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Free and Cheap

Janine Dorsey

Janine is a 20-year veteran journalist who puts her sleuthing skills to use unearthing deals and discounts for families in the Tampa Bay area. Raising her own two daughters has taught her that some of the best things in life are “free” but not necessarily “cheap.”

Gayle Guyardo

Gayle Guyardo co-anchors “News Channel 8 Today” weekday mornings with Rod Carter. She does a special segment, “Ways to save today,” each Monday between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Gayle is a third generation Tampa native and a graduate of Auburn University. She and her husband Mark raise four little girls - Katie, Lindsay, Ali and Ella.

Richard Mullins

The Tampa Tribune’s retail reporter, Richard Mullins writes about consumer trends and everything you buy at the mall, grocery stores and restaurants. He believes credit cards are the window to our souls. And yes, he gets paid to wander the mall for work.

Debbie Swartz

Debbie, a 20-year veteran journalist, can typically be found at the end of Target aisles looking at clearance items. She’s also been known to send one her young daughters through the checkout lane to redeem a coupon.

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Free premium channel preview this weekend

Posted Mar 26, 2012 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Mar 26, 2012 at 12:39 PM

If you have nothing planned but rest and relaxation this coming weekend, you may be interested in this free premium cable television deal.

Customers of both Dish Network and Verizon Fios will be able to access HBO and Cinemax for free from Friday, March 30 through Monday, April 2.

Some popular shows available only on HBO are “Entourage,” “Big Love” and “Game of Thrones.”

Cinemax offers the original series “Strike Back.”

Both also air movies like “Inception” and “Green Lantern.”

If you’re not a Verizon or Dish customer, you can still check the site for other offers for other cable providers. There are frequently other free previews for premium channels posted.

Click for more information.

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Free mother-daughter mini makeovers

Posted Mar 26, 2012 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Mar 26, 2012 at 11:52 AM

Want to break out of your style rut and teach your young daughter about beauty and fashion at the same time? Then head on over to the Westfield Brandon Mall for a mother-daughter mini makeover.

Westfield Brandon invites moms to get styled with their young daughter at Westfield Brandon’s Mom & Daughter Fashion Night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 30.

Both will enjoy free mini-makeovers plus get fashion advice from Stacy London-trained stylists. Receive a free photo collage provided by Portrait Gallery from Bella Pictures. Then round the evening out with dinner at California Pizza Kitchen where your daughter (10 and under) dines free.

Interested mother-daughter pairs should send an email RSVP to darvidson@westfield.com.

For more details, click here.

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The Short List: Feed those kids - for free!

Posted Mar 23, 2012 by Dennis Joyce

Updated Mar 23, 2012 at 11:17 AM

Looking for ways to feed the ankle-biters for free?

We’ve compiled a list at TBOExtra - this week’s “Short List,” in fact - featuring kid-pleasing options for dining out that will have you stingy parents, smiling, too.

Click here to find it.

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Free Easter, pet event

Posted Mar 20, 2012 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Mar 20, 2012 at 01:43 PM

Celebrate spring with contests, music, photos with the Easter Bunny, egg hunt and dozens of adorable adoptable animals at the HOP (Help Our Pets) Adopt-a-thon.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 7 at Hillsborough County Animal Services, 440 Falkenburg Road, Tampa.

Many pets will be offered at special prices, and adoptions from Animal Services will include spaying/neutering, vaccination, micro-chip, county tag and health check.

Special guest includes Raymond, official MLB mascot of the Tampa Bay Rays. Attendees to The HOP can also Ask-the-Vet, explore volunteer opportunities, tour the shelter, take a scavenger hunt, and win prizes in contests, such as The Bunny Hop. Food concessions will be available, plus music by DJ Pat George. All activities are free and you can bring your pet on its leash.

You can even get a professional pet nail trim on site with proceeds benefiting medically needy animals.

For information, call Animal Services at (813) 744-5660 or visit their site at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices.

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Pay what you can at museum

Posted Mar 19, 2012 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Mar 19, 2012 at 02:59 PM

If the lingering recession has put a cramp in your cultural style, there may be some relief in sight.

Visitors wishing to visit the Tampa Museum of Art to see “Masterworks of 20th Century Sculpture from the Martin Z. Margulies Collection” can pay what they want at the ticket counter.

The special collection will be on view from March 31 through Sept. 9 in the Museum’s Sullivan Gallery and North Lobby.

Museum visitors can choose what amount they pay when they visit on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Normal museum admission prices are: adult $10; seniors, groups, military plus one guest $7.50; students $5; and children ages 6 and under free.

Other exhibits currently on display include works from William Pachner, Burk Uzzle, Carole Feuerman, Romare Beardon (pictured), Greek and Roman antiquities and more.
The museum is located at 120 Gasparilla Plaza in downtown Tampa.

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