“Almost Free” Pets
Humane societies provides dogs and cats to worthy families if they pay a small charge for spraying or neutering, rabies vaccinations, a vet exam, and perhaps a microchip and an additional series of shots for dogs. For instance, my local shelter charges $90 for dogs and $70 for cats (for services most owners would probably want anyway). Potential pet owners can even browse for a dog or cat online. Adult large and mixed-breed dogs and adult cats make up for the majority of animals made available for adoption, so watch the web site until the breed and age of dog or cat you want is available. Some vets also give away free puppies or kittens if they know you are looking for a particular breed, and the owner is only concerned with giving the animals a good home.
Mint for Your Iced-Tea and Roses for Your Backyard: Propagated Cuttings
For Mint:
Remove leaves from the lower half of a mint stem approximately three-inches long. Place in a glass of water. In about two weeks, roots will appear and start to grow. The mint should be ready to transplant in about a month.
For Roses:
Remove leaves from the lower half of a rose stem approximately six-inches long upon preferably cutting a stem with a bud about to bloom. Gently position the rose cutting in a two-liter plastic bottle cut in half. Add a layer of small rocks or pebbles below the potting fixture and poke small holes in the bottom of the bottle to allow the mixture to drain. Cover with a plastic baggie and place in a warm place away from direct sunlight. Mist regularly for the first month until the roots have taken hold.
Cuttings are a wonderful way of replanting part of grandmother's prized rosebush or a neighbor's herb garden, but they also are a great moneymaking venture for organizations. My backyard, for example, is filled with silver moon tea roses grown from cuttings by my local historical society.
Free Trees: A Great Project for Youth Groups
For a $10 donation, the Arbor Day Foundation supplies members with ten flowering trees or ten oak trees; a charity in Lincoln, Nebraska, Free Trees and Plants, also sends out free shrubs, trees, perennials, shrubs, and bulbs at $7.95 per unit. For instance, this group will send out two crepe myrtles, between 16 and 24 inches tall for the cost of shipping. For more information, google http://www.arborday.org/Shopping/Memberships/Memberships.cfm or http://www.freetreesandplants.com .
Free Income Tax Preparation: With a Little Help from a High School Student
Check with your local high school's business department in the spring if your taxes aren't too complicated.
Free Videos, Internet Access
Check out the public library. It has a lot more to offer than books. Most libraries also have Internet access as well as subscriptions to Ancestry.com, so this is a good place to research your family tree free-of-charge.
Free English as a Second Language and Computer Literacy Lessons
Starting in the fall, many churches offer ESOL classes for adults and children as well as free computer literacy lessons for adults. Ordinarily, proselytizing of attendees doesn't extend beyond an opening praye
Free Tutoring for Your Children
Most elementary, middle, and high schools now offer tutoring before and after school and even on Saturdays, so if your son or daughter is falling behind in a subject, contact your child's principal or teacher. Take advantage of a service that often costs anywhere from $12 to $25 an hour if you plan on hiring a private tutor.
Free Babysitting: Mother's Day Out
Check with the local churches in your area; usually these services are for a half-a-day rather than a whole day.
Free Foreign Language Tutoring
Trade out language learning; offer to teach someone English if he or she, in turn, offers to teach you his or her language.
Free Restaurant Meals
Become a mystery shopper, but beware, legitimate mystery shopping services don't charge any fees or make the shopper pay for and earn certification. Ordinarily, the mystery shopper (or rather diner) is reimbursed between $10 to $15.00 per restaurant visit, for which he or she will need to mail or fax a report within a specified period of time. This about pays for the cost of the meal. For more information, contact the Mystery Shoppers Product Association or http://www.Volition.com -- by the way, the Volition site also offers free coupons and movie screenings.
Free Transportation
Car pool to work, school, and divide up the cost of gas. If you are flying, and you don't have to be at an appointment at a set time, take up the airline on its offer to bump you to the next flight.
