FREE ONLINE CLASSES FROM HP

HP(of computer and printer fame) offers some great free classes and learning tools at:

www.hp.com/go/learningcenter

HP offers a wide variety of computer and IT classes, as well as basic business and home office education. The classes are free, totally online and lead by working professionals. You can ask questions of the instructors and chat with your 'classmates' on the discussion boards.
After succesful completion of your class, you can print out a certificate for that class.
You won't get college credit (unless your college accepts these as life long learning credit. You could ask!) but you will get excellent information and training for free.
I've taken several of these courses and I learned some skills and information at HP that weren't included in the advanced IT courses I took at my community college!

FREE SLURPEE ON JULY 10, 2009!

On Saturday, July 10, 2009, in honor of their 82nd birthday, 7-11 stores are giving away one free Slurpee to every customer. Oh, thank Heavens!

A piece of free advice!

Many of you may be filling out forms these days for various reasons; job applications, college applications, loan and financial aide applications, insurance forms,etc.
I work with forms everyday and we send back forms that have not been filled out completely and according to the instructions on the forms. We have to send back as many as 50 incorrectly or inadequately filled forms a day and many people are waiting for our forms as a part of a job application process!
So a word of advice; FILL OUT THOSE FORMS COMPLETELY AND CORRECTLY!
If an area is not applicable to you, write N/A. If information is unknown to you or you don't remember, indicate UNK (unknown). If you need to get your signature notarized, do so and make you you bring proper I.D. to the notary public and that the notary's term is still current and that they have a notary number. If you are under 18, get your parent or guardian's notarized co-signature. Respect any date deadlines. If payment is required, pay only in the manner requested. Money orders are almost always acceptable.
Don't fill out or sign any area that is not yours to sign. For some reason, many people sign and date the area that is indicated for the office staff only!
How would you feel if the ONLY reason you lost out on a job opportunity or a loan was an incorrectly filled form?
Follow the above guidelines and save yourself time, money and a lot of grief.

ELEVATE AMERICA!

Microsoft is offering free certification to the growing ranks of unemployed and under-employed workers in America. The link is through a WWBT TV link.
http://www.nbc12.com/Global/Link.asp?L=392600

Two New Farmer's Markets in the West End !

ST. STEPHEN'S FARMERS MARKET
@ St. Stephen's Church - 6600 Grove Avenue
- SATURDAYS - 8:00 AM- 12:00 Noon
May through October

WEST END FARMER'S MARKET
@ Gayton Road & Ridgefield Parkway
Richmond, VA 23238
- WEDNESDAYS & SATURDAYS
8:00 AM - 12:00 NOON
April 25th through December 12th. (weather permitting)
Closed on Federal Holidays

WEST END PRODUCE HAS RELOCATED! YEAH!

West End Produce, which sells vegetables, fruits, flowers and plants as well as some breads and jams,etc., has found a new location! YEAH!!!
I was so dismayed when they closed the old location and hadn't heard if they had found a new location. Today we drove as we drove up Patterson Avenue heading towards Route 288, I noticed the new stand as we drove by.
The new location is still on Patterson Avenue (Route 6)but is about a mile or more further west on Patterson Avenue than the old stand, which was at Patterson and Gaskins . The new stand is on the south side of Patterson Avenue.

Good article on coping without insurance

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/insurance/dealing-without-health-insurance-1.aspx

Bankrate's article gives advice on coping if you have no health insurance or have recently lost your insurance. You can also use the site to compare insurance plans and costs.
It has some ideas for the 47+ MILLION WORKING AMERICANS (shameful! just shameful!) who, like me (And I work for the STATE OF VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, not a small business!), are uninsured.
The state of medical insurance or lack thereof is the shame of America! We are the land of the free, the home of the brave and a country in which it seems many government and private concerns don't care if we live or die!
America is the only major 1st world, industrialized country that does not provide some sort of medical care and social safety net for ALL its citizens.
In America, you have to be rag-tag poor to get help and then many people look down on you and think you are a lazy bum.
How can we purport to be a GREAT country if we treat a good portion of our citizens like beggars and instead, we reward greed?
America, our country is now reaping what we have sown in so many ways and unfortunately, the many are paying for the gross abuses of the few.

FREE ONLINE CLASSES

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/

FREE ONLINE CLASSES FEATURING ACCREDITED INSTRUCTORS AND CONTINUED LEARNING CREDITS AND CERTIFICATES FROM GOODWILL.

The classes and skill levels are basic/beginner but I am sure many people could benefit from these classes. I could use the EXCEL classes myself.

SAD NEWS!

I am sad to have to report that four treasured local frugal and/or green resources have closed! It's especially distressing to see thrift stores close during times of economic distress:
CLOSED are:
~~~ The Pepperridge Farm Bakery Outlet
~~~ The Entemann's Bakery Outlet
~~~ Patterson Avenue Produce (forced to move so the space could be used to build yet another d*mn chain drugstore. *&*%%$) If he can find a decent, affordable location, he will re-open.
~~~ St. Mary's A Golden Opportunity Thrift Store.

Help when you need it!

During these tough economic times, being frugal may not be not enough. Sometimes, if one has lost his or her job or had unexpected expenses, one simply needs extra help, whether that help be from friends and family or private charity or the government.
Help in extenuating circumstances should not be construed as 'living on the dole' nor should one be too proud to seek and accept such help if truly needed.
With that in mind, I am listing several resources for you.
Because I work at the Virginia Department of Social Services Home Office, I often get notice of such programs before they are announced to the general public or notice of programs that most folks would have to spend hours digging through the web to find.

I must ask one favor of my readers: Please do not seek out these resources just to be frugal or to get something for free. Please use them if you truly need them, but if you are doing okay, please leave them for those who are truly needy.

FIRST STOP: Phone 211 ! 211 is staffed by professionally trained individuals whose job is to help you find help!

Other resources:
Angel Food Ministries: http://www.angelfoodministries.com/
Angel Food dispenses a large box of nutritious food monthly for one low price. Anyone can participate.

Food bank: If you don't need to use the food bank yourself, please donate:
In addition to food stored in non-perishable containers, the food bank welcomes donations of toiletries such a toothbrushes and pastes, shampoo and soap.
AND they can use pet food donations to help distressed people feed their pets.
http://www.cvfb.org/

Need a car for work or to look for work but can't afford one?
http://www.opportunitycars.com/cars_for_low-income_families.htm

Cellphone?
https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/home.aspx

This link was promoted on the WTVR - TV 6 website and news. I have no idea if the program works or not but I can't believe a local TV station, especially the home of reporter and advocate extraordinaire Mark Holmberg, would be deliberately promoting a rip-off. It's supposed to help people with lousy or no credit get a car.
http://1800startover.com/

Benefits, grants, etc. from the U.S. government:
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml

Low cost and free Internet services:
http://www.freedomlist.com/