UNION — USC Union will offer an opportunity to learn how to save money and support the March for Babies at the same time.
The USC Union March of Dimes team will host a Southern Savers coupon class at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, in the Community Room, which is on the second floor of the university’s Central Building. The class will serve as a fundraiser for the team, with proceeds benefiting the March of Dimes March for Babies.
The class will be taught by Jenny Martin, founder of www.southernsavers.com. Martin — a stay-at-home mother of three — created the website four years ago when she and her family moved into a new house and discovered the roof leaked. She thought couponing would be something she did temporarily until she realized it could mean an extra $400 each month for her family.
“I started couponing about four years ago when we had no money and had to pay for a new roof,” Martin said. “The idea of paying the prices we used to pay is impossible once you realize how low prices can be when you shop effectively. We now have more food in the pantry than ever before and we reduced our grocery budget by over $400 a month!”
After a couple years of sharing her method with friends via email, Martin created the southernsavers.com site to share her methods worldwide.
“The Web site is absolutely free — there isn’t even a registration,” Martin said. “There is no excuse not to save money.”
While the website provides a great deal of information regarding current sales and coupons available, Martin pointed out that learning to coupon effectively takes time and organization. She often teaches classes about how to get the most out of coupon clipping.
“I am really passionate about sharing all of the knowledge I’ve gained over the years,” Martin said. “I try to give as much education on the website as I can, but sometimes it’s just easier to learn from a real human being. That’s why I started these workshops.”
Topics covered in the workshops include gathering and organizing coupons; using online resources to find your own deals; effectively using coupons; and detailed instructions for shopping at drug stores.
The class at USC Union will cost $10 and include three hours of instruction time and a manual of approximately 150 pages about “how to coupon.”
Martin will not be at the class due to the birth of her fourth child, but she has recorded her class and those who attend the class at USC Union will view the DVD and follow along with the manual.
Class space is limited to 40 people. To sign up, email Brittany Moss at mossb@mailbox.sc.edu or call Susan Jett at (864) 429-8728, ext. 7727.
In addition to the coupon class and an ongoing T-shirt sale, the USC Union March for Babies team will also raffle off an 8x10 framed autographed picture of Gamecocks Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier. Raffle tickets are available in the USC Union dean’s office or Founders House. Those interested can get one ticket for a $2 donation or three tickets for a $5 donation.
Staff Writer Derik Vanderford can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 29, or by email at dvanderford@heartlandpublications.com.
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