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Post by pathwinder14 on Sept 5, 2012 8:45:17 GMT -7
My thread on least expensive kit got me thinking (dangerous I know  ). We should compile a list of items a person in a reasonable 1st world country could get for free and another list of stuff they could get really cheap. What are actual free or cheap items you can think of and wehre can you get them? Let me know and I'll update the list below. Free List:Condiments (salt, pepper, sugar, mint, etc.) - any restaruant Tarp - construction site tyvek house wrap or warehouse air bags Fresnel lens - any pharmacy Matches - any fancy restaruant or hotel Cook Pot/hobo stove - empty coffee can Used Food Grade 5 gallon bucket - local restaurant Scrap wood - Lumber mill Saw dust - Any Lows or Home Despot or Saw Mill Cheap List:Back Pack - Thrift store Old Hickory knife - Thrift store Cook Pot - Thrift store Clothes - Thrift store Boots - Thrift store Lighter - Gas station Bandanna - any *mart Hat - Thrift store Blanket - Thrift store Power bar - PayDays at any gas station 1st aid - Dollar Store Pet supplies - Dollar store Cook ware - Dollar store Hygene - Dollar store Generic meds - Wal store |
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Post by angelhelp on Sept 5, 2012 9:38:50 GMT -7
Scavenging a tarp from a construction site is one thing, assuming one has the means to reach it from the ground. The fresnel lens is something I haven't seen available anywhere for free in at least 3 decades; maybe I just go to the wrong drugstores. I remember coffee cans but sure haven't seen 'em lately; the coffee in our stores is sold in plastic pitcher-like screwtop containers or in plastic bags. Salt (and pepper for those who want it) I've seen available in small quantities, but it would take many visits to a fast food restaurant to accumulate even a half pound of salt. I visit a "fancy" restaurant maybe twice each year and haven't seen complimentary matches in a long time. I think maybe the freebies depend on one's location which is why I'd do my best to have already accumulated these kinds of items. If your free list is truly free in your area, all I can say is, "Wow!"  The cheap list could be expanded to include dollar stores for such items as wire for snares, pet items, hygiene & first aid supplies, and inexpensive lighting & tools. Thrift stores in my area, as far as I'm aware, are limited to Goodwill and the Salvation Army stores. The others have gone belly up, with one exception in one of the surrounding towns. Outlet stores are sometimes available, but I know of none in my town or those nearby. The local Salvation Army store is good mainly for furniture and dishes. The Goodwill store sells more clothing than anything else. Area churches sometimes sell clothing cheaply. Flea market sales are another possibility for some folks; for us, they're too distant to visit regularly. |
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Post by thywar on Sept 5, 2012 10:13:54 GMT -7
I agree with lots of what Angelhelp says. It's pretty hard to find anyone 'giving' away matches. In most upscale restaurants you can't smoke so they sure aren't going to have free matches... in most places. The local flea market is probably the best bet around here to pick up inexpensive things.. well some things anyway.
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Post by Lawdog2705 on Sept 5, 2012 10:35:43 GMT -7
I too, agree with angelhelp. Most of the items I get are from the DT. My backpacks are Remington from Wallyworld, $10 ea. Even Wallyworld has begun competing with DT on lots of OTC medicines for .88, i.e., aspirin (adult and children's pain reliever), triple antibiotic cream, cortisone cream, vapor rub, allergy meds (adult and children, which is also good for pets), ankle wraps, etc. I always pick up a couple extra whenever I'm there. BTW, the bottles of aspirin are also larger than DT's. We do have a couple Salvation Army stores but, they're not much. Our best is the Disability Shop. I get by when I can since it's on the other side of town as is the flea market. I really do need to get out to the flea market more though. They had gotten a little trashy but, maybe things have changed.
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Post by Rock on Sept 5, 2012 12:19:23 GMT -7
All condiments that pathwinder14 mentioned: salt, pepper, sugar+ mayo, mustard, pickle relish, ketchup, marmalade... EVEN matches could be found in CASINOs.
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Post by cowgirlup on Sept 5, 2012 13:49:20 GMT -7
We live in a small town where most people take their trash to the dump. I have a small stash of coffee cans and larger similar to #10 cans that I got out of the metal recycling bin. You could also get some from restaurants. Just ask the to save you a few before they flatten them and throw them out. The same with the food grade plastic buckets. I have only asked at one place but I'm sure they're still available out there.
I have also been hitting the .88 cent generic meds at Wallyworld. They are not in a prime spot so you have to look for them.
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Post by karatediver on Sept 5, 2012 13:55:59 GMT -7
Thrift stores are great. The shirt and pants I am wearing right now at work came from the thrift stores. I got two frame packs from there. One came with a firesteel attached to it. Another came with a knife but it was rusty. Got both really cheap.
Sometimes you can find stuff cheap online. I found a deal for less than 15 dollars on a military surplus LBE set that includes a belt, suspenders, 2 ammo pouches (each holds 3- 30 round M16 mags), canteen cover, and a brand new canteen. It's hard to beat a deal like that.
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Post by Ceorlmann on Sept 5, 2012 14:06:00 GMT -7
Another place to look for cheap stuff would be local tag sales (excluding the generic meds, of course). Many are happening in my area now.
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Post by pathwinder14 on Sept 6, 2012 6:49:47 GMT -7
Tag sale?
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Post by Ceorlmann on Sept 6, 2012 8:50:57 GMT -7
Also called "yard sale." Essentially so-so household is cleaning up and getting rid of stuff they don't want. If they want to make a little money they'll try selling stuff out in their front yard that they no longer want but figure someone else might. If they don't want it period but don't want to throw it out they may mark it with a "free" sign. |
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Post by angelhelp on Sept 6, 2012 19:02:03 GMT -7
"Tag sale" is a colloquialism in New England. "Yard sale" and "garage sale" are terms used in other parts of the country.
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Post by pathwinder14 on Sept 7, 2012 4:32:06 GMT -7
Oh, yard sale. Never heard of it called a tag sale. |
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Post by somuchtodo on Sept 10, 2012 17:01:54 GMT -7
Can always do some dumpster diving at the appropriate stores. Do a google search for "free stuff websites" and you'll find people giving away "their junk".
Go to the flea market around closing time and you'll score the best deals on what people have left. Also hit the big community yard sales at the end of the day and there will be boxes by the trash that say "free".
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Post by karatediver on Sept 11, 2012 11:15:22 GMT -7
Dumpster diving can work. Sad fact but many stores are required to destroy inventory rather than donate it to thrift stores, shelters, or even put it in the dumpster. My wife worked at a Hallmark store years ago. They decided to close the store and had a going out of business sale. Thousands of dollars worth of merchandise did not sell by the last day and it all went in the compactor. My wife said it broke her heart to see it all get destroyed when charities could have used it. But they inflated prices before discounting everything so even on the last day many of the "discounted" items were still not discounted enough to get them moved. Her last day on the job was taking load after load to the industrial compactor at the mall. She and her coworkers were warned if they took anything they would be legally prosecuted. My wife didn't but some of the other employees did pocket a couple things rather than put them in the compactor. I've heard of other stores with similar policies. If it doesn't sell it has to be destroyed rather than go to a thrift store or to benefit some charity.
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Post by Lawdog2705 on Sept 11, 2012 12:41:46 GMT -7
You're right karatediver. We used to be able to buy items that had been 0'd out for .99. Better to get something than nothing but, then that was stopped. Anything that couldn't be sent back for credit was brought to me to be shredded and put in the dumpster. Since I was the LP manager, I guess I was the only one they trusted to do the job.
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). We should compile a list of items a person in a reasonable 1st world country could get for free and another list of stuff they could get really cheap. What are actual free or cheap items you can think of and wehre can you get them? Let me know and I'll update the list below.
