Watching Your Wallet: Buying and Selling Used, Part 2

Published on http://www.aggietownsquare.com on September 16, 2009.

It's so cliche' but very true: "One man's junk is another man's treasure." When looking through places like D.I., KSL classifieds, Craigslist and e-Bay, I have been absolutely amazed at what people are selling. Try it out right now. Think of a random, obsolete item you've been wanting or looking for new, and search for it at one of the Web sites above. For example, I've been wanting a coat rack. Type "coat rack" into the search engine on KSL classifieds and you find 10-15 used coat racks, anywhere from $10 to $200. I found one I liked for $15, comparable to a coat rack on Google Shopping for around $60. Bingo!

Now, think about things you have laying around your place that you don't use, don't like or want to get rid of. Instead of chucking them, leaving them in the corner, under your bed or in the attic, set up an account on KSL.com, e-Bay or Craigslist and sell your items there.

Tips for selling online:

-As a general rule, don't sell broken, stained or just plain old useless junk. There is a market for junk but not broken or ruined junk.

-Reasonably price your item. Look at what similar items are being sold for online and price accordingly.

-If you're selling a desk, don't just list in the title line as "desk". There are hundreds of desks being sold online – list your item as something unique and memorable that will stick out in people's mind. Some examples are, "Spacious, beautiful white desk" or "student desk with lots of shelves."
-Be honest and give details. Be the "dream seller" you'd like to buy from.
-Post a picture. Most people won't even look at an item if they can't see what it looks like or what kind of condition it is in.
-Make your listing professional. Use correct punctuation, grammar and spelling and make sure the ad is clear and concise.

-Really sell your item. Think of the words and phrases companies use to grab your attention and make you want to buy an item.

-Your item will sell better if people know your price is negotiable. List "O.B.O" (or best offer) after your asking price or "will take reasonable offers".

-Spread the word that your item is for sale! Add a link to the ad on your Facebook or Twitter and tell your friends about it. Even if they're not interested, they may know someone who is.

-Be organized when someone comes to look at your item. If you have manuals, paperwork or maintenance records for the item keep them in a nice folder for a fast turnover. If you're selling on e-Bay, ship the item promptly and carefully.

What experiences do you have selling items online? Any tips you'd like to add? Share below!

Tip of the Week: Utilize the blessed Cinefour on 2297 N. Main Street. Instead of paying $8 for a movie, be patient, wait for it to go to this cheaper theater and go for $3.

Each week I'll be sharing a tip or bargain of the week – ways to save money or make the most out of it. Got an idea or heard about a discount? Please comment below or send me an e-mail.

-karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu

Watching Your Wallet: Buying and Selling Used, Part 1

Published on http://www.aggietownsquare.com on September 9, 2009

This is a two-part series in buying and selling used items. Check back next week for the how-to on selling stuff laying around your apartment, attic, house or under your bed online for some extra cash.

Finding used treasures is like going to Disneyland for me. My favorite thing to do is to spend an hour sifting through the junk at the D.I. (Deseret Industries) and finding something I've always wanted or have been looking for. Over the summer I developed a new hobby: looking for used furniture via online classified on www.ksl.com. I was looking for a new desk and spent hours looking through some of the coolest used furniture – every color, every style, every age. So much more fun than going to R.C. Willey or Office Depot and having a normal (boring) shopping experience.

My motto is instead of paying full price, pay half for something that is gently used with a little character. Let me indulge and share a few of my best used purchases:

1. Waffle Maker

D.I. price: $4

New price: $20 at Target.com

I grew up with homemade waffles every Saturday morning, and there was no way I was coming to college without a waffle maker. Instead of buying new, I found a used waffle maker at the D.I. for $4. It's worked perfectly for two years and counting.

2. Extension Cords

D.I. price: Two for $2

New Price: Two for $20 at Target.com

This is a more recent purchase. I'm currently living in a house that may or may not have been built before electricity was invented (it remains a mystery). The electrical plugs in my bedroom are so sporatically installed that they are nowhere near my desk, bed or nightstand (which, by the way, was bought at D.I. for $10, a great find this past summer). This makes things terribly inconvenient. My alarm clock and lamp were plugged in across the room the first week of school. I was about to bite the bullet and buy a couple extension cords at Wal-Mart, but my favorite hobby kicked in and I found two three-outlet extension cords at D.I. for $2. What a find!

3. Desk

KSL.com price: $35

New price: $150 at Office Depot

After moving out of my dorm room with a huge desk and lots of storage about a year and a half ago, I needed a desk with a lot of space. After watching the KSL classifieds for a couple days I found a desk with a huge hutch and several drawers for $40. I bargained down to $35 (okay, so only $5, but still, can't do that at Office Depot) and saved about $115 by not buying new.

Hopefully these examples inspired you to look at online classifieds or the D.I. the next time you need furniture, electronics or any other items to save a few bucks (or a lot).

Here's a couple tips for buying used at the D.I.:

– Always try plugging the electronics in before you buy to be sure they work.

– Be patient and persistent. Sometimes they don't have exactly what you need the first time you go.

And a few tips about buying used from individuals online:

– The best places to look: www.ksl.com, www.craigslist.com and www.ebay.com. Also, try out A-bay, a new classified service offered right here at www.aggietownsquare.com. This service is great because all the items are in or near Logan, Utah, for easy pick up.

– When you find an ad you like, call and ask questions. Lots of questions. There may be flaws they failed to mention or capture with the photo, and you don't want to waste your time looking at something you don't like or want.

– Most prices are flexible, so don't be afraid to bargain and make an offer lower than what the seller is asking for.

– Again, be patient and persistent. Check the listings often as they change constantly.

– Steer clear of people who want your money before you see or purchase the item. Be conscientious of people who may be trying to scam you.

Bargain of the Week: Looking to buy a new iPod? Check out the refurbished iPods on www.apple.com under "Special Deals" and spend $99 instead of $149 on an eight gigabyte. These iPods may have had small problems but have been refurbished and include the full one-year Apple warranty. Look at Apple's entire refurbished store for discount computers, iPods and other Apple products.

Karlie Brand is a junior in public relations. "Watching Your Wallet" will appear online each Wednesday. Questions or comments can be sent to her at karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu

Watching Your Wallet: Credit Cards- a blessing or a beast?

Published on http://www.aggietownsquare.com on September 2, 2009

At the beginning of my freshman year, I stepped into the big, scary world of credit by applying for a Discover student credit card. Two years later, turns out it's not that scary. Having a credit card has been useful when making expensive purchases, and I've received small cash rebates for using my card at designated retail locations. Having a credit card also developed and improved my credit so I could take out a small loan on my first car this past summer. But, a credit card can turn into a grizzly beast if you don't play by its rules. High interest rates can make carrying a balance on a credit card incredibly expensive.

To learn more about how credit cards affect students I met with Steve Sharp, the director of the USU Financial Aid Office. After meeting with Sharp and doing a little research on my own, I came up with five rules of the road to keeping credit cards on your side of the credit battle. Here we go:

1. Pay the balance in full each month.

Credit cards are handy in that they "buy" you time to pay for a charge, but after the 30-day period they're not so friendly. If you don't pay your credit card balance in full each month you are assessed the highest interest fee for any kind of credit. As Sharp put it, "It's like buying something full price plus 25 percent." So, don't be tempted by the low minimum payment, pay the balance in full.

2. Track your charges.

Treat your credit card like a debit card or checking account. Keep track of what you're spending or you'll be surprised at how much you used the card, often on impulse purchases, when you receive your statement. Keep your receipts and check your balance online often. If you have a difficult time tracking what you spend, Sharp recommended trying out a debit card first, which forces you to keep track of your purchases.

3. You only need one.

Multiple credit cards can be difficult to handle and manage. It's easy to start forgetting about multiple charges and balances on multiple cards. More cards also mean more temptation; you have much more money to spend on impulse purchases. Sharp also pointed out that multiple cards actually hurt your credit score.

4. Carefully get rid of applications.

Once you have one credit card, get rid of applications for any more. Destroy, don't just throw away, applications you receive. By destroying them, you reduce the risk of identity theft.

5. Pick the right one.

Choose a credit card with low interest, low or no annual fees, a long grace period, a low credit limit, wide acceptance (not all credit card brands are accepted everywhere) and useful services and features (like cash rebates or frequent flyer miles). Many credit card Web sites offer selection tools to help you decide which of their cards will work best for you. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been very happy with my Discover student card and have found the customer service to be very helpful.

Another interesting suggestion Sharp made was to pay tuition straight from your checking account to avoid the fee assessed by the university for using a credit card. Sharp also strongly recommends that if you need a loan to pay for school that you NOT "borrow" money by paying with your credit card and leaving it as a balance.

"Sometimes it makes sense to get a loan for education, but even the worst federal student loan is better than a credit card," Sharp said.

High interest rates from credit cards result in you paying way too much. Sharp suggested to instead apply for federal financial aid and receive a student loan, and there's even still time to qualify for a loan this semester and year. Sharp said student loans can be applied for and accepted before the semester they are used for ends. See the Financial Aid Office in the basement of the Taggart Student Center for more information.

As an interesting side-note, Sharp shared some statistics about credit card use on campus. According to a survey conducted last year among USU students who received financial aid, Sharp said two-thirds of them said they had credits cards. Of those students, one-third said they had credit cards but paid the balance in full each month and one-fourth said they carried a balance each month. Of all students surveyed, 11 percent had three or more credit cards.

Do you think these statistics accurately reflect credit card use at Utah State University? As a student, what recommendations would you give about credit cards? Have a good or bad experience you'd like to share? Please comment below. I appreciate your input and discussion.

Sources: http://www.mappingyourfuture.org/money/creditcards.htm.

Each week I'll be sharing a tip or bargain of the week – ways to save money or make the most out of it. Got an idea or heard about a discount? Please comment below or send me an e-mail.
Bargain of the Week: Join HURD, the student spirit club. For the $25 annual fee you receive a T-shirt, discounts from the HURD card, priority when purchasing tickets to away games and tournaments, and (my favorite part) free dinners once a week at the Coaches Show. Join HURD, the largest student club on campus, in the Student Involvement Office on the third floor of the TSC.

Karlie Brand is a junior in public relations. "Watching Your Wallet" will appear online each Wednesday. Questions or comments can be sent to her at karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu

Watching Your Wallet

Published on aggietownsquare.com on August 26, 2009

When I was first told I was going to be writing a column about being a smart consumer I panicked a little. I’m not exactly a financial planner; the idea of being an accountant makes me slightly nauseous, and even the thought of balancing my checkbook makes me uncomfortable. But, although I’m certainly no financial adviser I do have one financial strength I am quite proud of: I am cheap. So cheap it’s a bit ridiculous. I will do just about anything to save a buck. It’s probably in my blood; my mom, raised on a school teacher’s budget, is incredibly resourceful and frugal. Being thrifty is a great quality to have but, as I have found, can sometimes be embarrassing.

For example, last year I bought a green sweater from Old Navy for $25, which isn’t bad for a nice sweater. However, when I got home the shopper’s guilt I usually feel after a day of shopping settled in, and the full price purchase felt like a naughty sin. The sweater sat neglected in its bag for several weeks until I heard of an Old Navy clearance sale going on and received a coupon in the mail. With joy in my heart and a spring in my step, I towed my roommate to the store and had her return the sweater for me. I then rebought the exact same sweater. With the clearance sale and the coupon I saved $7. Seven dollars. I felt overwhelmingly pathetic, but was inwardly pleased that the $7 could now go toward cheap Kroger brand cereal or garbage bags. What a joke.

So, after remembering this story and many others like it, I came to the realization that this column may be just my cup of tea! I’ll share bargains and discounts I’ve heard about and provide helpful consumer and financial advice relevant to students. And, I’ll try to keep the embarrassment to a minimum. Wouldn’t want Old Navy to figure out the ole’ roommate-return-your-full-price-items trick.

So for starters, I thought I would share a few bargains, discounts and even how to earn a little money on the side. There are all sorts of bargains when school first begins, starting with the very cheapest: freebies! Freebies are all over the place the first week of school, especially free food. Pick up a Week of Welcome schedule (or check online at www.usu.edu/asusu) and plan your weekly menu accordingly. Wednesday is Day on the Quad, the prime event of the year for free food and treats. As for savings on groceries, Smith’s Food and Drug (175 E. 442 North) and Smith’s Marketplace (750 N. Main Street) both offer a five percent discount for all Utah State students everyday. Just sign up for a Fresh Values Card at either location. It may not sound like a lot but it certainly adds up – and so does the discount on Smith's gas if you buy groceries at the Smith's stores. For discounts of all sorts, pick up a coupon book in the basement of the TSC (I just used one of the coupons this morning: $7.99 haircut at Great Clips!) Are your books painfully expensive this semester? Ease the burden next semester by working as a note taker for the Disability Resource Center for one of your classes and earn a $15/per credit gift certificate to the USU Bookstore. It’s easy. You'll be doing a great service for fellow students, and the extra cash for the Bookstore is always helpful.

These are just a handful of many discounts around Logan. Know of good bargains or places that offer discounts to students? Please share by commenting below.

I’m excited to be broadening my talent as la cheap extraordinaire and by sharing my finds with you as well as giving you financial and consumer information. Have a financial topic you’d like discussed? Please leave a comment! I'm interested in reading your questions, concerns and interests.

-karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu
Karlie Brand is a junior in public relations. "Watching Your Wallet" will appear online each Wednesday. Questions or comments can be sent to her at karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu

Women Engineers are both brains and beauty

Published in the Utah Statesman February 16, 2009

To celebrate Engineering Week, the USU Society of Women Engineers (SWE) section is sponsoring the second Annual Ms. Engineering Queen Pageant Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 4:30 p.m. in the TSC Sunburst/International Lounge. The competition is open to any female engineering major, and anyone is invited to watch the competition.

Sara Driggs, SWE section president and senior in mechanical aerospace engineering, said the idea for the pageant came after members watched the Miss America Pageant last year at the SWE Regional Conference in Pasadena, Calif.

“All of a sudden the idea hit us all at once, ‘We should do a pageant at Engineering Week,’” she said. “We had three weeks and we pulled the whole thing off. This year it’s really exciting to do it again.”

Driggs said the pageant consists of three sections: the “Engi-Nerd” competition, where contestants dress up like nerds; the business attire competition and the evening wear competition. This year, she said, they are also adding a nerdy man competition for male engineers, who will also escort the women in the evening wear competition.

Driggs said the Ms. Engineering Queen Pageant is one of many activities sponsored by SWE, a national organization designed to help collegiate and professional women in engineering succeed and advance. The USU section, which has doubled in size from 25 to 49 members this past year, has put on professional development workshops, holiday parties and given presentations about engineering to junior high school-aged girls interested in math and science.

Driggs said meeting with the young girls was one of the section’s favorite activities.

“We introduced the idea of engineering to junior high-age girls,” she said. “It’s really neat.”

Each year, Driggs said the chapter also travels to the SWE Regional Conference, which was held in Albuquerque, N.M., this year. Driggs said of the 60 collegiates from five states in attendance, 16 were USU students.

“USU had a really nice presence,” she said. “Everybody knew USU was there.”

Driggs said the conference includes workshops, speakers and a career fair to help students network with professionals that may not be aware of USU or visit Utah.

"Something good always comes from the conference,” she said. “Somebody gets an internship or an interview ... or opportunities they would not have had otherwise.”

Amy Jo Bowdidge, mechanical aerospace engineering senior, is also involved with SWE as the Regional Collegiate Representative (RCR). She and one other representative in Southern California are responsible for about 34 SWE sections in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Southern California.

“Regional Collegiate Representatives are the connection from membership to the national level of the society,” she said. “I’m their voting voice.”

Bowdidge said she informs sections of new items to be voted on and the new ideas and things discussed at a national level and then votes on the issues.

Bowdidge said SWE is an important organization because it helps create a level playing ground for women in engineering. She said the society has about 21,000 collegiate and professional members, which creates many valuable networking opportunities.

“As collegiates we can look at the SWE professionals, see the paths they took and how they got there,” she said. “It’s really cool to have that community. It’s a good way to connect with other women and network.”

Bowdidge said she is proud of the growth the USU section has experienced.

“This year I was really proud of our section. We doubled in membership and had a huge presence in (the SWE conference) in Albuquerque,” she said.

Driggs said the SWE’s greatest strength is in its accessibility to all women engineers.

“I think SWE is awesome,” she said. “Most important, anyone in the college of engineering – married, single, collegiate, professional, freshman or graduate – anyone can join SWE.”

–karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu

A weekend on the road: less than 30 miles from Logan

Published in the Utah Statesman February 13, 2009

Sick of watching a movie, hanging out at home with friends or going out to dinner for entertainment? How about snowshoeing, going on a food sampling tour, jumping around at a tumbling gym or exploring beautiful Logan Canyon? These are just a few of the dozens of things students can do within just a half hour of Logan.

Starting a little more than a half hour north of Logan near Preston, Idaho is Riverdale Resort Hot Springs, one of many natural hot pools around Cache Valley. Besides “five pools of wonderful naturally warm water,” in the summer, the resort also features a junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, camping and RV sites, picnic shelters, a bed and breakfast and two hydro tube slides (www.allidaho.com/mall/riverdale).

Although several of the amenities are only open in the summer, the toasty natural pools make Riverdale a great place to visit in chilly winter months.

About 15 miles northeast of Preston is the Oneida Narrows, a canyon reservoir perfect for tubing in the summer. Cheryl Hobbs, long-time Preston resident and student at BYU-Idaho, said floating the Oneida Narrows is one of her favorite summer activities.

“There’s just enough rapids that it makes it really fun,” she said. “There are also a couple of small waterfalls you go over.”

Hobbs said she recommends floating the canyon in the warmer summer months because the water can get pretty cold. Besides simply tubing the canal, Hobbs said she has also seen people float the river on air mattresses and kayaks.

Hobbs said there are also many reservoirs and lakes near Preston that are perfect places for swimming, campouts, picnics and bonfires. She said her favorites are Glendale, Lamont and Twin Lake reservoirs, all within about 15-20 minutes of Preston.

A little closer to Logan there are several world-famous food factories and plants, including Gossner’s Cheese Factory in Logan, Pepperidge Farm and Casper’s Ice Cream factories in Richmond. These factories are great places to visit for tours, free samples and to purchase inexpensive factory “seconds.”

Gossner’s Cheese Factory, located on 1051 N. 1000 West in Logan, processes 1,900,000 pounds of milk into cheese daily, according to their Web site, www.gossner.com. The factory offers samples of cheese spreads, world-famous squeaky cheese and flavored shelf-stable milk. While there, purchase a case of individual 8-ounce cartons of flavored milk in chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream, vanilla and several other flavors.

Pepperidge Farm Factory is located at 901 N. 200 West in Richmond. According to their Web site, www.pepperidgefarm.com, their thrift store, the only one in the western United States, offers inexpensive factory seconds of products like Milano cookies or Goldfish.

Finally, Casper’s Ice Cream factory is located at 11805 N. 200 East in Richmond. The factory offers tours and inexpensive Fatboy Ice Cream bar factory seconds. The Casper’s Malt Shoppe in Providence is also a delicious place to stop for a treat anytime.

Free food is always a poor college student favorite, and other food-related ideas include bread samples at the Old Grist Mill and Great Harvest, chocolate samples at The Bluebird Restaurant and samples at Sam’s Club for members.

Want to see a movie? Instead of going to a regular theater, check out The Reel Time Theatre, a small theater on 795 N. Main that shows unique, independent films.

Visit the Cache Valley Fun Park, well-known among USU students for Monday and Wednesday night swing dancing. Besides dancing, the Fun Park also has bowling, a laser tag arena, Utah’s largest indoor soft playground and a roller rink. Roller skating is only $2 on Tuesday nights if students bring their own skates.

Jodi Burton, junior in public relations, said she purchased roller skates at the D.I. a few years ago and has used them well at the Fun Park’s $2 Tuesdays and around Logan.

“Roller skating is an inexpensive, fun activity that can be done almost anywhere,” she said. She also said another great place to roller skate, long-board, bike, walk or run for free is on the river walk by the Logan River Golf Course on 550 W. 1000 South.

Besides offering exercise equipment, dance and aerobics classes, racquetball and basketball courts and a swimming pool, the Sports Academy on 1655 N. 200 East is also home to a little-known gem of Logan – High Point Gym. This tumbling gym offers gymnastics equipment and three world-class trampolines that can launch a person about 30 feet in the air. College and adult open gym nights are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

The Rock Hauss, an indoor climbing gym, is directly across the street from the Sports Academy on 1780 N. 200 East. This gym has about 12,000 square feet of climbing area. A day pass is $13 for students and monthly climbing passes are also available.

The Gardener’s Market each Saturday from May through October is another fun activity in Logan. The market is held at Pioneer Park, located on 200 E. 100 South and features local art, music and fresh homegrown produce.

Students looking for activity ideas don’t have to look farther than Utah State’s own campus. Sledding and ice blocking down Old Main Hill, and playing ultimate frisbee, soccer and flying kites on the Quad have always been student favorites on campus.

The Outdoor Recreation Center (ORC), located at 1050 N. 650 East is another great place resource for students interested in doing anything outdoors.

Pete Timmons, English literature senior and ORC employee, said the center rents “practically anything” a person would need to enjoy the outdoors at a very reasonable price. This includes anything from mountain bikes to cross-country skis to yurts and zero-degree sleeping bags. Timmons said one of the most popular rental right now is snowshoes, only $10 for an entire weekend.

“Every weekend we’ve been sold out of snowshoes,” Timmons said.

He also said ORC employees are happy to suggest places to hike, bike, ski and camp. For more information about ORC rentals, visit their Web site at www.usu.edu/orc.

Logan Canyon is less than 5 minutes from campus and offers a host of year-round activities and possibilities. Stokes Nature Center, Second Dam, the Wind Caves hike, the Bear Lake Overlook trail and dozens of other trails for hiking, biking and snowshoeing are right at students’ fingertips. For a complete Logan Canyon scenic byways guide, visit www.byways.org/explore/byways/2001/ for more information.

Willow Park Zoo, located at 419 W. 700 South in Logan, is another fun activity year-round, featuring dozens of birds, mammals and reptiles for only a $1 admission.

Moving south of Logan, Porcupine Reservoir is a great place for fishing, camping, swimming and cliff diving during the summer.

American West Heritage Center, located at 4025 S. Highway 89-91 in Wellsville, offers activities year round like star-gazing, pony and wagon rides and several cultural exhibits. For more information on their schedule and activities at www.awhc.org.

–karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu

Every penny counts: Coupon swap allows students to save their money

Published in the Utah Statesman February 16, 2009

With the state of the economy, many students are doing everything they can to save a few bucks. The Women’s and Reentry Student Center is helping out with the development of a coupon swap service, available for free to all students; male and female, traditional and re-entry.

Patricia Stevens, director of the Women’s and Reentry Student Center, said the program, which was actually her husband’s idea, was recently created to help students who may be tight on money.

“Given the state of the economy we’ve had a lot of students who are in more dire straights than they’ve been in the past,” she said. “This is a way to help them with not only groceries, but with other supplies.”

Stevens said all they ask is that students bring newspaper and mailer ads to the Women’s and Reentry Student Office (TSC 315). Their student workers then clip and categorize the ads in folders for any student to look through and take.

“We have made it very easy,” she said. “They’re divided into categories. We have coupons for restaurants, pets, portraits, health, cleaning products, non-edibles and business, baby, paper and storage products. You name it, we got it.”

Stevens said she hopes more students will begin taking advantage of the valuable service.

“It adds up,” she said, “it really does.”

Nicole Brown, junior in public relations, said she tries to use coupons whenever she can.

“I think it’s a great chance to save money, and in the economy we have anytime I can save money is good,” Brown said.

Brown said she usually looks through the supermarket ads that come in the mail and then uses them at places like Smith’s Marketplace, which rewards their shoppers with extra coupons if they use the coupons at their store.

“Sometimes it seems trivial to cut coupons out, but if you think about the money you’re saving it’s totally worth it,” she said.

Melanie Burr, junior in elementary education, said she was always taught to use coupons and find the best deal.

“When I was younger, my mom always told us if we wanted the good sugar cereal we had to find a coupon for it,” she said.

Burr said besides using ads in the Sunday paper, she often visits www.grocerysmart.com, a Web site that shows the best deals in local grocery store ads. Burr said she can often find lots of things for free just by paying close attention to the ads.

“I use coupons because it’s important to be wise with your money and it’s just an easy way to save money,” she said.

Stevens said she encourages all students to utilize the coupon swap service. The Women’s and Reentry Student Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Stevens said she also strongly suggests students apply for the Women’s and Reentry scholarships, all due March 31. For more information visit the center’s Web site at www.usu.edu/womencenter/.

–karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu