Let's face it: Times are tight – and the holidays aren’t exactly helping. Fortunately,
the College makes it easy to scale back your spending. Just follow these six tips, and there’s no telling how much you’ll save.
GET AROUND. With free, unlimited access to the CARTA bus system, College employees can go just about anywhere without spending a dime. Whether you’re taking one of the regular routes to spend a Saturday downtown or a Park-and-Go Express route to get to work, all you need is a bus pass from the Office of Cougar Card Services, and you’re good to go. And, remember, even if you were one of the nearly 3,000 people who used a bus pass in the fall, you’ll need to pick up your new pass for the spring 2009 semester before the December break.
Biking is another option for getting around town for next to nothing, and – with bike registrations jumping from 350 in 2007 to over 637 in 2008 – it’s one that seems to be growing in popularity. So, go ahead and get your free air from the pump in front of the John Rivers Communication Museum on George Street and your $1 bike registration from public safety, and you’ll be ready to pedal your way to savings.
PARK IT. The increased bike and CARTA riderships have translated into around 150 fewer parking permits being sold, which means that bikers and CARTA riders aren’t just saving on gas – they’re saving the $400–$700/year they’d be spending on parking permits if they were driving to work every day. And, even when they do need to drive to campus, they can use Cougar Cash to park in the St. Philip Street and Wentworth Street garages at a discounted rate that won’t exceed $5/visit.
EAT UP. College employees have exclusive access to some of the best lunch deals in town. You can get all-you-can-eat soup, salad bar, dessert and beverage for $5 in the Faculty/Staff Dining Room, or you can sign up with Dining Services for the Faculty/Staff Block Meal Plan, which gets you 20 full all-you-can-eat meals at Liberty Fresh Food Company for only $120. Both are deals that are hard to pass up – just ask any of the 111 employees currently on the block meal plan or the approximately 50 employees using the faculty/staff special every day.
STAY FIT. Between College employees’ free access to the Willard A. Silcox Physical Education and Health Center’s indoor running track, the Stern Center Pool and the Stern Center Fitness Room, who needs a gym membership? As your all-access pass to fitness and health, your Cougar Card will get you in the door – the rest is up to you.
HAVE FUN. With the F. Mitchell Johnson Physical Education Center’s basketball, volleyball and badminton courts – not to mention the racquetball courts, which will be re-opening in the near future – there’s a lot of fun to be had at the College. Employees are welcomed to join the non-competitive Campus Recreation Services sports clubs (e.g., aikido, karate, running) and activities (e.g., yoga, volleyball and badminton net nights).
And, if your idea of entertainment is more low-key, use your Cougar Card at the Addlestone Library and spend the weekend curled up with a good book or a classic movie. Or you can always pack up the entire family for a visit to the John Rivers Communication Museum or the Halsey Gallery for a little (free) cultural fun.
SPEND TO SAVE. College employees are eligible for discounted gym memberships, spa services, mobile phone services, hotels, car rentals and retail shopping at a variety of local and national establishments. You can’t afford not to take advantage of the savings listed below. 
| Banking | ||
| Wachovia | Special Incentives | Contact Jarred Overcash at 937.4556 or visit www.wachovia.com/wachoviaatwork |
| FITNESS & HEALTH | ||
| East Shore Athletic Club |
Special Rates | Contact Mandy Harrison, 284.4243 or mandyeastshore@yahoo.com |
| Gold’s Gym | Varies | Contact
Andy Harnsberger, 329.4653 or aharnsberger@goldsgym.net |
| Salon Bliss | 10%/purchases | www.wesave.com/sc |
| Simply Your Spa* | 10%/hour | www.simplyyourspa.com |
| The Spa at Charleston Place |
25% | Present Cougar Card at purchase Monday through Thursday |
| MONTHLY MOBILE PHONE SERVICE | ||
| Alltel | 20% | www.alltelb2b.com/affinity/acampbell/20pct.html |
| AT&T Wireless | 15% | www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/ |
| Sprint | 15% | www.sprint.com and click on “Employee Discounts” |
| Verizon Wireless | 19% | www.verizonwireless.com/discount |
| MONTHLY RENT | ||
| Ashley Grove* | 3–5% | Present WeSave card, 556.1233 |
| Northwoods Townhomes* | 3–5% | Present WeSave card, 797.7110 |
| RESTAURANTS | ||
| Swamp Fox Restaurant and Bar | 10%/food | Present Cougar Card to server |
| RETAIL | ||
| 1.800.Flowers* | 15% | www.1800flowers.com or 888.755.7474 Use code WeSave15 |
| Apple | 10–12% | www.apple.com/edu/cofc |
| Barnes & Noble.com* | 5% | www.bn.com/wesave |
| Beltone Hearing Aids* | 15% | www.beltone.com |
| Charleston Florist* | 10% | Present WeSave card, 577.5691 |
| College of Charleston Bookstore | 10% | Present Cougar Card at purchase |
| Dell | 7–20% | www.cofc.edu/it/helpdesk/facstaff/purchasing.html |
| FromYouFlowers.com* | 20% | www.fromyouflowers.com |
| Garden Wise Nursery & Garden |
10% | Present Cougar Card at purchase |
| J. Crew Retail Stores | 10% | Present Cougar Card at purchase |
| Golden & Associates Antiques* | 20% | Present WeSave card, 723.8886 |
| Kerr Drug* | 10% | Present WeSave card, Tuesdays only |
| Office Max | Special Rates | Contact Wendy Williams, 953.5506 or williamsw@cofc.edu |
| OldNavy.com* | Varies | www.oldnavy.com |
| Party & Play* | 10% | Present WeSave card, 856.9121 |
| Rug Décor* | 10% | Present WeSave card, 766.7783 |
| SierraTradingPost* | 35–70% | www.sierratradingpost.com |
| RECREATION | ||
| Stingrays Tickets | $5 | Present Cougar Card at purchase, Thursdays only |
| TRAVEL | ||
| Avis* | 5–10% | www.wesave.com/sc |
| Budget* | 5–10% | www.wesave.com/sc |
| Busch Gardens* | 15% | www.wesave.com/sc |
| Enterprise | 10% | www.cofc.edu/~procure/ Click on the Enterprise logo |
| Extended Stay Hotels* | 6% | www.wesave.com/sc |
| *With WeSave Card, available to all employees at www.wesave.com/sc/signup/. | ||
| This list is not exhaustive. All discounts are subject to change. | ||