Michael’s Craft stores have a full slate of free activities for the family.   Starting February 4th  there will be classes to make photo holders, puppets and more.  Go to Michaels.com and click on “Classes”  to see the schedule.

Here’s some free music from Sister Hazel: Amazon has an 11 song sampler album you can download for a limited time.  And while you’re online, you can grab a free sample of Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal, and even send a sample to up to ten friends.   That’s at Quakeroats.com

And click here to get  a free packet of Maggi Chicken soup.  It’s good while supplies last.

For adults only:   Miller High Life will send you a dollar when you sign up under the Get Sponsored Promotion on their web site.   Even better, you can choose to donate your dollar to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

On Sunday January 9th, the first five thousand people who Like Tide Brand Laundry detergent on Facebook get a free stain removing pen.
.
On January 12th, the first five thousand people who Like Coastal Contacts on Facebook will get a free pair of prescription glasses. The promotion starts at 9 a.m.  There is a charge for shipping.  

From AtlantaOnTheCheap.com:    Theatre in the Square in Marietta is offering free acting classes for both children and adults on January 15th. Space is limited and you  need to pre-register by noon on the 14th.

Paula Begoun is the author of the books,  Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me and the Beauty Bible.  You can join her Beautypedia website for two months free to get reviews on dozens of beauty products. A membership normally costs $4.95 per month or $24.95 per year.

If you live in Fulton County here’s a museum freebie:  on the first Saturday of the month Fulton County residents get free admission to the Center for Puppetry Arts Museum. The offer begins January 8th. 

Fulton County residents also get free admission to the High Museum of Art the first Saturday of the month.   The next free date is February 5th.

Don’t miss Ways to Save at 11pm, 6am and on 11alive.com this week!  We’ll have info on FREE tax preparation,  how to plan your shopping around the calendar all year long,  and lots more!     I’ll answer viewer questions on 11Alive Weekend Morning News at 6am and tell you where my favorite clearance sales are on Sunday at 9am.

Have a great weekend! 

V

Aldi is a German based no frills grocery store chain that stocks a small assortment of gift and toy deals in limited quantities every holiday season.

This year Aldi has the popular kids’ toys Bakugan, Star Wars Lego and Barbie accessories at rock botttom prices.

For example, the Lego Star Wars Freeco Speeder set is $18.99 at Aldi.   That is at least three dollars less than at Amazon.com or Walmart.  Pricegrabber.com also didn’t find a lower price on the Lego items.

Another place to check for popular toys is at  Tuesday Morning, which carries overstock and liquidated items or items that may have undergone logo or packaging changes. 

Consignment stores can also be a gold mine and gently used toys aren’t encased in difficult to remove plastic packaging and wires!

Also keep in mind that Walmart stores will usually match a competitor’s price if you bring in a current ad.  The Aldi sale runs through Tuesday November 9th.

Oriental Trading Company is sending out free 2011 calendars that also include discount coupons.  Register at orientaltrading.com 

Betty Crocker is also sending out free 2011 recipe Calendars.  Just go to Betty Crocker.com to sign up.

Your pet can get a free rabies vaccination Saturday, October 30th at City of Refuge.  The non profit group is teaming up with the Humane Society of the United States to give out free vaccinations from 10 am to 1 pm.   City of Refuge is located at 1300 Joseph E Boone Blvd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30314.   Free bags of pet food will also be distributed.

And if you like country music mark you Calendar for November 4th. Patty Loveless is giving a free concert at  Discover Mills at 6pm.  The concert is designed to draw awareness to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and free screenings will be available.

Restaurant.com is having an 80 percent off sale. $25.00 gift certificates for local restaurants are available for $2.00 when you use the code “TOUCHDOWN” at checkout.
Most restaurants require a purchase of least $35 dollars worth of food,   so out of pocket expenses  will be $12.00  plus tip for a 35 dollar meal.

Buckhead Life Restaurant Group is giving away thousands of $25.00 gift cards.   Like them on Facebook and provide your address to get the card.   The gift cards are good for dinner only at Buckhead Diner, Blue Pointe and many other restaurants in the Buckhead Life corporation.   Bistro Niko is not included.   This offer ends on  Tuesday, September 14th. 14th.

Cobb County Restaurant Week continues through next Saturday. Participating restaurants will provide fixed price lunches and dinners for $20.10.Those restaurants include The Grape and Soho on Paces Ferry, The Marietta Fish Market and Shillings On The Square.  For the full list go to the Cobb Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website.

B.J.’s Wholesale club has another free trial membership available. Customers can activate the card any time before December 31st, 2010 and use it free for sixty days.  Click here to get a BJ’s temporary membership.

K and G Fashion superstore is having a Summer Clearance Sale. Men and women’s clothing that was already on sale is now 50 percent off the sale price.

North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville is having a Labor Day weekend sale. Many of the outlets will have big bargains from Friday to Monday, and some stores like Polo and Guess have already started markdowns.

And the Mommy and Me promotion has returned to the GeorgiaAquarium. For $25.00 one adult and up to four children under five years old can visit the aquarium Monday through Friday through November 12th. That price even includes parking. Without the special pricing a parent and four children would pay $115.00. Visitors who want the Mommy and Me deal must order online at Gaaquarium.org.acb/stores

Here are some other bargains you can find around metro Atlanta this week:

Beginning Monday, the City of Atlanta will host a week-long liquidation sale to empty out City Hall East before it’s sold. There are more than five thousand pieces of furniture including desks, chairs, sofas and bookcases. City Hall East previously housed the Atlanta police department.

Dean Gardens is holding an estate sale on August 28th from 4 to 8pm. The sale will feature furniture, house wares, rugs and more. Ten percent of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Fragile Kids Foundation. Owner Larry Dean sold his multi-million dollar estate to Filmmaker Tyler Perry.  Those who plan to attend should call (770) 951-6115 to RSVP

Now and Again is having its once a year Art Markdown sale. The store is located at 56 East Andrews Drive, Atlanta. The sale is August 21st through 28th.

In the same Buckhead neighborhood, Global Living is closing. The store, which sells home décor from around the world,  has items marked down up to 75 percent off of retail.

The Fernbank Museum store sidewalk sale is August 21 and 22nd. Hours on Sunday the 22nd are noon to 5pm. Merchandise is marked down up to 75 percent off of original prices.

Ann Taylor Loft is having a summer clearance sale with some items below $5.00

Global Living is closing.  The Buckhead furniture and home decor store has marked all merchandise down 20 percent and some items are discounted as much as 70 percent of of original prices.   Global Living is located at 3106 early street behind the Buckhead Theater.  Hours are Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am to 6pm and 11am to 4pm Sunday  The store is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

The High Museum of Art is running a half price special Thursday nights from 4pm  to 8pm.

Neutrogena has a rebate offer that ends Sunday, July 18th.
If you buy Neutrogena Clinical day cream, night cream or eye cream there is a rebate for your entire purchase price.
Clinical is Neutrogena’s new high priced skin care line that retails for around $40.00. The rebate is not good on the starter kit. Print the rebate form at Neutrogenaclinical.com and $5.00 off coupons at Neutrogena.com under the special offers section.  A cash register receipt and UPC code from the package are required to get the rebate check.

On Saturday, June 26th The Mall of Georgia’s Movies Under The Stars features  Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.  Musical entertainment before the free  movie begins at 6:30 pm.

IKEA has free meals for kids from now until July7 5th. No adult purchase is necessary. IKEA serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a Swedish theme.

The Georgia Aquarium now offers free admission on your birthday.  Proof in the form of a valid I.D. or birth certificate is required.

For tooth grinders, Plackers has a free sample of disposable night guards you can order plackers.com. Shipping and handling is $2.99. 

Check It Out Reading is a summer reading program offered jointly by the Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers. Kids who register and read five books by get a free ticket to both a Hawks and Thrashers game. (From fieldtripswithsue.com)

For updates on freebies and deals, follow valuesval on twitter.com

My Gym will offer discounts on classes and birthday parties and will be running other specials as well. Parents can learn more about the classes while kids play in the gym.   My Gym is located at 267 West Wieuca Rd. NE, Suite 101, Atlanta, GA 30342

Scoutmob.com has the following deals this week:

Monday: 50% off TAP (Midtown) -
Tuesday: 50% off Wasabi (Castleberry Hill) -�
Wednesday: 50% off Carroll Street Cafe (Cabbagetown)- Thursday: 50% off Coldbrew’s Sports Bar & Grill (Roswell)-     Friday: 50% off Demure Clothing (Westside)

Amazon.com has Forbes, Popular Science, Popular Mechanics and others on sale. Some are as low as $4.99 for a one year subscription but subscribers much cancel the subscription after one year or it will automatically be renewed.