free for all

so if your goal is to live more simply, figuring out the financial side of homesteading is a big step. homesteading takes a lot of dedicated time (especially when you're just getting started) and that may mean a dip in income for your family. wouldn't it be nice if you could just get some of the stuff (and labor and tools and expertise) you need for free? I am here to tell you there is more out there for free than you can use. truly! you just need to know where to look, who to ask, and how to get it.

here's my disclaimer on getting stuff for free: I am not about stealing. if it isn't yours and you are not sure about taking it, then don't. or ask first. this goes for stuff from businesses and corporations, too. I think it is a travesty that grocery stores and restaurants throw so much food away. seriously pathetic and sad. but if there is a lock on a dumpster, that mess is not up for grabs, case closed. as much as I want to flip the system my middle finger on a regular basis, I don't really think that's the best way to solve the problem. I think it is much more effective to ask your local grocery store how they handle expired food instead of getting arrested for stealing trash. let's work on starting dialogue in the light of day rather than sneaking around in the dark of night. same goes with neighbors and friends and family members. be careful not to be so focused on your goal that you damage relationships or give yourself a reputation as a mooch. totally not worth it in the long run, trust me.

1-look: odds are good you are surrounded by stuff for the taking and you don't even know it. our bank keeps a big bowl of matches printed with their logo on the counter where you fill out your deposit ticket. I take a book every time I'm there. we never buy matches. I snag samples of shampoo and soap when I see them, too. eric came home with a ninety pound pumpkin a few weeks ago. he'd spotted it on the side of the road for trash pick up, a leftover from someone's autumnal decor I suppose. he opened up the back of the car and shoved it off down the hill into the chicken coop: free snacks for the ladies. freebies abound, right there in plain sight, if you know how to look for them.

chickens chowing down on free pulp from a friend's juice business

 2-ask: if someone has a skill or a tool you'd like to make use of, ask that someone for help. people are generally pretty generous, I've found. that someone may not have known that skill you admire in then is something of value to other people. people like to be asked for help. it makes us feel like contributors, but it is also flattering to be thought of as someone with something to offer. just be prepared to respect boundaries if someone says no to your request. a relationship worth having is not worth losing just because someone isn't able to help you the way you think they should. ask for discounts or donations, too! lots of businesses would be glad to offer you a discount on bulk orders or donate a fruit tray to your kid's class party. if there is a company or product you really love supporting, email and ask for coupons or free samples. you never know until you ask!

our compost bins (made mostly from free pallets) doubles as a jungle gym, apparently :)

3-accept: it can be hard to accept stuff for free sometimes. we want to think we can do it all ourselves. it is a cultural value, really, that fierce american independence to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. but if someone is offering you assistance, odds are good it is not that they think you incapable or incompetent, but that they truly do just want to help. and help doesn't have to be a tit-for-tat trade system. let others be kind to you without trying to repay or keep score. it can be hard to accept free help, but you gotta be the change you want to see on this one. it'll come back around, I promise. you'll have your chance to be that help to someone else before you know it. and if you always refuse those offers of help, then eventually the offers dry up.

4-lower your standards: I want a vitamix so so badly. oh the smoothies I would make, the soups I would puree, the healthy glow I would have if only I had a vitamix on my kitchen counter. it ain't gonna happen, at least not anytime soon. and you know what? life will continue, pleasantly even. think about what you want (or need) and decide if maybe there is a different solution. it may not be perfect, but could you make something else work?

jamin made himself a SORRY! game board instead of buying one.

5-offer: you never know until you put yourself out there. if you have a skill you know would serve a neighbor well, offer yourself up as part of a trade. you could split wood for someone who can't do it himself in exchange for a portion of the wood you chop. offer up a childcare swap or a carpool ride or pet-sitting duties. offer your tools, your time, and your talents and folks will generally be pleased to reciprocate.

6-get to work: do you love designer handbags? then look for a part time gig at a store that offers an employee discount. jobs with kickbacks rock. lots of places offer the employee discounts even to part time and seasonal workers. even if you only work at your local health food store twice a month, keeping that 15% discount on groceries might make it worth it. small, local businesses tend to be more likely to offer cool perks to employees, so think about what you'd love to have for free and explore your options on employment. same goes for classes you want to take or an internship you'd like to have: if you offer a work trade, folks might be eager to let you take yoga for free or attend a goat birthing workshop for a discount.

7-be patient: good things come to those who wait. if you can't find what you want for free, just wait it out. one of three things will happen: you won't want it anymore, your heart's desire (or a suitable substitute) will fall into your lap, or you'll save up enough to purchase whatever it is you wanted. any of those three is a pretty good solution.