Coupons

HCC food drive held Students and staff at Hagerstown Community College recently held a food drive for Food Resources Inc., a local member of the Maryland Food Bank. Sponsored by the Student Government Association and HCC's Children's Learning Center, students, staff and families with children who attend the learning center were asked to bring nonperishable items to various buildings on campus during the week of Feb. 20 to 27. During that time, more than three large barrels of food were collected.

Millions of people have been getting federal coupons for boxes to convert televisions from analog to digital as the Feb. 17 deadline approaches when all broadcasts will switch. The U.S. Department of Commerce has received requests for about 47 million coupons, of which more than 19 million have been redeemed, Todd Sedmak, a spokesman for the program, said Friday. Each government-issued coupon is worth $40 toward the cost of a converter box needed for televisions now using antennas.

Many consumers use coupons and rebates to reduce their total spending and to get more for their money. Consider these suggestions to make using coupons work for you. o Buy only those items that you normally select for your family. Just because you have a coupon doesn't mean you have to use it. Make a grocery list, then match your coupons to what you need to purchase. Don't buy anything that's not on your list, whether you have a coupon or not. o Comparison shop. Don't assume bigger is less expensive.

Hello! October seems to be winding down pretty fast. We just got a new addition to the family - a German shepherd puppy. Needless to say, I feel like I've just had another baby ... but so far, so good. Concert Attention all South High orchestra students from 1968 to 1971, parents, and friends of Marvin Hurley: There will be an alumni concert and dinner Saturday at North Hagerstown High School. A covered-dish dinner will begin at 5 p.m. and Hurley will take the podium at 8 p.m. If you are a former student wishing to play or attend, call Marianne Gooding at 301-733-8597.

Make a donation of gently used clothing or household textiles to Horizon Goodwill Industries between today and April 7 and you will receive one coupon worth 20 percent off on purchases at the Bon Ton department store for each item donated. The event marks the fourth time Bon Ton and Horizon Goodwill have partnered in a donation drive for the nonprofit agency. A similar event was held last fall, and the department store chain is planning to hold another donation drive for the agency in September.

Friends on ice Williamsport friends enjoyed last weekend at icy Deep Creek. Once out of the hot tubs, they posed for a picture on the frozen Deep Creek Lake. They walked on frozen water, slid down snow-covered banks and soaked more in hot tubs. It was a great refreshing weekend getaway. Way to go Congratulations to Mariah and Tahnee Henderickson - from their mom and dad. Mariah (fourth grade) and Tahnee (first grade) both made the honor roll at Williamsport Elementary.

Coupons are big business. More than 3,000 manufacturers distribute nearly 330 billion coupons worth an estimated $280 billion every year in an effort to help consumers save money. Consider these suggestions to make using coupons work for you: · Buy only those items that you normally select for your family. Just because you have a coupon doesn't mean you have to use it. Don't allow coupons to cause you to buy on impulse. · Comparison shop. Don't assume bigger is better.

Text-messaging has outgrown its function as a means of sending instant stealthy greetings. Lovers have been dumped via text message. Managers can communicate with staff via text message. Pizza coupons can be acquired via text message. Text-messaging can be used for almost everything - which is good and bad. "It works both ways," said Elayne Rapping, a professor of American studies who specializes in media and pop culture at the University of Buffalo. "It can be good and useful, and then there are the frivolous uses.

School is just around the corner and summer has flown by so fast. But it's already time to think about going back to school. Got your supplies yet? How about new clothes? Do you have money saved up to get all your school needs? How should you prepare yourself to tackle this coming year without too much fuss and without breaking your budget? Once you get your supplies list from school, don't hesitate. Start checking things off the list by collecting items you already have lying around the house, like boxes of tissues, wet wipes, leftover spiral notebooks, even pens.