freebiequeen

What if you could get almost anything for free? A free bed. Free clothing. Free dishes. Free boat. Free motorcycle. Even a free house!

I personally have gotten some of those items at zero cost, and my family has received others on the list. The only one not obtained yet by my immediate family is the free home, and that only because I didn’t move fast enough.

No, I’m not selling anything. On the contrary, I’m giving you the opportunity to find your own deals, simply by reading right here. This journal is intended not only to show you how to find the best freebies, but also find extreme bargains, items at prices vastly lower than you’d pay retail. I’ve bought brand new items for as little as five percent of the clearance price!

Obviously, not everything you get will be top of the line. Most freebies of large items mean you get something second- or even third- or fourth-hand. That’s not a bad thing: think vintage. Think antiques.

Think of money you saved!

Free Web Resources

There are two online sites offering freebies every single day. Both are international in scope and from my experience are the best options for finding fabulous free stuff. They are Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) and Craigslist (www.craigslist.org.)

Craigslist is the larger, more complex site offering not only freebies but also bargains for those who can spring for a little money out of pocket. Freecycle is typically hosted through Yahoo Groups and items listed there must be offered free - absolutely no strings attached. Utilization of Freecycle doesn’t require use of a Yahoo email address, though if you don’t have one you may need to sign up to get started. Then when joining a specific group, edit the membership to assign whatever email address is desired.

There are other similar organizations online in addition to the biggest two. When joining the local chapter of Freecycle, I discovered several comparable projects established in my area. Go to the Yahoo Groups area and in the search engine put “freecycle” and the name of the city where you live. Chances are pretty good you’ll pull up more groups geared to non-cash exchanges of goods and services.

Free Local Resources

Sometimes the biggest need is information, which is available at several levels. Local governments offer various free services for indigent residents, but not all free services restricted to the poor. Information and referral services are available to anyone who asks.

One of the most accessible and least utilized government resources is the public library. With all the advertisements for grant money, I wanted to know more, but I didn’t have the $69.99 plus shipping to get the almighty grant information book.

One trip to the library scored the book I wanted, and I didn’t have to pay a single penny.

Whatever you see advertised on television, look it up at the library, then decide if it’s worth buying. Better yet, find it at the library bookstore (after deciding it’s worth buying) and get it for pennies on the dollar!

Freebie Pedigree

As I mentioned earlier, I personally have scored some outstanding freebies. Currently I am sleeping on a free bed (received still in its original plastic) and my hobby supplies reside in a free dresser I found on Craigslist. I’ve scored a free antique wooden rocker, along with a matching desk, utility stand and matching hutches. I’ve gotten complete computer systems and more books than I can count. I’ve received free dishes, appliances, and a big screen TV. (Yes, it works!)

That room-size rug at right? You guessed it - didn’t cost me anything except the time to pick it up.

My son collected a free fishing boat and motorcycle recently, and is watching for a desk to replace his current ramshackle affair.

If you’re reading this and dismissing the matter of the free house, it’s just as real. There’s one intriguing story online of a man named Kyle MacDonald, who started with a single red paper clip and ended up with a house, each time trading the item he got for something of progressively more value. (http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/) Naturally, not everyone has the creativity to turn a paper clip into a place to live. For most of us, though, it’s simple to find no- or low-cost ways of enhancing homes and lives.

What about that place to live? Can anybody else get a home for free?

Yes, you can. That’s for the next entry!

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