Get Microsoft Certified Training, FREE

Once again proving that the library should ALWAYS be the first place you check for just about everything, The Denver Public Library's Microsoft Elevate America program offers participants a chance to get quality training in a variety of different areas of Microsoft, free of charge.
We aren't just talking "I have never used Microsoft Word before" super general kind of training either, here, folks.
This is serious stuff, including classes designed to help seasoned pros pass Microsoft Technical Certification Exams.
Find more information about different classes offered and how to participate here.

Weekender

Ahhh, weekend in the Mile High City. Simply Glorious.
Our evenings find us being homebodies this time around - tonight is movie night (hooray for hunkering down with a big bowl of popcorn, a bottle of wine, AND a puffy doggie on your feet - try THAT at the theater,) and tomorrow night I get to cook dinner for some lovely friends. (I love, love, LOVE being the hostess!)
So since I don't have enough room to invite the rest of you, what else is fun and frugal around town this weekend?

1/29 - It may not be super fun, but it beats getting the flu, so if you haven't gotten an H1N1 vaccination yet, stop by 1515 Wazee from 5:30-7:30PM this evening and get one free, provided by @AfterOursDoc .
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1/30 - Looking for a fun activity for the little ones this weekend? Well, for the price of the frame, Junior can decorate a special Valentine's day keepsake to give to someone special (Parent? Grandparents, maybe?) at Michael's stores this Saturday, any time from 10am-1pm. Click here for details and to find a location near you.
ETA: The frame only costs $1.00!
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1/30 - And in the category of "I had no idea this was happening," I give you the first post about Denver Urban Homesteading's weekly Farmer's Market. It takes place every Saturday year round at DUH's (that is what they call themselves, I didn't do it!) headquarters: 200 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO 80204. It is open from 9am - 2pm every Saturday, which gives you ample time to stop in. See DUH's website for more info. (BTW, how cool are they? I think I am in love with the whole idea! Hey DUH, I am your new biggest fan, let's be BFF's, text me every two minutes, kay?)
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1/30 - OK, got that flu shot down, and now you are wondering how everything else is holding up, health wise? Well, The Center for African American health is hosting a free health fair at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street. You can get free screenings including -blood pressure, pap smear, glucose & cholesterol, prostate, vision, bone density, clinic breast exam, lung function, and more. Even dental screenings will be offered!! While you are there, you can also check out workshops and cooking demos (and sample the fruits of their labor.) See their website for more details.
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1/28-1/31 - It's X-games time up in Aspen this weekend, but if you aren't in the mood (or the money) for a drive up the hill, Downtown is hopping with winter-sport themed activities this weekend! (The Convention Center is hosting THE premier to-the-trade snow sport trade show this weekend, and Downtown retailers are offering all kinds of fun activities great for convention attendees and locals alike!) In Skyline park you can watch the X Games live on a giant open air screen from 5-9pm every evening (Thursday - Sunday) while enjoying a beer garden with $3.00 Budweiser's. Other events are happening all over the city, as Denver hosts the World's Largest Apres Ski Party at venues all over Downtown this weekend. See the full rundown of events here.
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Check back in the comments section for suggestions from other readers, and Happy Weekend, Dealers!

Pickin' Chicken -Albertsons

Albertsons has b/s Chicken Breasts at $1.88 lb this week. That is a good stock up price, and the lowest DiD has seen in a while, so if you go through these like we do, stock up now!!

A few Sprouts prices worth noting

This from Sam, our lovely Sprouts Market watcher:

"Sprouts has red/orange/yellow bell peppers for $0.88 ea. And asparagus for $1.49/lb.
Plus, BS chicken for $1.97/lb."

So if you live near a Sprouts location, you have some reasonable chicken for the pickin'.

Thanks Sam!

ETA - Albertsons has b/s chicken for $1.88 lb, so if you are near Albertsons, that is a better option!

FREE BEER!

Bet that got your attention, eh?

This from DenverHappyHour's tweet stream: - - Today at Rock Bottom Brewery in downtown Denver! January, 28th "Sub Zero" tapping...free pints 6-6:30pm!

BRU gift card

Mom? FB user? Well put those two together and you are perfect for this deal!
Become of fan of Babies “R” Us on Facebook today only (1/28/10) and receive a $5 eGift Card. Offer available to U.S. residents only while quantities last. Valid for in-store or on-line purchases. eGift Card expires 2/20/10.

Looks like it is time for me to hit up BRU for something cute for Nephew Vaughn!!

Feeling Competitive?

It's Word Nerds night, sponsored by Denver Public Library!! Head over to The Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum tonight from 5-8pm and get your game on.

Bring your own board games or use the ones provided - compete for Gift Certificates donated by some great local joints!
Check out all the info here.

I like choices..

Which is why I like Qdoba's Craft2 Menu.. pick two from their list of smaller versions of your Qdoba faves and make a meal.
Better yet, get it FREE when you buy a drink with this coupon.
YAY FREE!!

SF Market Double Ad Wednesday Preview

Hey Dealers, here is the link to the old and new ad that will both be honored tomorrow at Sunflower Market's Double Ad Wednesday! Make a list, make a plan, and take full advantage of all of the deals by shopping on Wednesday!

Along with some carrots and potatoes from last week's ad, I will be snatching up some bok choy and red onions both at 2 lbs for $1.00, a family pack (or two) of Chicken legs and thighs for $0.88 lb, and possibly some Alexia frozen fries (the sweet potato variety are SO YUMMY) depending on how my grocery fund is looking after I stock up on other things.. (maybe I will grab those next Wednesday, on the last day of the ad.)

But that is just my plan. Scan both ads and make your own to take advantage of both ad's sales!

There's never ever ever ever ever ever ever been a show like....

VEGGIE TALES!

If your little ones love Veggie Tales like I do (I have no kid to hide behind, I have to admit it is all me,) then head over to Big Idea's website and sign up for their newsletter. Then select a Veggie Tales DVD from the available titles for free!! Pay $2.99 shipping, but that is it!

Weekender - 1/22 - 1/24

WOO HOO WEEKEND!!!
Need I really say more?

What's up around town this weekend?

1/22 - Want to be a part of something that is about as "Denver" as you can get? Head over to high tea (or just to mingle in the lobby) at the Brown Palace from 11am - 1pm today and say hello to this year's National Western Stock Show Grand Champion Steer. Watch his furry self chug water from a silver bowl, get your picture taken with the prize specimen, and marvel at what (at least I hope) will be the closest example you will ever find in real life to a bull in a china shop.
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1/22 - Ready to get downtown and mix it up? Young or just feeling young-at-heart and ready to party hearty on the cheap? Market Street's newest addition celebrates it's grand opening tonight (1437 Market St) with two of my favorite words: Open Bar. The party is in full swing from 9:30pm-2:00am. Check out the FB invite here.
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1/23 - Is junior a tic-tac-toe champ? Burning through scrap paper with all of those Xs and Os? The Lowes Build and Grow clinic this week has the perfect answer (and a fun way to spend an hour on Saturday morning, too.) Register here for you and the kiddo to build your own wooden tic-tac-toe board at area Lowes Home Improvement Centers on Saturday, from 10 - 11am.
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1/23 - Hanker for a hunka meat after your Build and Grow lets out? Well every Saturday from 11am - 4pm, kids eat free with a paying adult at Lone Star Steak houses. MMMM, steak... (with apologies to the aforementioned Grand Champion Steer, natch.) It never hurts to call the location you are heading for to double-check participation, BTW.
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1/23 - Looking to celebrate frugality of a more adult variety? I can't think of anything more appropriate than a free art exhibit featuring PBR (yes folks - Pabst Blue Ribbon) as the subject. What is more frugal than every one's favorite SUPER cheap happy hour special? The show happens at Illiterate Magazine, beginning at 6pm on Saturday (82 South Broadway, Denver 80209) Seriously - how freaking awesome is that? See their website for more info.
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1/22-1/24 - I've said it before and I will say it again: Every day until the Colorado History Museum moves to the new location, admission is FREE. Also, Allen's True West is the current exhibit and it looks awesome. What a perfect way to round out your Western Weekend (after all that cow greeting and eating, of course) GO TO THE MUSEUM. See the website here for hours, etc.

Those are some fun and frugal highlights. I will update as I hear more.
Happy Weekend, Dealers!

Today's Groupon = Smmmmokin'!

I am only about luke-warm on the whole Groupon thing, so far at least.
But today's deal is one I can really get behind - pay $15.00 and get $30.00 worth of goods and services at Palma Cigars!
Our humidor has been sadly empty this season - though I admit that is mostly because it has been too cold to sit out by the gel-fuel "fire pit" and actually enjoy a cigar on the patio for a while now...
BUT WAIT! Even if you aren't a cigar lover, Palma also has a nice selection of wine, OR you can even use it towards a cut from their barber! So many choices, so little Groupon, eh?
This one is worth it, for sure!

Here's the 411.

SF Market Double Ad Wednesday preview

Hey Dealers, here is the link to the old and new ad that will both be honored tomorrow at Sunflower Market's Double Ad Wednesday! Some good stuff in there, for sure! Make a list, make a plan, and take full advantage of all of the deals by shopping on Wednesday!

Along with the Ground Meat deals that I, for one, have already SHAMELESSLY stuffed my freezer with from last week's ad, the new ad this week offers $0.17 lb Russet Potatoes, Large Ez Peel bulk Shrimp for $3.97 lb, and 1 lb bags of whole carrots 2 for $1.00, among other fabulous deals!

As always, HOORAY FOR SUNFLOWER!!

Helping others? Always a deal.

From Twitter: Dine at TAG tomorrow (1/20) 4 lunch/ dinner - 20% of proceeds go to Stand w/ Haiti, Partners in Health, Resv. encouraged - 303-996-9985 .

Weekender 1/15 - 1/18

Hooray - not only is the weekend here, but the promise of nice weather means that we can all get outside into the Colorado Sunshine and soak it up! I will be thrilled just to pack a lunch and a light jacket, load the doggie into the car and head over to Wash Park for some serious outdoor R & R!

What else is fun and frugal around town this weekend?

1/15 - As always, don't forget about The Denver Public Library's great line up of activities for the whole family. Lots of fun story times at different locations on Fridays - check out the full schedule here. (And don't forget DPL branches are closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day.)
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1/16 - Have you checked out Denver365.org? They have a "free events" section that is a fabulous resource for finding free events, especially at smaller local venues. How about heading to one of the galleries listed on Saturday to discover a new artist? Stay and stroll in the neighborhood, and discover all it has too offer - Denver's 'hoods never disappoint!
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1/16 - Lover of the dark brew? Well, from 1pm-5pm this Saturday, The Wynkoop hosts "The Parade of Darks" with $1.00 samples of all kinds of fabulous local dark beers. If you are going to go hog wild, unlimited sampling is available for $25.00 - but at a buck a pop, you can sample several and not break the bank! See 5280's blurb about it here.
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1/17- William Sonoma locations offer the second in their series of 3 classes teaching basic cooking tecniques - this week's offering is Sauteing and Panfrying. It will explain the differences between sauteing and panfrying-- two of the techniques most commonly used at home. Participants will learn how to correctly saute and panfry meats and veggies. Space is limited so call your closest location for exact start time and to register for this free class.
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1/17 - The University of Denver is giving a special performance this Sunday at 3:00 pm in Gates Hall of the Newman Center : Music Director Lawrence Golan will conduct a very special “Side-by-Side” concert with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra, the Phoenix Youth Symphony and the Lamont Women’s Chorus performing The Planets by Gustav Holst. The performance is free and open to the public. However, due to over-capacity crowds for LSO concerts, tickets are required. The box office will open at 2:00 pm on the day of the performance. Tickets may also be picked up in advance at the Newman Center Box Office, 10am-4pm, M-F. No tickets are required for the Friday concert. For more information, please call the Lamont Concert Line at (303) 871-6412
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1/18 - Are you participating in Denver's annual MLK Day Marade this year? Add an extra element to the experience by joining in The Topic Talk Walk group. As you walk in the Marade, you can join in spirited conversation with other walkers in the group. Here is their website. The Marade kicks off at City Park (17th and York) at 10 am with a program in front of Martin Luther King Jr's statue in the park and the walk will begin around 10:45. It concludes in Civic Center Park with a rally.

Enjoy your weekend, Dealers! As always, if you know of Fun and Frugal activities happening around town, feel free to post them in the comments for others to enjoy.

New to Snapfish? What a deal!

Click here to check out Snapfish's awesome freebie offer for new customers. You get 50 free prints plus a free photo flip book (you have to pay $1.99 shipping for the flip book) when you start using Snapfish today! (BTW - there is no commitment to buy anything or pay for any services after you use this offer.)

SF Market double ad Wednesday preview

Hey Dealers, here is the link to the old and new ad that will both be honored tomorrow at Sunflower Market's Double Ad Wednesday! Some good stuff in there, for sure!Make a list, make a plan, and take full advantage of all of the deals by shopping on Wednesday!

Check out the beef rump roast, reasonably (we have seen better, but this is pretty good) priced b/s chicken breast, and 6 Grapefruits for a buck from last week's add; plus pork loin roast (cut your own chops and save!) and a great price on lean ground turkey, chicken, or extra lean ground beef from this week's!

But you can call me Vikki...

I love the girly smells of Victoria's Secret bath/shower products - but 9 bucks for body wash? Um, no.
Well - print this page to get a free full-sized body wash with any purchase (as in, no-matter-how-small-go-find-trial-sized-something-on-clearance purchase) and you can enjoy the girly pampering in the shower for next to nothing.
OR - snap one up and put it in your gift stash for a welcome break from that "here's another bottle of wine" hostess gift rut.

Weekender

Heavenly Days, I am glad it is the weekend! I will spend mine cuddling the dog and nursing my cold with lots of sleep, NyQuil, and SEVERAL of my daddy's famous hot toddies.

But what will you do?

1/9 - It is the first free admission day of 2010 for the Denver Zoo on Saturday! It might be chilly, but it is always fun to bundle up the fam and go say hello to all the critters. Especially when it is free! Hours of operation are 10am - 4pm during the winter. ______________________________
1/9 -On Saturday, you can get the kiddos started off right in 2010 by taking them to build a free coin bank at Lowes Build and Grow clinic. Find a location and register here.
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1/9-1/10 - The National Western Stock show was a yearly favorite for my family when I was just a little wrangler, and though they have made almost every event a ticketed one, you can still get in to the actual grounds and look around at all the sights for a reasonable price. Adult tickets cost between $7.00 and $12.00, and this weekend if you head by a Guaranty Bank and Trust Company location, you can pick up vouchers for free admission for the kiddos. Grab event info here. Get along, little doggies!
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1/9 - For those of you in the Northern 'burbs (what up, Maude and Daddy?) and in the category of "you couldn't make this stuff up" - I give you the 14th annual Lafayette Quaker Oatmeal Festival this Saturday, with events happening at various locations around Lafayette. Celebrate the healthy lifestyle embraced by our lovely state and check out this event which includes a 5k walk/run, Health Fair, and (of course) an Oatmeal breakfast (with best bowl creation contest, natch.) See the website for all the details, and eat your oatmeal, kids.
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1/8-1/10 - Not finding what you want? Can't stand the idea of going out in the cold but HAVE to get rambunctious family members out to do SOMETHING this weekend? Meet every frugal family's best resorce. Your local library. Here's what's up this weekend at Denver's branches.

Whatever you do this weekend, Dealers, just keep on truckin' if you hear a dilapidated goose honking from Cap Hill... it's just me blowing my nose. :(

Happy weekend!

I like free tacos..

Actually, I love a free taco. If you do too, go here for a free taco fresco coupon from Taco Bell. (BTW, if you follow my link and print it once, you might be able to follow the link from Taco Bell's website and print it again, I was able to.)
Ole!

Mmmm, Sausuage...

This from Tony's Market FB Page: The Sausage Saga continues - today only! Buy one pound, get one free!
YAY!

SF Market - Double Ad Wednesday Preview

Hey Dealers, here is the link to the old and new ad that will both be honored tomorrow at Sunflower Market's Double Ad Wednesday! Some good stuff in there, for sure!
Make a list, make a plan, and take full advantage of all of the deals by shopping on Wednesday!

And how about that resolution to get in shape?

Find some great inspiration in your mailbox each month for just $5.00! Amazon has some great fitness and nutrition magazine subscriptions on sale for a Finn today. Check out all the titles here.

Start off 2010 on the right track

I guess since this blog was born out of necessity after The Hub was laid off, it is safe to say that 2009 wasn't the easiest year (at least the first half of it) on our finances. Perhaps you faced financial challenges in 2009 as well?

Well, David Back's new book "Start Over, Finish Rich - 10 Steps to Get You Back on Track in 2010" is available for FREE on line today only. Go here to download the book, and if you have read any of his books in the past, let us know what you think of them and of his ideas.