Barry-

I've been trying to learn Hold 'Em, and it's been a bit pricey. I recently found a nice way to practive at a reasonable cost. Mandalay runs a tournament weekdays at 10:00 AM. A lot of regulars play, but so do a lot of first-timers. It's a $25 buy in, so you get to play against some decent people, learn what you're doing, and limit your losses.

If you're into Hold 'Em, I'd recommend it.