Don't be Above Looking at Free to Stretch the Budget

When money is tight there are ways to make money stretch further. Some of the ways some us think we are above, but should we? Do we really think we are to good to even consider those options? I have written on this topic before, but today I am looking closer at the topic.

Find free alternatives...
There are a number of things you can do or get for free. Instead of buying (or renting) books, videos/DVD's and music borrow them from the library. Instead of running out and buying a new piece of furniture, look on FreeCycle for whatever you may be looking for. I have given away a few things on the site, and I have received some bar stools by putting out a request on there.

Recently, my wife and I found that our Select Comfort mattress was losing air on one side, so we had to scrap it and were forced onto a twin mattress, because we couldn't afford to buy a new mattress just yet. We made an attempt to get a mattress through Freecycle, but weren't fast enough apparently. Others had emailed about them before us. So after a couple of months we decided to post our need/want on Freecycle to see what happened. So this morning after morning devotions I placed the request for a King Size mattress/box-springs on the site and am now waiting for the moderators to approve it for the rest of the community to see. we shall see what happens from there.

In 2006, a group in San Francisco made this topic a lifestyle for one year.

In San Francisco nearly 50 teachers, engineers, executives and other professionals in the San Francisco area have made a vow to not buy anything new in 2006 (except food, health and safety items and underwear). Calling themselves the Compact, they have a blog, a Yahoo group and monthly meetings to reaffirm their commitment to the rule, which is to never buy anything new"

"Compacters can get as much as they want from thrift shops, Craigslist, freecycle.org, eBay and flea markets, as long as the items are secondhand. And
when they're in doubt, they turn to their fellow Compacters for guidance."

"We had a little crisis when Matt and Sarah had to replace their shower curtain liner and we said no," said Perry, who lives in Bernal Heights. "But we put the word out and someone found one for them. It's like the Amish -- we help each other out. We raise a barn every week."

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go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.

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