Cheap or Free Stuff

#whatarethepoorpeopledoing? #cheaptrip #holidays — My cheap beach holiday secret…

Why pay if you don’t have to?

… Ok, so most blokes will probably skip the clothes-swap parties but who knew you could get so much for na-da (or next to)?

Plus, by swapping or getting free stuff, you’re often helping the environment by using less. Go you!

Cheap holidays

Plenty of sites can help you out with cheap or free accommodation, and/or advice for travellers.

Our upcoming post on this has more useful links.

Don’t forget to sign up on the homepage or like LtN on social media.

Search for free accommodation and advice at www.couchsurfing.org, or rent people’s private properties or rooms for a fee, through sites like stayz or Airbnb, which lets you rent someone’s space (just specify if you want the whole place or just a room, or whatever, and it’ll show you what’s available and for how much).

Get the low-down on local experiences from those in the know, for example at sites like www.locongo.com

If you’re after hotel accommodation, I usually check out a couple of sites like booking.com, wotif.com, tripadvisor and hotelscombined and compare a few deals.

Plus if you use your brains you can usually work out what the secret hotels are too (match the facilities of others with the same star rating) — you can stay at your fave hotels for heaps less…shhhh!

If you’re planning to travel somewhere, you can hook up with someone who wants something delivered in return for a reward.

Sites like www.mmmule.com, for example, hook up travellers with people who want something delivered, in return for a negotiated reward that suits both of you, maybe a bottle of vino or a night’s accommodation or even just some local advice.

Free threads

Organise a clothes-swap party

This is where you and your friends bring along pieces to swap with each other. Just make sure it’s clean and good enough quality for someone else to want it (no trackies!), then work how to sort disputes (like coin-flipping). Ah, shopping for free, who knew?

Or you could join a swap site

Check out sites like www.swapstyle.com or you could try an organised event — see www.clothingexchange.com.au for details in Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra, or try web-searching your town or city if you live elsewhere. We’ll keep you posted on useful links if you like us on social media or sign up on the LtN home page.

Or cheap(er) ones…

Second-hand is cheap and even A-list actors love vintage one-off pieces.
Chain-stores are good for swimsuits, undies, sleepwear, shoes, sunnies etc. that are better new – get them when they’re on sale.
Overseas end-of-season sales can net big savings on expensive items, but factor in postage. Use a mail forwarding service to shop overseas-only sites (they post stuff on for a fee plus postage).
Label-lover? Hire things like handbags instead of buying: It’s a fraction of the price, though it’s still a lot. Take good care of items, though, or you could pay if they’re stolen or damaged (read the site’s terms and conditions carefully). Sites either charge rental per item, or an ongoing monthly rental for a set number of items per month plus postage. If you’re interested you could check out www.lovemeandleaveme.com; www.strawberryhandbags.com.au or www.caniborrowthat.com.au

Low-cost books

Ebooks, of course, but if you want the flesh-and-blood pages-and-print versions, Aussies can rent textbooks, with free return postage, at www.zookal.com.au

Prefer to buy your books?

Of course, second-hand books are often cheaper. Look for textbooks advertised on noticeboards at your place of study, search online or trawl a used bookstore. New books are usually cheaper online – especially sets – and the print versions often have free delivery. I personally like the book depository, booktopia and Abe books, plus Amazon, ebay etc. but which site is best for you will depend whether you’re trawling or you know what you’re after, plus where you live.

Discount surfboards: Who knew? Check out www.quiverizer.com.au

Transport

If you don’t have a car, you can buy a space in a car pool or maybe even rent someone’s private car by the hour or day. You can also rent your own car out for a fee.

If you’re interested, check out car-share sites – or watch out for our upcoming post with links. Don’t forget to sign up on the homepage or like LtN on social media so you’ll stay up-to-date.

Need storage, office or parking space? Why not rent driveway space? Watch out for our upcoming post with links!

Warning! Use your head when you’re looking for bargains, or trying to make a buck — protect yourself and also your possessions.

Make sure you always put your safety first, for example, meet up with new people in public spaces or take someone along with you.

Also protect your possessions if you plan to rent them out, for example, make sure your car or valuable goods are insured for their replacement value, and/or ask for some kind of bond. There’s a scammer in every crowd, though happily, I reckon most of us are on the same wavelength.

Protect yourself from scams:

DON’T use money transfers (e.g. Western Union) as they can’t be traced and so are often used for scams.
Does it look too good to be true (too cheap, five-star, slick pics)? It probably is – be suspicious and check it out carefully.
Is the seller based overseas? A lot of scams are based in other countries.
Don’t be pushed into anything you’re not comfortable with. Be assertive. Ask questions. Otherwise say no.
Be choosy with online sites. Look for ones which have secure connections, clear safety advice for users, and policies to prosecute scammers.
Don’t sign anything you don’t fully understand.

Checklist: Cooking Utensils (And Extras)

Darn it, where’s the can opener?

You need cooking utensils to flip your snags, chop and cook stuff and yep, to open a can. Believe me, it’s no fun to buy dinner ingredients but have nothing to cut or stir them with, and, at the end of a looong day, what if your hard-earned bottle of red has a cork? Better tick bottle-opener off your list! Matches or a lighter are always handy to have, even for non-smokers (and especially if you have gas appliances) and candles are great in a blackout (much easier than trying to light the night with an iPhone torch app). Tick off the items on this checklist and you should stay out of trouble in most situations.

* go to checklists for a printable checklist of this and more

Useful utensils
Sharp knives	tongs
scissors	wooden spoon
chopping board	spatula
bottle opener	grater
can opener	ladle
vegie peeler	colander
matches or cigarette lighter	measuring cups
candles	Potato masher

How to get appliances, cooking utensils etc cheap

Garage sales are great, and you can bargain people down, especially if you buy more than one thing. Look for them in your free local paper, keep an eye out for signs in your area, or even check out noticeboards.
You can also get durable things like cutlery, cookware and glassware from charity stores like Lifeline, Vinnies, The Salvos etc. for virtually nothing.
Chain stores, supermarkets and discount stores often have great deals on starter packs of things like cutlery, cookware, Tupperware, dinner sets and glasses, which is especially handy if you’re starting from scratch

Stock up before you move

Keep an eye out for discounts on things cleaning products and non-perishables (garbage bags, foil, toilet paper etc.). Plus try to stock up a bit on long-lasting foods like cooking oil and sauces. If you build up a stash you won’t have to spend as much at first in your grocery shops (see feeding yourself for what you will need to get, and do, so you don’t go hungry).

Checklist: Handy Furniture, Appliances etc.

Handy furniture, appliances to get cheap

So you’re setting up a home for the first time? Once you’ve worked out your budget, you need to work out what furniture and bits and pieces you’ll need most.

Of course, everyone’s needs differ: a student mightn’t need an iron (does anyone? Just put wet stuff on hangers, shove jeans under your mattress – oh, ok, you might need to iron uniforms or work shirts); naturists won’t have much call for a wardrobe (or probably too many clothes for that matter); rice-lovers might want a rice cooker, stir-fry fans probably need a wok.

But for most people, there’re the essentials, like a bed and a fridge, for example, then the other handy stuff you need, or just really want, which is basically the stuff listed here.

You can get by without it, by going to the laundromat, using the library computer, even sweeping the carpet, but it makes it much easier (& more comfy) if you can beg, borrow or steal these things (ok, the stealing bit was just an expression. Don’t steal them.).

* go to checklists for a printable checklist of this and more

Handy furniture and appliances to have…

Washing machine

Vacuum cleaner

Microwave

Table and chairs

Phone

Iron

TV and/or DVD player and/or computer, tablet etc.

Desk

Bin(s) if not provided

Fan and/or heater

Warning! Remember, when in doubt, don’t. Who knows what will happen in the next few years? Do you want to be tied down by a whole heap of stuff (and debt)? What if you decide to travel? It might be better to use a laundromat or take the washing home to Mum or Dad’s, than fork out for something you can’t afford and mightn’t need in a year. Think about it.

Helpful hints to save

If possible, try to beg, borrow, or steal the things you need (ok, not literally — ask if you can take stuff from your folks’, like a kettle, toaster, iron, and/or a starter set of cookware, crockery, mugs etc. Most households tend to have extra bits and pieces they can do without), or see tips here for getting hold of things cheaply or even for free.
Be creative: cover old lounges with a throw or sheet (dye or tie-dye it — just buy dye from a pharmacy or chain store like Spotlight or Lincraft, follow the instructions (!), and to tie-dye just poke your finger through bits of material and wrap around a bunch of rubber bands so the dye can’t get into those bits. Simple).
A crate and tea towel makes a cheap and easy coffee table.
Your laptop can double as a DVD player if you grab a cheap HDMI cable and plug it into your tv.
Got a table? Well you’ve also got a desk then.

Checklist: Essential Furniture To Get

What’s the essential furniture for your first home?

Yep, the amount of stuff you need to set up a house can seem overwhelming – from whitegoods, like fridges, to furniture, not to mention all the other bits and pieces you use every day. Where do you start?

Take a deep breath, you mightn’t need as much as you think.
Always start by working out what you can scrounge from family and friends. Do your folks have a second fridge or tv? Offer to help them save on power bills by taking it off their hands. You saint, you! Ask if you can take other stuff too — most people have at least some extra bits and pieces they can offload.
Think outside the box. Grab an old lounge from a charity store and cover it with a throw or sheet (you can dye or tie-dye it); a box plus some fabric is a coffee table; a laptop is a DVD player; your table doubles as a desk (or vice versa).

The basics

While you can get by without too much, beg, borrow or buy the items on the essential furniture checklist if possible. Then check out the list of useful extras (if you have the cash) in checklist: handy furniture, appliances etc.

* go to checklists for a printable checklist of this and more

Essential furniture

Fridge

Toaster and kettle

Crockery (e.g. plates and bowls), cutlery, utensils

Mugs and glasses

Cookware (e.g. oven tray, good sized heavy-based saucepan, non-stick frypan, microwave-safe cookware if you have a microwave)

Food storage (e.g. Tupperware)

Lounge

Bed and new mattress if not bringing your own (foam is the cheapest)

Clothes hanger (if no built-ins or wardrobe)

Wait! Before you buy anything:

Does your property come with any furniture or appliances? Check before you buy. For example, are there built-in wardrobes? Some apartments may have a dryer; houses may have a washing machine or fridge you can use.
If you are sharing with others, work out who will buy what. Sharing the cost of a major appliance can turn into a nightmare if one or more of you need to move out. Keep things separate so it’s clear who owns what.
Measure the space – you don’t want your hard-earned cash spent on a fridge, microwave, washing machine etc. that will take up half your kitchen or laundry space while the designated wall cavity sits empty.
Remember, when in doubt, don’t. Who knows what will happen in the next few years? Do you want to be tied down by a whole heap of stuff (and debt)? What if you decide to travel? It might be better to use a laundromat or take the washing home to Mum or Dad’s, than fork out for something you can’t afford and mightn’t need in a year. Think about it.

Check out more things that are great if you can get them here