Since the onset of my blogging life, October of last year, I have been incredibly lucky with giveaway wins. Wall canvases and felt mice, vintage brooches and ink art. Notecards, a bumper sticker, a hamburger pin. Nunaturals. Swanson’s health products. Felt flowers, a bow necklace, a book. 


and in the last month, two more tremendous packages have graced my doorstep.

Kay’s Natural Foods sampler package!

Whole Foods gift card!

Thanks to Stacy and Lauren, my grub won’t be costin’ a thing! (at least for a little while longer). I am so lucky to win these giveaways, and plan on hosting another of my own very soon! 


In the meantime, however, I thought I’d share a few of my own favorite things to get or do for free (or pretty darn close).


“Freedom Isn’t Free… but these things are”
*ten points for the Team America reference…


1. The Library– A no brainer for me, but I have to sing its praises once again. Books, music, movies and magazines. Travel guides, museum passes, and the internet. Newspapers, maps, pamphlets and tax info. 
All these things are free for the borrowing. The solitude I get inside a library? Priceless.


2. Sample day at the grocery store. Or farmer’s market. Or art opening. Or mall. Sometimes I like to go to the ritzy gourmet grocery stores on Sunday afternoon to try all of the goodies. When we were younger we stalked the Pretzelmaker and Dippin’ Dots for free samples. These days, I also harass companies for free samples of things and “like” many an item on facebook in the hopes of procuring more free samples. It adds up, and you never know what favorite you might find next!


3. Freecycle, Craigslist, Freepeats, Citypages, Twin Cities Free Market, Garage Sales. If you play your cards right, you can get a lot of things for free just by being at the right place (listed above) at the right time (usually when people are desperate to get rid of it). 


4. Your local curb. Especially if you live near a university or in the months of May and June around these chilly parts of the country, you can get some stellar furniture or appliances just sittin’ out on the curb before garbage day. I’ve scored a pretty great TV and an awesome retro table, just off the top of my head.


5. Survey companies and rewards programs.  I take occasional 5 minute surveys to rack up “points” that I can later trade in for magazine subscriptions, gift cards, and more. My old health insurance had a similar program (I miss you Medica!). Borders, Express, and some other stores give free money to use at their stores either on your birthday or a few times a year. You have to be willing to sign up for some junk mail along the way, but that’s what separate e-mail accounts are for, right?


And now, for some free things to DO! Not all of these are free, but I know there are at least a few in each town that are, at least at certain times or days.


-Museums- especially the quirkier ones.
-Gardens and Arboretums
-Zoos
-Explore your own town on foot as though you are on vacation
-Go fishing
-Festivals/ parades/ expos
-Art galleries




Well, that ought to be enough to get us through this dang recession, right? Well, maybe not, but I hope I inspired a little penny pinching and creativity in all of you! 


Now it’s your turn- what is your favorite freebie? What’s missing on my list?


-Miser Meri