1.  Furniture

Yes, you can get free furniture, and here are some of the ways: people leave perfectly good pieces by the curb; check out yard sales where the furniture isn’t selling and the owner may be happy to give it away; take castoffs that others have outgrown such as baby furniture or stuff that is too large for a downsizing retired couple.

And don’t forget Freecycle.org.  If you’re skeeved by the thought of used upholstery, though, then it’s best to stick to items like tables, lamps, entertainment centers and wooden chairs.

2. Moving Boxes

Seriously, does anyone really pay for these?  I just save some of the boxes from online orders.  And don’t forget grocery stores and liquor stores.  Plus, for official U.S. Mail shipping boxes, you can get them totally free from USPS.com.

3.  Books

Your free library offers not only regular books, but many also have e-books, plus a wealth of CD’s, videos and more for the borrowing.  Just remember to return the items on time so you won’t incur fines.  Also check out yard sales for book giveaways.

4.  Credit Reports

Go to annualcreditreport.com, which is the government’s officially sanctioned site for your free credit reports that all Americans are entitled to receive by law.  You can get a free report from each of three different credit reporting agencies, so rotate your requests four months apart, among the different companies.  That way you get a free report each quarter.  Just make sure you use only that website; other sites with similar addresses are not the real deal and will charge you.

5.  Credit Counseling

If you need some serious help with debt, stay away from those shady outfits that claim to repair your credit.  Go to the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).  They provide free advice at 850 offices across the U.S.

6. Text Messages

Why pay to text?  The typical text plan could cost you $10-20 a month, but with the right smart phone app, you can avoid these charges.  Try TextFree Unlimited for iPhone and textPlus for Android phones.

7.  Banking

Don’t tell me you’re paying for a checking account.  Shop around and find a fee-free bank.  But be careful to check if “free” comes with strings such as minimum balance requirements.

8.   Exercise

In the old days, fit people got along perfectly fine without a gym membership and you can, too.  Walking and running costs nothing.  Indoors, you can do situps, push ups, weights and more.  And don’t forget, you can borrow exercise videos for free from the library, or check out exercise shows on TV.

Get personal training from FitOrbit and MyHomePersonalTrainer, with free workout routines and video exercises at no cost.  Also, popular trainer Jillian Michaels has a useful free iPhone/iPad app that provides a variety of workouts, recipes, and training tips.

9.  Vacation

Okay, we’re not saying “never” pay for a vacation.  Some trips are well worth it.  But for certain kinds of vacations, you can indeed go for free. You can swap homes with other travelers through sites like Digsville and HomeExchange.

Also, a volunteer vacation can provide lodgings in exchange for you donating time and effort to a good cause, such as: The Pacific Crest Trail Association, The American Hiking Society and The Colorado Trail Foundation.

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