Five Great Deals: Feb. 9-15

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars.

This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money.

You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box.

Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together.

1. Starbucks VIA ready brew.

Deal:  Buy Starbucks VIA ready brew (don't call it instant), at your local grocery store.  If you don't like it Starbucks will give you a free bag of coffee.  Then you can save the ready brew for the inlaws.  See www.starbucks.com for more details and flavors.

2. Electricity payment matching

Deal: NUSTART is CL&P's program to give a fresh start to low-income customers with a past due balance of $100 or more.  Call 1-800-286-2828 for more information.

3. 15% off Godiva chocolates.

Deal: For the holiday at the you get 15% off Godiva.  Call 860-669-2000 for more information.  This is just in time for Valentine's Day.

4. Free Soul Music.

Deal: The Spinners Saturday, February 12 at 8pm and Las Vegas Motown Review on the Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.  Free in the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun.   See: www.mohegansun.com for more information.

5. .

Deal:  Grab your sweetheart and enjoy 2-for-1 ice skating at MGM.  Good between February 11-14th.  Sign-up for MGM's dream card and enter spectacular raffles!  Skate rental available.