Freebies: Kicking the Cheapskate Habit
The cheapest person I knew as a child used to save her grocery receipts and dump them in a shoe box on top of the refrigerator. If one of my friends wanted something, they had to wait until she died.
Yes, there are people who get thrills out of "saving money." But if there's one thing I don't miss about growing up during the Great Depression, it's that feeling that money was scarce and every penny counted.
But do you know what I do miss? The feeling that you were rich enough for life not to be so materialistic. That is what freebies do for me - they give me a sense of freedom from being consumed by stuff and being broke all the time.
In today's materialistic society, you would think that the only people who have enough money to make fun of people who don't purchase stuff are those on the "Get Rich Quick" schemes.
But I can't help but laugh whenever I see lists of freebies from local businesses that are sent out in mailers. People so stressed over their job or struggling financially for a lack of a good home that they are unable to enjoy life, find a "freebie," and sit on their couch in front of the television or computer playing video games until dinner time rolls around.
Yes, there are people who are frugal enough that they can enjoy life by saving money. But by the same token, there are some people who spend less than they earn, but so what?
Healthy financial habits include living within your means and enjoying life for what it is worth. Right now, there are people all over the country whose savings accounts have been decimated by medical bills or educational loans. They're happy to use their debit card to pay for full-priced items and freebies won't make them feel any better about their finances.
So who's to say whether you're cheap or just smart with your money? You might want to put a little label on yourself, but I know what types of people won't buy me lunch. If you think that most of the people on the planet are out to get you, then you're not going to have a problem spending money.
On the other hand, if everyone loves and cares about you (or at least pretends to), then freebies are exactly what it takes for you to relax and enjoy life again. Whatever kind of person you are, remember that every penny counts.
As for me, I'll be taking my freebies and looking for more...
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Makes sense, I suppose. While I don't think it's a good idea to constantly overspend, if you do find that you are spending more than you're earning then it is a good idea to cut back. That said, I think it's a much better idea to simply make wise purchases and be frugal with the rest of your spending. As long as you choose wisely in what you buy and don't spend your free time on TV or at the bar looking for something new to buy, then there's no reason why your life couldn't be richer!
Also, free food is awesome. It's also a great way to learn about the food you're eating and how you can make it healthier (or if it's just not that healthy to begin with).
I've had a lot of success with finding free food in my city. Here's my favorite places:
Used grocery stores have their own set of hidden gems! For example, if you go to a Price Chopper or Wegman's like I do, they usually have a whole wall of stuff that has been donated to them. Most of the time it's in the back and you have to ask an employee what is there, but sometimes they'll let people browse and even pull things out for free. They also sometimes donate their expired food products to other needy people, so keep an eye out.
If you live near a university or college: I used to frequent my local college's dining area a lot in undergrad. I'm sure you can pick up tons of free stuff there. It's one of the best resources living right on campus, but it's not always super obvious so make sure you ask specifically if they already have some things they're giving out.
From time to time my friends and I will go "dining" at our dorms' dining areas - literally eating at their tables and leaving our money with them in exchange for the food. It's not the most convenient but it is a great way to get free food. The trick is to always ask for seconds (even if you're full) and politely ask if you can have more of something than you'd like. Before you know it, you'll have a whole tray of stuff!
You're welcome :)
Update: It's been brought up in the comments and on Reddit that this "tactic" doesn't really work anymore since college dining halls are supposedly cutting back their service.
Conclusion : If you use the resources I've suggested here, you'll be a master at finding free food.
Free stuff goes a long way when you're on a budget. In fact, I've made a huge number of my purchases based solely on the kindness of others and the places they visit. This includes everything from cookware (thanks to my parents) to warm clothing (thanks to strangers). It might not feel like something that you could do right now, but it's definitely worth looking into!
P.S.