Frugal Living Ideas: Free Stuff (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

sun-sentinel.com/features/time-money/bargains/sfl-save-money-vasquez-c042009sbapr20,0,5496852.column

South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Save money: Let the Web help you cut costs on dining, shopping and more
Use the Internet to uncover cost-conscious dealsDaniel Vasquez on consumer issues

Consumer columnist

April 20, 2009

No free lunch? Actually, you can get that and more if you're a savvy shopper — and online surfer.

Companies are bending over backward today to get business; in some cases giving away stuff and services for free just to get your attention and maybe some repeat business.

Here are 10 ways to live, eat and play for free (and check my ConsumerTalk blog at SunSentinel.com/consumerblog for other free offers).



Kids eat free
It's hardly cheap feeding the little ones, but finding restaurants where they dine free helps. To find them, frequent Web sites that track down neighborhood establishments with family friendly specials.

MyKidsEatFree.com tipped us to Sonny's BBQ, where kids eat free on Wednesdays, and Piccadilly Restaurant, which serves 99 cent meals for children on Thursdays (and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays). The site also lets users search by state and city.

Also check out KidsEat4Free.com, KiddieMenu.com and coupondivas.com/ kids-eat-free.


Never pay shipping again
Before you waste gas and time visiting your favorite store, check online. Major retailer sites such as Kmart.com and BathandBodyWorks.com often offer free shipping deals.

But if visiting those Web sites now and then is too much sweat, let Web sites do the work for you. Somemonitor free shipping deals from major retailers and send e-mail alerts to your computer or cell phone, even sending you coupon codes.

Check out FreeShipping.org, DealTaker.com and Bargainist.com.


Why pay for Wi-Fi?
For those who live on the Web via a cell phone or laptop, it's crucial to find the nearest no-cost hot spot. McDonald's restaurants are a good bet. And it's smart to check with your carrier for special access deals; AT&T customers with an iPhone or Blackberry get free Wi-Fi at Starbucks.

Public libraries often offer free hot spots, though you may need a valid library card account to access it. Check out WiFiFree.com and jiwire.com.

Note: At airports, be wary of Wi-Fi networks with names like "Free Wi-Fi"; they can be ad hoc, peer-to-peer networks set up as a trap by someone with a laptop nearby.


Books
You can find free books on the Web faster than you can say the phrase three times. For a taste of free lit, check out GetFreeeBooks.com, Fiction.us and ManyBooks.net.

And, of courses, there's also the public library — where you can also rent DVDs, CDs and even video cassettes. (Check Browardlibrary.org, PBClibrary.org or MDPLS.org for catalog lists.)


Legal advice
Would you like to talk to an attorney for free? Maybe you have questions about bankruptcy or foreclosure? Or a dispute with a business. Call LegalLine at 866-596-0399 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month and anonymously ask away (in English and Spanish).

The Dade County Bar Association help-line dispenses free, basic legal advice for South Floridians. Specialties covered include family, probate, criminal, real estate, condo, landlord-tenant, business and immigration law. The next opportunities to call: May 6 and June 3.


Video games
When you need an arcade game fix but can't afford tokens, go to FreeVideoGames Online.org. You'll fall in love again with old school favorites like Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Tetris. Also, check FreeArcade.com, BoomGames.com and GameTap.com.


Museums
While some museums don't charge admission, some cost $20 or more. But you can still take advantage of free days, half-day specials and nightly discounts offered on a weekly or monthly basis at institutions across the country. Check museum Web sites of any city you plan to visit.

For example, the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale offers one-hour group tours during regular business hours (must be booked two weeks in advance) and Public Highlight tours Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Both are free with admission. And the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach offers Saturday Family Fun Programs.

Your employer or bank also may offer discounts.

The first weekend of each month, for instance, Bank of America customers get into eight South Florida museums for no charge. Caveats: It's only good for general admission (no special exhibits or ticketed shows) and you can't combine it with any other discounts.

Just present your ATM, credit card or check card along with valid photo identification. The participating museums are: Miami Art Museum, Miami Children's Museum, Miami Science Museum, The Morikami Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Museum of Discovery & Science and South Florida Science Museum.


Education
Many colleges offer free online courses, such as Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California. Florida International University Online lets you take practice courses at no cost.

Stanford University offers free courses on iTunes. Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers much of its undergraduate and graduate curriculum, and anyone can quickly download course material from 35 departments, including Architecture, Economics and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.


Pets
Looking for a four-legged best friend but want to avoid pet stores? You'll find plenty of offers from owners on Craigslist Community Pet Listings and Petfinder.com. You also may consider rescuing a pet from a local shelter, though fees can range from $70 to $100.


Phone calls
Use the Web and skip the phone fees. At Skype.com, for instance, download software at no cost and start calling (computer to computer) friends and loved ones who are also Skype users, anywhere in the world. A Web cam will let you see their smiling face too. You just need a working DSL line or cable modem and headset.

Daniel Vasquez can be reached at dvasquez @SunSentinel.com, or 954-356-4219, or 561-243- 6600, ext. 4219. For more Daniel Vasquez columns, go to SunSentinel.com/vasquez.

Copyright © 2009, South Florida Sun-Sentinel