388. Your Guide to Free Services and Savings

Katie, shares practical ways to cut costs and free up money for savings and faster debt payoff, drawing on her own journey of paying off over $254,762 on a single income. She describes getting a free haircut as a community college hair model and suggests similar savings through schools and training programs (cosmetology services, dental cleanings, trade-school auto repairs), plus free Home Depot workshops and trades training resources. She encourages using libraries for books and more, local buy/sell/trade and giveaway groups, community pantries, and reviewing workplace benefits for services and discounts. Other tips include using free trials carefully, working or volunteering at venues for concerts/sports, earning travel rewards, and maximizing restaurant rewards and birthday freebies, including apps like Flashfood and resources like food banks and Feeding America.

Transcript

You Do Not Have To Pay

Kati 0:00

Did you know that you don't have to pay for everything? And no, I'm not talking about stealing or robbing a bank. I enjoyed some great deals recently and thought I'd share some ideas with you on how to cut costs to make room in your budget. That will help free up funds to build your savings and pay off debt faster.

Announcer 0:22

You're listening to the Debt Free Dad podcast with Brad Nelson. Brad and his co-hosts experience the anxiety of living paycheck to paycheck before learning the fundamentals of financial success. They are now on a mission to empower regular people to pay off their debt for good and enjoy happier, less stressful lives. Keep listening for inspirational interviews, tips, tricks, and practical advice to gain financial freedom.

Free Services Through Local Schools

Libraries And Neighborhood Sharing

Work Benefits And Free Trials

Rewards Programs And Free Food

Share Your Plan And Next Steps

Kati 0:50

Thank you for listening to the Debt Free Dad podcast, where we help everyday people like you take control of your finances and live a happier, less stressful life. My name is Katie and I'm your host for today's episode. And I am still on my journey to debt freedom, which I've been doing for about seven and a half years now. And in that time, I've paid off over $254,762 in student loans, car loans, medical bills, and credit card debt, all on a single income. The other day I signed up to be a hair model for a stylist in training at my local community college. She was very friendly and gave several options for my style. She was thorough and attentive to detail, and she did a great job cutting, washing, and styling my hair. Don't worry, there was a licensed salon instructor who checked her work multiple times throughout the service, so I wasn't worried about losing a big chunk of hair or having a crooked cut in the end. I got my split ends freshened up and some really cute layers. And the best part, it was all free. Well, of course, I tipped her. But that same cut would have normally cost me almost $100 at my regular salon. This program also does hair color, nails, and skincare services, all part of their training. So they appreciate having people help them practice as they work toward graduating their program and getting their license. For those fresh out of the program, their pricing is also lower than someone who has been a stylist for many years. This experience did give me the idea to search for other deals and compile some options for you to check out. So along the same lines, you could get dental cleanings at a dental school, or you could have auto repairs done at a trade school with significant savings on what your local shop might charge. Home Depot offers free classes for kids to adults. On the first weekend of every month, they offer free in-store kid workshops with fun activities and cute crafts. Just be sure to register online so they have enough supplies. They also offer workshops and how-to video classes for adults looking to do home improvement projects and build their skills. And I also just found out they have a free trades training with self-paced Path to Pro classes and the opportunity to earn HVAC, carpentry, electrician, and construction certificates, which are all high high-demand professions. There may also be some ways to get creative with the help of your local schools. When I was an interior design student in college, let's not say how many years ago, one of my classes had a project where we went to a local home, took measurements and photos, and then presented our design ideas for the remodeling project that the homeowners were looking to do. In 2019, a Minnesota toddler with a rare genetic condition that affected his mobility needed a special wheelchair. Similar chairs cost up to $20,000, and his parents' insurance just didn't cover it. The Farmington, Minnesota High School Robotics Team took on the challenge and made an electric wheelchair for the child, receiving help from the University of Delaware's Go Baby Go program, which creates custom vehicles for children with limited mobility. Talk about a wonderful life and learning experience for those students on the robotics team and a priceless life-changing outcome for that child and his family. Do you ever find yourself spending a lot of money on books at Barnes and Noble or ebooks on Audible? I often forget about one of my favorite places where I spent days on end as a child, the library. Not only do you have access to thousands of physical books for free, they also offer ebooks, movies, music, classes, puzzles, workshops, and special events. Some even loan tools, small appliances, and other items you would otherwise buy or rent for a one-time, rare, or random project. Have you ever heard the phrase it takes a village? There are so many local online buy-sell trade groups on Facebook, Craigslist, Next Door Free Cycle, Offer Up. There's also usually a few free or giveaway groups that you can check out in your area too. Near me, there's a neighbors in need group. So people can can't ask for money, but they can ask for furniture, clothes, or kitchen items that they might need. And people who are spring cleaning or have something sitting in their basement can help fill those needs. Sometimes an apartment complex might have a community pantry, either a resident-led or managed initiative offering 24-7 no questions access to non-perishable food, hygiene items, and essential goods. These are often situated near mailboxes or in lobby areas for neighbor-to-neighbor support. When's the last time you checked out the benefits that were available through your work? I did a refresh of my benefits and found that my employer offers free or inexpensive nutritionist counseling, therapy or life coaching lessons, legal services, menopause support, education reimbursement, even discounts on child or elder care, moving services, car purchases, and more. If you're thinking about trying out a new product or service, there might be a free sample or a free trial for anything from hair products and personal clothing stylists to streaming services. Just be sure to set a reminder for yourself to cancel the service a few days before that first charge is going to be billed. So your free trial doesn't end up costing you big bucks, especially if you're not interested. Do you love attending concerts or sporting events? Lots of venues need volunteers or have paid part-time positions to be an usher or greeter or work in concessions or security, giving you the opportunity to catch parts of that big show or game while making a little money. If you've been bitten by the travel bug, try to fly with the same airline or airline alliance and sign up for their mile rewards program. This allows you to earn points towards discounts on future flights and even free. Same thing goes for hotels to earn free nights. And one of my favorites, last but not least, free food. If you frequent a restaurant regularly, whether it's chains and fast food or your local cafe or family restaurant, be sure you're signed up if they offer a punch card or some kind of rewards program. In January, I got an inbox full of emails with offers for free food throughout my birthday month. You bet I took advantage of a free burger at Red Robin, a free entree at Qdoba, and some more. Plus, earn points every time you order and redeem those points for a variety of discounted or free items or entrees. By the way, my dinner after that free haircut the other day happened to be a burrito bowl that I had redeemed by using my accumulated Qdoba rewards points. If you work in a restaurant, you often get a meal for your shift, or you can take leftovers home at the end of the night. Some organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, offer meals for their volunteers that help with their home building projects. I was intrigued by some posts a friend made recently about an app called Flash Food, which helps grocery stores place excess produce, meats, and other grocery items with families instead of being tossed out. She got two big bags, one of fruit and one of veggies, for $5 each that would easily retail for over $40. And it helped her meal plan for their family for the week. And of course, if you are in a situation where you are truly in need of food, please check out your local food banks and food centers. Look for food rescue communities near you, which intercept surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, and farms, distributing it to families in need to reduce waste and fight food insecurity. Volunteer-driven initiatives and organizations like Feeding America, provide nutritious meals, and build sustainable local food networks. So, which of these tips do you plan on checking out? Share in the comments on this episode. And until next time, thank you for listening to the Debt Free Dead podcast.

Brad 9:44

Now listen, if you're ready to break free from living paycheck to paycheck, which if you're listening, I hope you are. You want to reduce financial stress, you want to build savings, you want to finally pay off debt for good, but you're not sure where to get started. Don't worry. We've got to cover here at debt free dad. Simplify My Money is sent each Sunday to your email. We make it easy. And Simplify My Money, it's your step-by-step roadmap to better financial control. And you're also going to learn easy to follow strategies to manage your money effectively. You're going to get stress-free money decisions that will help you simplify your financial life with proven tips that actually work. You're also going to gain the tools and the confidence to tackle your financial goals head on. You can sign up for Simplify My Money by clicking the link at the top of the show notes. Thanks for joining us on today's show, and we will see you guys on the next episode.

Announcer 10:37

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