Free and Cheap Stuff for the Economically Impaired

Food is the top of the list. It is the first thing people need when times are hard. While the food pantries can’t supply enough to feed anyone for the entire month, it is still a great source of food to pad out what you have to buy. The local one here gives out a little meat, bread, and some donated fresh fruits and vegetables depending on what people have to donate. In addition I get way too much of the same canned vegetables. I use as much as I can and put the rest away for my emergency supply.

Many pantries have limits on how many times in a month that clients can visit. They don’t always have limits on how many pantries one can visit in a month. Check around and you might be able to visit a different pantry every week or every other week. You can check with the local town hall, churches, or on the internet to find your local pantries. And don't forget to check into food stamps and other government assistance for food.

If you are able, start a garden. Where I am living now I have to garden in containers but that won't keep me from growing fresh vegetables. There is nothing like a fresh salad or fresh tomatoes from your own garden. Check into square foot gardening online. There are some great ideas on YouTube for vertical gardening and people who garden in apartments.

Not all pantries have pet food. Pets of the Homeless web site has a list of places that provide free food for pets as well as homeless shelters that will accept pets.

If there are no sites in your area, ask at the local animal shelter about help with food and medical attention for pets. They would much rather help owners out than to have pets dropped off because the owner couldn’t take care of them.

I love to read and visit the library weekly for books and movies. However, since I lost my car, transportation has been hit or miss. I have to depend on my wonderful neighbor to get to the store or to the library. I have discovered some other ways to get free and cheap reading material.

Two options are to use the public library system and Amazon.com to access books online. It’s not the most comfortable way to read for me, though. I have to hunch over my computer screen to read unless I unplug everything and take it to the bed with me. I will be buying an ereader when I have a few extra dollars.

But I have found some great reading material. The library has access to thousands of books. The hard part is finding them. Every library system is different. You would have to research your own local library to find out what they offer.

Amazon is really simple. You don’t have to have an ereader. You can download a free reader by going to Amazon.com and downloading a free app. I use the Kindle Cloud Reader and it is great. It even works when the internet kicks off here.

You can find great free books and some as low as.99 cents. They are not just the discount bin books but are new books being promoted. I’ve bought some for 99 cents and have seen them later offered at full price.

Check out freecycle.org. You can find people giving away all sorts of stuff. It all is free but you have to be quick to pick it up.