Manda Monday--Summer courses at Waubonsee

I have a full roster of classes at Waubonsee Community College this summer...some are old favorites, but we've added two new classes to the mix.  Here's what I have in store for you this summer at WCC:

Coupon Mastery

Master couponers are able to cut their grocery and drug store bills in half and obtain products for free! You can too! Become a master shopper with knowledge of the how, where, and when of serious couponing. Learn the rules for spotting the best deals in stores; pairing coupons with sales, rebates, and customer loyalty programs; and using the best coupon web sites. Join shopper Amanda Grant (that's me!) in pursuit of the perfect balance of efficient and ethical couponing techniques.

Section One:  at the Sugar Grove campus, June 21-July 5, 7:30-9pm.  Cost: $29.00
Section Two: at the downtown Aurora campus, July 9-23, 7:30-9pm.  Cost: $29.00

Live Well, Spend Less!

Join instructor Amanda Grant (yours truly!) to collaborate and share great ways to experience ''the good life" on a tight budget. Amanda believes you can spend less and still live well. Find out how! Get ready to give and receive leads, tips and sources for exciting free or low cost entertainment sources, tips and recipes for succulent meals on just pennies, hip fashion-forward clothing at a fraction of retail cost, and even bartering/trading for goods and services. The group's best ideas will appear on Amanda's blog, "The Martha Initiative." (which is what you are reading right now...mind = blown!)

at the Plano campus, July 19-August 2, 7:30-9pm.  Cost: $29.00

Blogging Boot Camp  (NEW!)

Blogging does not come naturally to everyone - don't be intimidated - be outstanding! Discover best practices and tools and techniques for creating an effective online presence. Find out how to use blogging techniques, learn the critical elements of every blog, and how to make a good blog entry even better. Note: Novice and experienced bloggers welcome.

at the Sugar Grove campus, July 14 (Saturday), 9am-12pm.  Cost:  $39.00

Facebook 101 (NEW!)

Facebook is everywhere, but do you ever feel like maybe it?s not all that clear to you? Discover the simple tools you need to reconnect, keep in touch, and have a presence on the web without the necessity of building a website. You?ll learn the tools necessary to help you become a networking socialite. Note: Beginner and experienced Facebook users welcome.

at the Sugar Grove campus, June 18-21, 2:30-4pm.  Cost:  $39.00

Online Social Networking for Beginners

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blogging, and more - these forms of online social networking can be both exciting and intimidating for beginners. Learn the basics of each program and application and how to apply them to your life for job searches, reunions with old friends, communication with loved ones, and creative self-expression. Online social networking has its own etiquette, language, and pitfalls - we'll explore how to use the various forms safely and effectively.

at the Sugar Grove campus, July 19-July 10, 7:30-9pm.  Cost: $39.00

Online Social Networking Continued

Gain confidence and skill with social online networking! Continue to develop the skills you learned in the beginner class. Further instruction and practice will increase your ability to apply and adapt online networking into your life for communication with loved ones, creative self-expression, and job searches.

at the Sugar Grove campus, July 17-31, 7:30-9pm.  Cost: $39.00

Interested in any or all of these classes?  Begin the enrollment process here.  I hope to see you in class soon!

You can do this, too!

As you know, I teach a Coupon Mastery course at Waubonsee Community College.  It's a fun class and not just because I sometimes bring in shopping trips for show-and-tell that may or may not have the shampoo lid securely fastened, thereby covering all my purchases in Pantene.  Ahem.

In my class, I teach the basics of frugal shopping: finding coupons, which blogs and websites are worth your time, organizing coupons, efficient and ethical coupon use, and how to get the best deals at area stores.  By using coupons and shopping smart, I regularly save 50-60% off my grocery bills, and I get many items for free at area drug stores. 

For example, here's my CVS Thanksgiving Day shopping trip: 

Here are some close-up pictures of what I got:

There's brand name cereal, dishwasher detergent, medicine, candy, nail polish, toothbrushes, Kleenex, a universal remote control and more.

This merchandise is worth $136.17, and I only paid $13.75 out of pocket for it.  And the truth is, I even made a mistake during this shopping trip. Had I gotten my coffee before I shopped instead of after, I would have been more alert and saved myself about $4.50 out of pocket. 

Here's what I got from Walgreen's on Thanksgiving:

And here are some close-up photos of the merchandise:

At Walgreen's I got toothpaste, laundry detergent, deodorant, razors, hair ties, toothbrushes, medicine, probiotics, vitamins and more. 

This merchandise is worth over $242.14, and yet I paid only $17.68 out of pocket.  Keep in mind that the majority of the out-of-pocket expense is tax. 
I can teach you how to do this!  My class is aimed at folks who are new to couponing, and those who coupon a bit but are looking to take their skills to the next level.  Of course, everyone is welcome, no matter if you are a coupon newbie or a coupon master.  If you have doubts about taking a couponing class, read this testimonial from a student who took my class in Spring 2011.  Then, sign up for Coupon Mastery.  There are two sections this semester, and the first one begins in two weeks at the downtown Aurora campus from February 9-23.  The second session will be at the Plano campus March 15-29.  I hope to see you there!

Happy couponing!

Upcoming Waubonsee Classes (Spring 2012)

The spring semester is just getting started at Waubonsee Community College, and I got quite a shock when I opened the non-credit course catalog.  I'm on page 5!

And on page 12 is a lovely testimonial from Theresa La Rocco who took my Coupon Mastery class last spring:

Isn't that awesome?! Today, I'm in the Waubonsee Community College course catalog. I fully expect to have my own television show by the end of the week. 

In the meantime, you might want to sign up for these classes now before I turn into a full-blown diva:

Live Well, Spend Less! 
at the Plano campus January 24-February 7, 2012 from 7:30-9pm.  Cost: $29.00

Join me to collaborate and share great ways to experience ''the good life" on a tight budget. It is possible to spend less and still live well. Find out how! Get ready to give and receive leads, tips and sources for exciting free or low cost entertainment sources, hip fashion-forward clothing at a fraction of retail cost, and even bartering/trading for goods and services. The group's best ideas will appear on The Martha Initiative.

Coupon Mastery --Now with two available sections!
1. at the downtown Aurora campus February 9-23, 2012 from 7:30-9pm.  Cost: $29.00
2. at the Plano campus March 15-29, 2012 from 7:30-9pm. Cost: $29.00

Master couponers are able to cut their grocery and drug store bills in half and obtain products for free! You can too! Become a master shopper with knowledge of the how, where, and when of serious couponing. Learn the rules for spotting the best deals in stores; pairing coupons with sales, rebates, and customer loyalty programs; and using the best coupon web sites. Join me in pursuit of the perfect balance of efficient and ethical couponing techniques.

Online Social Networking for Beginners
at the Sugar Grove campus February 13-March 5, 2012 from 7:30-9pm. Cost: $39.00

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blogging, and more - these forms of online social networking can be both exciting and intimidating for beginners. Learn the basics of each program and application and how to apply them to your life for job searches, reunions with old friends, communication with loved ones, and creative self-expression. Online social networking has its own etiquette, language, and pitfalls - we'll explore how to use the various forms safely and effectively.

Online Social Networking Continued
at the Sugar Grove campus March 12-26, 2012 from 7:30-9pm.  Cost: $39.00

Gain confidence and skill with social online networking! Continue to develop the skills you learned in the beginner class. Further instruction and practice will increase your ability to apply and adapt online networking into your life for communication with loved ones, creative self-expression, and job searches.

As I've mentioned here before, I really enjoy teaching at Waubonsee. I've met a lot of terrific people through these classes, and we all have a lot of fun.  I hope to see you in a class soon!

And if there's a class or topic you'd like me to teach at Waubonsee, or anywhere else in the Western Suburbs, please let me know in the comments.  Thank you!

Register now to live well and spend less!

Quick reminder:  my next Live Well, Spend Less! course at Waubonsee Community College starts next week on Monday, July 18 at the Sugar Grove campus.  To get a small taste of this class, check out my blog post on living well and spending less in the summer.  Also, take a peek at what we accomplished in this class during the spring semester.  The best ideas featured in the class (as determined by the participants) will make it onto The Martha Initiative.

Sign up for the class here.  You can find it by typing in the class title:  Live Well, Spend Less; or by typing in my last name: Grant.  As always, you can see a list of all of my upcoming courses on the right sidebar.  I hope you can join me at Waubonsee!

Cookies and classes!

I'm approaching 100 "likes" on The Martha Initiative facebook page, and I'm thrilled!  Thanks to everyone for all of the facebook love.  And in anticipation of reaching that magical number, I've decided to celebrate.  

Here's the deal:  when I reach 100 "likes" I'm going to draw a name at random and one lucky facebook fan is going to get two dozen custom decorated sugar cookies. 

I'll draw a name next week at this time (Friday, June 3 at 12:00pm) provided I have at least 100 fans.  Are you not a fan?  Don't worry, you can be!  Just head on over to The Martha Initiative on facebook and click "Like." 

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As we move into the summer months, I'd like to remind everyone in the Fox Valley area about my upcoming community education classes at Waubonsee Community College:

Online Social Networking for Beginners at the downtown Aurora campus
Tuesdays, June 7-28 from 7:30-9:00pm

XTreme Couponing at the Plano campus
Tuesdays, July 5-12 from 7:30-9:00pm

Live Well. Spend Less! at the Sugar Grove campus
Mondays, July 18-August 1 from 7:30-9:00pm


Thanks a bunch, and have a safe and fun holiday weekend!

Live Well, Spend Less

I just finished "Live Well, Spend Less!" through Waubonsee Community College with a great bunch of gals. 

The course description was as follows:  Join instructor Amanda Grant to collaborate and share great ways to experience ''the good life" on a tight budget. Amanda believes you can spend less and still live well. Find out how! Get ready to give and receive leads, tips and sources for exciting free or low cost entertainment sources, tips and recipes for succulent meals on just pennies, hip fashion-forward clothing at a fraction of retail cost, and even bartering/trading for goods and services. The group's best ideas will appear on Amanda's blog, "The Martha Initiative."


We spent three weeks sharing tips on where to get bargains on clothes, how to repurpose and refinish furniture, and all the free/cheap activities for kids and families in the Fox Valley area, and much more!  Of all the ideas presented in class, from saving money on groceries, clothing, entertainment, furniture, travel, kids' parties and more, a few stood out as class favorites.

Cheryl and Mary Beth are in love with Groupon.  Seriously in love. With great deals on restaurants, entertainment and services delivered daily to your inbox, who can blame them?  Jennifer was a fan of all the online resources introduced in class, especially EstateSales.net (great resource for finding estate sales in your area) and Restaurant.com. 

Mary was excited to learn about the Museum Adventure Pass.  Offered by many local libraries, this pass is checked out like a book and can get you free or cheap admission to area museums and cultural institutions.  Last year, the TMI Household used the Museum Adventure Pass to take our little family to the Brookfield Zoo...for free!  It was a fun day.  Now Mary is planning all kinds of free/cheap adventures to take her grandkids on this summer. 

Part of the class was sharing tips, and my class had some great ones for me.  I've learned about a few awesome resale shops in my area that I'll be checking out soon.  I also learned that county forest preserves in the area offer free/cheap educational and fun programs for kids, adults and families.  I hope to sign us up, or at least myself, for something soon.

What tips do you have for Living Well and Spending Less?  I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks again to Waubonsee Community College for asking me to teach this class, and thanks to all the wonderful women who participated!  I had a ton of fun, and I hope you did, too.

Waubonsee

Just a quick reminder about my upcoming classes at Waubonsee Community College:


Live Well, Spend Less at the Plano Campus
February 7/14/21, 2011
7:30-9:00pm

Live Well, Spend Less at the Sugar Grove Campus
March 1/8/15, 2011
7:15-8:45pm

XTreme Couponing at the Sugar Grove Campus
March 7/14, 2011
7:15-8:45pm

Online Social Networking for Beginners at the Sugar Grove Campus
April 18/25, May 2/9, 2011
7:15-8:45pm

And you can always find me on facebook. 

I hope to see you there!

Martha (and Manda!) Monday

Here's the news with both of us...

Today, the Martha Stewart Show moved to the Hallmark Channel.  You can get the details, and see if your cable provider carries the Hallmark Channel, here.  While you're there, be sure to watch the one-minute video titled "Martha" Behind the Scenes, where Martha (gasp!) admits she's not perfect. 

I have to say, it's extremely weird to hear Martha say that, since you, I and the whole world knows that she IS perfect.  Of course, in the video you can hear her say that she isn't perfect, but she is not shown actually saying that statement.  Maybe that's not even Martha talking, just a Martha sound-alike!  Gasp! So Martha really is perfect, she knows it, she couldn't bring herself to say it, so to make her seem more "like the people" the Hallmark folks hired someone who sounds just like Martha to say that she (Martha) isn't perfect.  It's a conspiracy!  Actually, now that I think about it, that does make a lot more sense. 

After all, if Martha were not perfect, her bathtub would probably look like this:

Because that is the bathtub of someone who is most certainly not perfect.  Note to the Hallmark people: I like Martha because she is perfect.  If I wanted to watch someone talk about crafts, entertaining, decorating, cooking, baking, gardening, etc. who is not perfect...well, I just wouldn't.  So there.

In completely unrelated news, I have a few things coming up that I wanted to make you aware of:

I'll be teaching X-treme Couponing at Waubonsee Community College starting on September 28.  This is a two-week community education course aimed at teaching people ethical and efficient ways to use coupons to get the most bang for their buck.  Actually, since couponing is all about saving money, I'll be teaching folks how to get the most bang for their coupon. :)  This is my first time teaching this class, and I'm really excited about it.

My other community education course at WCC is Online Social Networking for Beginners.  I've taught this twice before at WCC, and the class is a total blast.  We cover facebook, LinkedIn, twitter and blogging.  A lot of time is spent on facebook security.  That class starts on October 12 and runs for four weeks. 

So Martha is moving her show to a new channel, and I'm teaching a new gig out at Waubonsee.  Whew!  That's a lot for a Monday.  Have a great week, everyone!

Have you registered yet?

This summer, I'll be teaching two community education courses at Waubonsee Community College:

Public Speaking Skills for Career Advancement
June 24 - July 15 (Wednesday) 7 - 9 pm

We'll cover interview skills, sales presentations, elevator speeches, client meetings and more. If you are looking to get a leg up on the competition in your job search, starting your own business or just want to sharpen your public speaking skills, then this is the class for you.

Secrets of Savvy Shopping
July 14 - 28 (Tuesday) 7 - 8:30 pm

If you follow my blog, then you know I am a big coupon fan and regularly get great deals on groceries and health/beauty items. In this class, I'll go over the "rules" for area stores, how to combine sales and coupons to get the best deal, how to stack coupons and get rebates to make items free, and how to successfully shop at drugstores to get many personal care products for free.

If you are interested in either class, or perhaps you are just a stalker looking wanting some face-to-face time with me (Just kidding, Mom! I don't have any stalkers!), then follow the links to find out more and sign up for the classes.

Happy Friday!

Sign up now!

This summer, I'll be teaching two community education courses at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove:

Public Speaking Skills for Career Advancement
(scroll down to see the listing)
4-week course starting June 24, Wednesday nights, 7-9pm

and

Secrets of Savvy Shopping
3-week course starting July 14, Tuesday nights, 7-8:30pm


Register online, and this summer you can get the TMI experience in person! Both classes will be chock-full of information, and I strive to make each class enjoyable for everyone.

Also, if you read my blog and like it even a teeny-weeny bit, please sign up as a follower. It would make my week! Plus, it brings me that much closer to my ultimate Martha goal of world domination. Thanks for reading!