More and more of your neighbors are finding furniture, clothing, even coffee and food for next to nothing.
Jessica Kirkland is an expert at finding cool clothes for her kids -- for just a buck or two.
She loves thrift shops, where she can get shirts, shoes, even coats for her kids for just $2!
And we're not talking threadbare old clothes.
Great Local Thrift Shops
St Vincent de Paul's Kristin Kline showed me a $40 Tommy Hilfiger shirt for just $3 at their store.
She pointed to one rack and said, "You can grab a nice two-piece men's suit for just $12."
Awesome shoes for a party (that, face it, you will probably wear just once)? Just $7.
And Kline added, "I don't think they have ever been worn!"
St Vincent de Paul has stores all over the country.
Or shop at Goodwill, if it's closer to you. Both specialize in selling high-quality, donated clothing that is neatly marked by gender, size and style.
Resale and Consignment Shops
For kids, check out re-sale shops like Once-Upon-a-Child, or Plato's Closet for teens and college students.
Buying used is more popular than ever right now with so many families wanting to save some money, and other folks -- who can afford more -- preferring the slightly worn look.
We found Ashley White shopping for offbeat items for her home, saying, "I find old picture frames, and old furniture, to jazz it up a little bit."
Appliances, Home Goods
Let's say you're looking for a steal on appliances or furniture.
Check out Habitat for Humanity's Re-Store, with stores in most major cities in the U.S.
The Re-Store's Casey Huber showed me clean, working washing machines for $100, chandeliers for $25, doors for just $5.
We saw one man buying a set of white wooden shutters for his kitchen window, saying, "I think I paid $12, maybe 15. But isn't that a great buy!"
Really Free Stuff
Don't want to pay anything at all? Try Craigslist's free section, with free couches, grills, skateboards, TVs -- everything but the kitchen sink.
Wait a minute, they have that too. All you have to do is pick it up.
Online Freebies
But you don't even have to leave your home to get freebies.
Just get on your phone or click your mouse.
Blogger Megan Fenno says many places will give you something free on your birthday.
"If you sign up for different e-clubs through different restaurants, you can get freebies for the entire month."
Examples: Free ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery or Baskin Robins.
Or just sign up for a restaurant's email club and get a free appetizer from the Outback Steakhouse, Red Robin, Qdoba, Friday's and many more. (see below for links)
Like Dunkin Donuts? Like Coffee? (I LOVE coffee). Join their DD Perks program and receive coffee every few weeks.
And join your favorite products rewards program, like Sephora's Beauty Insider, for free cosmetics.
Meantime, back at the thrift shop, Jessica Kirkland got a cartload of kids' clothes for almost nothing
"I'm checking out," she said.
And you can do it, too.
As always, don't waste your money.
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FREE FOOD & GOODIES
Free burger on your birthday from Red Robin
http://www.redrobin.com/eclub/findlocation
Free coffee from Dunkin Donuts DD Club
https://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/responsive/ddperks/splashpage.html
Free ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery
http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/mycsc/index.html
Free ice cream from Baskin Robbins on your birthday
https://www.baskinrobbins.com/content/baskinrobbins/en/signin.html
Free appetizer from the Outback Steakhouse
https://www.outback.com/offers
Free Chips & Salsa from Qdoba
https://www.qdoba.com/gift-card
Free appetizer from TGI Fridays
https://www.tgifridays.com/givememorestripes
Free beauty products form Sephora Beauty Insider
https://www.sephora.com/profile/beautyInsider/?
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Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.
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