'hide'}, //FIXME to boolean (currently show/hide)
+    newStuff: {type: Boolean, 'default': false},
     rewrite: {type: Boolean, 'default': true},
     partyEnabled: Boolean, // FIXME do we need this?
     petsEnabled: {type: Boolean, 'default': false},
diff --git a/views/tasks/ads.jade b/views/tasks/ads.jade
index f86d0bb5f6..1622a3cb74 100644
--- a/views/tasks/ads.jade
+++ b/views/tasks/ads.jade
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-div(ng-if='authenticated() && user.flags.ads!="hide"')
+div(ng-if='authenticated() && !user.purchased.ads')
   span.pull-right(ng-if='list.type!="reward"')
     a(ng-click='modals.buyGems=true', tooltip='Remove Ads')
       i.icon-remove