Image from Picasa, from last year's Taste of Chicago.

Many large cities have food-centered festivals to bring in tourists and promote a sense of community among residents. This weekend the Taste of Colorado is being held in Civic Center Park in Denver. Colorado is not often thought of as a center for great cuisine, but more than 50 local restaurants will serve food at the Taste of Colorado.

The food is just the beginning, as Taste of Colorado, the state’s largest outdoor event, features six stages that will have musical acts and other entertainment. Taste of Colorado has an average attendance of 500,000 visitors each year.

There’s more at Taste of Colorado

Besides the food, which includes a fine dining area, there will also be 250 booths with wares from local artisan vendors. YourHub reports that there will also be “educational programs promoting the diverse cultural and Western heritage of the region.”

Thanks to the free admission, you won’t need a payday cash loan to spend the weekend at Taste of Colorado,  you just need enough money for food. The music and entertainment are free.

Taste of Colorado and Labor Day

The Taste of Colorado festival is held over labor day weekend each year and will continue through Monday. There is a whole slew of activities for kids, so keep your family busy over the long weekend. One of the stages at Taste of Colorado features nonstop entertainment for children, including theater productions, puppet shows, music and a workshop on learning to juggle.

Taste of Colorado features several different types of cuisine, including barbecue, cheesesteaks, Indian food and Mexican. Along with the range of cuisines there is a big range of prices as well, so you could seek out inexpensive dishes or splurge on something fancy.

Taste it all at Taste of Colorado

Because the Taste of Colorado festival lasts four days, you’ll have plenty of time to try all different types of food, including Famous Daves’ award-winning barbecue. There will also be ice cream and a tent featuring kitchen appliances for sale.

There also will be cabinet making demonstrations. There is also a cupcake contest in which judges will taste and evaluate cupcakes based on appearance, texture, richness, icing, originality and overall. Viewers of the cupcake contest will get to taste them as well.

Other food festivals

The largest outdoor food festival is Taste of Chicago, which was at the beginning of the summer. Portland holds the yearly Bite of Portland, and there is a Bite of Seattle as well. This week in Spokane, Wash., is the yearly Pig Out in the Park, which features local cuisine and music as well.

A suburb of Chicago each year holds a barbecue contest, giving out prizes for dishes and sauce. New York City holds a Food Film Festival each year, and this year’s was in June. In November, Boston will hold a vegetarian food festival. There are several other food festivals held all over the country,  so just check out whether your city holds one to experience inexpensive fun like the people of Denver will have at Taste of Chicago this weekend.

We spent the evening at Susan’s 70th birthday party on Monday evening. It was a modest affair in the local church hall with many guests – there must have been 60 or 70 – and lots of good finger-food. Had we known about the food part we wouldn’t have eaten dinner; I can snack on party food for hours… Susan looked well and spent the evening chatting to her guests. She also gave a very emotional speech of thanks to everyone.

The economics of a Recession Party

How could Susan afford this? She doesn’t have a penny to her name so I guess that she took a Cash Advance Loan to pay for the food, but she was so economical with the whole thing that I thought I should share these budget-friendly party ideas with you.

Where to have the party

Look and see where you can get a hall for free. Churches are the first place to go. There are also parks, or a friend’s home. In Susan’s case, the hall was probably free and there were no other expenses.

Drinks

The drinks were Coke and Sprite, hopefully bought in bulk on sale, and there was no alcohol, also cutting down on costs. Water and lemon slices would have been even less expensive.

Decorating

Plates were plastic in colors selected to match the paper tablecloths and napkins and the flatware was chromed plastic. Despite the obvious strict budget arrangements, the tables looked great. They were decorated with little vases of wild flowers and grasses probably picked from a nearby field and sprinkled with little silver plastic sea shells. To my delight they were also sprinkled with candies and chocolates.

It must have been a challenge

When Susan decided to celebrate she must have thought everything out very carefully and built herself a tight but realistic budget. In circumstances like hers, a budget is probably a major part of her life. What’s more, she understands the strict discipline that’s necessary to stick to every cent of her budget. No extras and no deviations!

Susan

Susan is a widow – twice. Her first husband collapsed and died in his forties and left her with two teenaged children. The second husband, an older man, died when Susan was in her mid-fifties. Neither left her much and she has worked all her life. A few years ago she was laid off her job as a secretary at the university and she ran around frantically seeking work. These days she works part-time at the university who hires her as a temp without any benefits. She also has some other part-time job in town.

The birthday gifts

One of Susan’s friends asked her if there was anything particular she preferred for a birthday present and Susan said she would prefer money as she had some expenses that she has to pay. The word was passed around. I was asked to do a small painting for a communal birthday card and the guests were asked to sign the card and drop their gifts in an envelope which was handed to Susan. I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the act of handing over a cash gift was handled – there was no embarrassment on either side and the guests seemed delighted to be able to help Susan. Susan thanked everyone for coming to help her celebrate this important milestone in her life and we went back to the food.

Good party

My wife and I rated this as a good party, truly modest and enjoyed by all. Happy birthday, Susan!

Payday loans are sometimes necessary. An unexpected financial event can take place, leaving you strapped for extra cash. Instead of applying for payday loans to pay off the unforeseen expense, a lot of people end up paying more on overdraft fees and other penalty charges.

Payday loans are short-term, designed as a last resort for those who are in financial dire straits. Although payday loans are a great option when you are short on money, time and resources, there are ways to prepare for any unexpected events that may occur in the future. Difficult times are moving people towards payday loans and on the search for ways to make and save more money.

Preventative Measures to Make

Amidst the current economic crisis, we can’t afford to waste any money. The economy is still at its worst and there appears to be no sign of things getting better any time soon. However, we should not allow ourselves to shrink back and avert from the horizon. There are essential steps to make in order to secure your current and future financial stability.

Overspending is one of the biggest mistakes people make. Before you venture out into the world of market, plan out a budget and create a shopping list that fits well within that budget. This will help you avoid making purchases on impulse. Stick to what you need. Of course it can be hard to pass up a great deal, especially with all these crazy close-out sales going on. But learning to calm your urges as soon as they ascend will instill a lasting sense of financial freedom no discount sale can offer. Stick with simplicity.

Spending Enough to Buy Starbucks

Another huge expense is coffee. Yes you caffeine junkies, I said coffee. Starbucks is one of the most popular coffee companies in the nation. Despite the declining economic conditions, the company still manages to scrape in some hundreds of millions of dollars in net earnings. Even with a deteriorating economy, consumers are still willing to pay $4 for a latte. But that $4 you spend on a daily basis can accumulate to an enormous amount of money that could be going into your savings fund. What should you do you ask? It’s actually quite simple. Invest in a coffee maker and make your own coffee at home.

Having Dignity in Saving

There is no shame to apply for payday loans or even by clipping coupons. Times like these, finding ways to create an extra money flow is absolutely important. Comparing prices of products in different grocery stores, buying store brands, and buying in bulk are some of the best ways you can save money. Create homemade meals around staples such as beans, rice, and pasta. You can put together a delicious feast the family will enjoy and still have extra cash in your pocket.

Get Back on Track With a Payday Loan

There are many things you can do to save money. By practicing these money saving techniques, your chances of needing payday loans in the future will be slim to none. However, there may be times when life’s surprising affairs will cause you to stumble and fall short on your finances; applying for payday loans may be your best option.

The holidays have come to an end – at least for this year. As people scuttle to pack up the holiday gears and clear up the festival debris, the holiday weight will probably be the hardest thing to put away. All the holiday stress, inactivity and free-flowing sweets combined are enough to throw off a perfectly fit weight.

Watch Out for the Food Monster

Not everyone is fortunate to live in sunny Southern California. Perhaps that would mean that the rest of us are probably confined at home because of the snowy weather. Besides the possibility that you may need payday loans to help makes ends meet because of all the work days you’ve missed, beware; you could easily fall victim to the food monster. Distract your urges to over consume. Catch up on house cleaning, re-organize, or pop in your favorite Pilates DVD. There are so many things you can do to get back in shape; all you need is focus and determination.

Okay, so maybe you just cannot get over the delectable taste of chocolate melting in your mouth. There are weight loss programs that provide a way to lose weight just by eating your favorite foods, along with one-on-one motivational support. The Jenny Craig menu is packed with balanced and nutritious meals; like how PersonalMoneyStore.com not only offers payday loans, but also offers tips and guidelines on how to maintain a healthy budget. Jenny Craig Cuisine is high in fiber, moderate in fat and sodium but still has the great taste you love. You get three meals and up to 3 snacks a day so you won’t go hungry without overeating. Just like payday loans, the meals are absolutely convenient!

“Who is Jenny Craig?”

Founded in 1983, Jenny Craig, Inc. is one of the largest weight management service companies in the world. The company brings in annual revenues of more than $400 million and still growing. But who is Jenny Craig? Jenny Craig, whose real name is Genevieve Guidroz, was born in Berwick, Louisiana in 1932. While living in New Orleans, she met Sidney Harvey Craig after he hired her to be the director of the Body Contour fitness salon. Their relationship flourished and the couple was later married in 1979.

In 1982, the couple broke from their other business partners and sold out to a competitor. Because they were legally unable to open a new health center in the U.S. for two years, Jenny Craig and Sid decided to move to Australia. There they generated a new nutrition, fitness, and weight loss program. They returned to the U.S. in 1985 and introduced the Jenny Craig Program. At the same time, the Craig’s opened 14 centers; today their U.S. holdings include 285 centers in 18 states. Over the past 25 years, Jenny Craig has helped many people worldwide learn how to eat a nutritious diet that includes many of their favorite food and achieve their weight loss goals.

Physical Progress, Financial Retreat

Jenny Craig sounds great. However, not everyone can afford many of these weight loss programs. While payday loans can help make ends meet through your journey to weight loss, spending money you don’t have can be financially damaging. There are many other things you can do that are simple and inexpensive that can help get you back in shape; all you need is willpower.