Find Free Alternatives To What You Need

Money isn’t the be all end all. What we actually need is community.

We are taught to believe early on that we need money for everything. “Nothing in life is free.” is something adults like to say to the younger generations.

And yes, in a way, that is true.

Whether someone pays for something in money, time or in other ways, someone always pays.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find free alternatives to the things you need in life. There are plenty of ways to get things for free. Otherwise, being a freegan wouldn’t be on the rise.

If you are looking to get things for free, you must get organised. Make a list of the things you need. Preferably the ones that are straining your budget, or the things that can make certain that you can stick to your current budget.

1. List the things you need and why you need them.

2. Jot down what you currently pay for them, or what they would cost if you did.

3. Find free alternatives to each item or service on that list.

What is available and where it is available will differ from place to place. But here is a list of where and how to acquire a few of the basics.

Food:

• Ask grocery stores, restaurants and cafes what they do with their food waste and respectfully inquire if you could come and collect some of it instead.

• Go urban foraging and preserve the food you find to make it last.

• Forage in nature – with great care – and preserve the food you find to make it last.

• Get a sourdough starter from a friend and start your own. Make your own flour from things you find in nature, such as acorns for example.

• Forage for apples or get permission to pick some from a neighbour. Make your own apple sauce, apple cider and apple cider vinegar. Make apple pies and cake and freeze them in portions.

• Inquire with friends and neighbours if anyone has a fruit tree that they are unable to pick all the fruit of. Most people with older trees jump at the opportunity to have someone come pick their fruit. As a form of thank you, you can share some of the preserves with them.

Cleaning products

I have yet to come across anything that can’t be cleaned with basic pantry items such as:

• Baking soda

• Vinegar

• Lemon

• Starch

Clothes

Get scrap material and yarn for free and turn them into new garments. Inquire with friends and neighbours if you can look through any garments they intend to donate before they do so. You can then turn those garments into new garments. If you have a favourite garment among your own, make a pattern out of it.

Arrange or go to a swap meet. Bring what you’ve decluttered from your own wardrobe or your children’s, and switch those items for what you need.

Accept hand-me-downs from friends, neighbours and family. And do the same for them, whenever someone has outgrown something in your household. Unless you can turn it into something new, that is.

Shoes

Shoes can be expensive, and thus they must be very well looked after. A pair of shoes of good quality that have been well looked after can last a decade or more. I bought my pair of barefoot shoes over five years ago, and they still look brand new. I expect to be able to keep them for another five years at least, though likely more.

Many families don’t have the energy to sell what they declutter, and social media can be an excellent way to get shoes for your children for free.

While it is a depressing reality, both clothes and shoes can often be found brand new in dumpsters outside of larger clothing shops. People go urban foraging for more than just food.

Technology

There is a large industry for used and refurbished technology, but that may still cost too much if money is tight. However, you could write a post about it on social media or in one of the many groups there. Someone might be willing to give you their old laptop, phone or TV, to prolong its life. I’d gladly donate my technology to some deserving individual if I can’t get it sold.

Again, dumpsters may be an option. Not just outside of tech shops, but in general. So many people throw out all sorts without caring the least about recycling.

There are apps where people get paid for collecting and recycling people’s waste from the garden or their homes. Or to simply pick something up and get it to a charity shop for them. You could then both get some extra money by collecting their “waste” and making good use of what they throw away.

Books

People don’t value books nearly as much as they should, and many even throw them out. I won’t get into how awful I think that is, but it does leave you with an opportunity to get books for free.

Inquire on social media, respond to people’s posts in groups regarding books they are letting go of, or ask friends and family.

Go to swap meets and switch the books you’ve finished reading and won’t re-read for books you’ve never read.

Good luck!