Tip # 8: Shop the Free Box!

A lot of towns have them! It's a place where people can unload their stuff and just give it away! There is one at my local college, and one at the local co-op. The one at the college is amazing toward the end of the quarter! People are getting ready to move out of the dorms and realize they have collected a lot more stuff than they realized, so they throw it out! I know people who have found brand new clothes, books, electronics, and one person even found a free bike!! The one at the co-op takes donations, but hey! If you can get a coat for a $5 donation, that's cheaper than secondhand stores! Obviously it is more important to pay attention to what you are getting, because there isn't usually any screening like there is at secondhand stores, but if you know where to look, there are some real gems out there! Don't forget about Freecycle.com and the free section on Craigslist as well! Just because it's free doesn't mean it's worthless!