Drive Away Hunger, Get Free Braves Tix

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us make our dollars as valuable as possible.

Here are some deals that hopefully will stretch your dollars to the max:

1. Drive Away Hunger, Get Free Braves Tickets

Deal: Neighbors all around you are hungry. To bring awareness, this month is National Hunger Action Month. In metro Atlanta, "Drive Away Hunger" concludes Saturday. Sponsors include AutoTrader.com, Chevrolet and the Atlanta Braves—all to help the Atlanta Community Food Bank collect and distribute food.

Through Saturday, you can receive free tickets to see the Atlanta Braves play the New York Mets on Sept. 16 at 7:35 p.m, including a fireworks show. On Value Days, you also can receive discounted Braves tickets for games on Sept. 12-14 and Sept. 26-28.

For the free tickets, all you have to do is donate canned food. For every 10 cans (with dates that have not expired) you receive a ticket. The nearest drop-off location in the Springs is in Lithia Springs.

While there, if you test drive any car—for instance, one of the new Chevy Volt electric cars—you have a chance to win an Atlanta Braves VIP Experience, including a 16-seat luxury suite, on Sept. 16. Also AutoTrader.com will donate $10 to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. (That amount will feed a family of four for two days.)

When: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday; closed Sunday for John Thornton Chevrolet.

Where: John Thornton Chevrolet, 1971 Thornton Road, Lithia Springs.

Contact: 678-303-4071 (John Thornton Chevrolet)

2. Extreme Couponing Class

Deal: SouthernSavers.com is coming to Douglas County this week. Learn how to use coupons to save hundreds of dollars a month on all of your grocery, household and personal care items. Basic and advanced topics will include:

• Gathering and organizing coupons
• Using online resources to find your own deals
• Effectively using coupons—more than just clipping and using them
• Detailed instructions for using coupons at drugstores

Each participant will receive a detailed guidebook to keep from Jenny Martin, founder of SouthernSavers.com and class instructor. You may register online here. 

When: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday. 

Where: Midway Church, 3915 Carrollton Villa Rica Highway, Villa Rica. 

Cost: $10 per person and payable at the door by either cash or check.

3. More Supermarket Savings

Deal: The theme of the next Ladies' Night Out at will help you save money at your local grocery and drug stores. Space is limited, so reservations are required. 

When: 7 p.m., Sept. 22

Where: Tea at Seven Springs, 4456 Marietta St., downtown Powder Springs.

Cost: $15, including dinner

Contact: 770-439-9074 for reservations

4. Coupon Swap and Savings Days

Deal: , also owned by Larry and Joan Evans next door to Tea at Seven Springs, is hosting Coupon Swap and Savings Days every Tuesday and Wednesday. Bring in your coupons, notebooks, sales fliers, etc. Clip, sort and share time with friends and others who like to save. 

Also, you may drop your extra coupons into their collection bin. Donated coupons will be sorted and filed by category for customers to check through the files. In addition, couponers will save 10 percent on their lunch or drink order on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Free WiFi also is available.

Where: Powder Springs Coffee and Bake Shoppe, 4458 Marietta St.

When: Every Tuesday and Wednesday, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: Free with 10 percent discount on lunch or drink items to coupon donors.

Contacts: 770-439-6944 or email info@powderspringscoffee.com.

5. Free Weekly Bible Study

Deal: also will host a free weekly Bible Study beginning Monday. "Knowing God By Name" is the theme, and Jeri Langston is the facilitator. Registration is required.

When: 9:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 22

Where: Tea at Seven Springs, 4456 Marietta St., Powder Springs

Cost: Free

Contact: 770-439-9074 at Tea at Seven Springs or Jeri Langston at langstonjeri@aol.com for reservations

BONUS: Free Chick-fil-A Breakfast Items

Deal: You still have the opportunity to sign up to receive free breakfast items from Chick-fil-A. Reservations may be made for pick up this week through Saturday, choosing your restaurant location, date, timeframe and breakfast item. As of Tuesday afternoon, around 750 reservations remained at the .

Where: 835 Thornton Road, Lithia Springs

Remember: You also can help military families overseas with your expired coupons through Coupon Mom's Military Coupon Program and feed your neighbors in needs with free coupon specials found at CouponMom.com and SouthernSavers.com.