As a single parent, sticking to your budget each month can seem impossible. Getting free stuff for single parents can help stretch your budget.
Freecycle offers yahoogroups for various locales. After joining one for your area, you will receive emails from people offering items for free and have the opportunity to post free items of your own for others. If you see an email that interests you, email the person offering the free item. Generally, the first person to respond to the email will get the item, but sometimes people have other criteria such as demonstrated need. You can find all sorts of postings from clothing to books to furniture.
Craigslist and other online want ad sites have free stuff sections for various locations. Some sites also offer barter area where you may be able to trade something you no longer need or some of your time for an item that would be useful
You may be able to find coupons that offer products for free. Look in your area newspaper or online for coupons. You might also ask friends and neighbors to give you their coupon inserts so that you can collect several of each coupon that you are looking for.
You can also get free stuff from other people's trash. Dumpster diving may not appeal to you, although it can be a good source of usable items. A drive down neighborhood streets the day before garbage pickup can yield many useful things that are just sitting at the curb with no digging through nasty garbage required.
If your doctor prescribes a prescription medication for you, ask for samples. Be sure to check online at the drug manufacturers website before filling the prescription as sometimes coupons or even a free month's supply are offered so that you'll try their medication.
If you need specific items or sizes of clothing, spread the word to your friends and coworkers. Often, people prefer to give their items to someone deserving that they know rather than to a charity. Be sure to give your outgrown clothes and unwanted items to other people whenever possible.
Want to eat out? Be sure to find out which local restaurants offer kids eat free nights. Usually, you can get one or two kids meals for free if you purchase an adult meal.
Online freebie sites are another way to get free stuff. You might find product samples, free t-shirts, free software, etc. You may even find a new product that the whole family enjoys.
