Services

If you can believe it, there are still some people who have yet to sign-up for our daily e-newsletter. (We don’t get it either. It’s quick, easy and saves you lots of time & money! What’s not to love?) Do you want to know about the best deals, discounts and freebies (including our movie sneak previews and giveaways) in town before the rest of the crowd? Then, subscribe to Mile High On The Cheap’s daily e-newsletter. [Read more…] about Sign-Up For MHOTC’s Free Daily eNewsletter

While many of us sit on our recyclable items, like a squirrel hoarding a winter nut stash, until we find a neighborhood or community recycling event, there is a year-round affordable alternative. Check out SustainAbility, a one-stop recycle site. SustainAbility recycles hard-to-recycle items including furniture, clothing, paint, vegetable oil, electronics (from cell phones to dishwashers and washers/dryers), as well as traditional recyclables that don’t have to be sorted. Here’s a guide to what they take. There are two hard-to-recycle (H2R) centers — one in Denver at 1270 S. Bannock and one in Arvada at 6240 W. 54th Ave. Maps and hours are here.

Although they accept the same materials at both of centers, fees differ for each site. It costs $3 per visit to access the H2R Denver Center, but most items are free to dispose. So bring as much as you can per visit. There is an additional charge for some that contain hazardous materials or require special processing. There is no entrance fee to access the H2R Arvada Center, but more fees on individual items apply. You’ll find a detailed pricing list here. Thanks to ichou for bringing this terrific resource to our attention!

Coloradans love to recycle anything and everything, but disposing of leftover paint is a hassle. To the rescue: PaintCare, a FREE paint recycling program with more than 150 drop-off sites across Colorado, more than 50 in the Front Range alone. The drop-off sites are mostly paint and hardware stores. They will accept all paint brands, regardless of where they were purchased. You can drop off most house paints, primers, stains, sealers and clear top coatings (varnish and shellac). All site accept up to 5 gallons per visit (some take more). Leaking, unlabeled and empty containers are not accepted.

PaintCare takes the collected paint from the drop-off sites to processing facilities, where it is remixed into recycled-content paint, used as fuel or, in some cases, dried out and properly disposed. In case you are curious as to how PaintCare can provide this service, funding comes from a small fee added to the price of new paint sold in Colorado. Go here, to find your nearest drop-off location. Be sure to call ahead to confirm business hours and ask if they can accept the type and amount of paint you wish to recycle.

It doesn’t get much better than a grass-roots program that’s all about sharing and reading in “our book.” We all have tons of “previously read” books sitting around. (Admit it, there are very few of us who read a book more than once, right?) That’s where the Little Free Library comes into play. What is a Little Free Library? It’s a “take a book, leave a book” gathering place where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. No library card needed. They’re basically little stand-alone boxes throughout the city where anyone can pick-up a book.

Of course, the concept only works if you “pay it forward” by leaving (or returning) a book behind in its place. For a quick video about how it all works, click here. The adorable little schoolhouse-shaped boxes are popping up everywhere. Because the movement keeps growing, keeping track of all of ’em is an arduous task. However, you can get started by checking out this Google map. Happy reading!

Fill your tank without emptying your wallet. Gas Buddy helps drivers find the cheapest fuel prices across the U.S. The service has a nifty feature allowing MHOTC to bring you (in real-time!) the current Top 10 lowest gasoline prices in the Denver metro area. Prices are updated throughout the day. You can review the list by clicking here (or by clicking on the Cheap Gas tab at the top of our homepage.) If you’re on the road often, the page is definitely worth bookmarking.

I’m not sure I fully understand 3-D printing, but it sure sounds cool…and expensive! The Denver Public Library’s SM Energy ideaLab has three 3-D printers. And you can use them for FREE. All printing is done with ​PLA, a bioplastic made of corn. Due to demand and limited resources, you cannot print any job that takes more than two hours to complete. (If you have something more time-consuming, the staff will help you figure out how to break up your project into smaller jobs or scale your print.) Only Library staff and trained volunteers will have hands-on access to the 3-D printers. (The Library retains the right to refuse any print request for any reason.) For complete program details, click here.

The lab is open to all — no library card needed. The lab is located at the Central Library. Here are the current lab hours: Monday and Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can also call the lab at 720-865-1706.

If your workplace or community group is looking for savings, consider contacting Mile High On The Cheap to schedule one of its FREE workshops on tips and tricks to stretching your dollar. For novices and bargain hunters alike, topics include everything from finding fabulous freebies, grocery shopping coupon strategies and budget-friendly holiday celebrations to senior discounts, travel on the cheap, summer savings in Denver-Boulder and more. You’ll find a list and description of many of our talks here. We can also customize a workshop to meet your specific needs and interests.

The fast-moving, interactive workshops range from 60 to 90 minutes (we can even fill two hours if needed), with plenty of time for questions. Each session includes a Power Point presentations, handouts and a door prize. Learn from local “cheapskates” how to live large in the Mile High City without breaking the bank. Workshops can be scheduled any day of the week, including weekends and evening hours. All you provide is the meeting space and participants. A minimum group of 20 is strongly encouraged. For more information or to schedule a workshop, email laura@milehighonthecheap.com.