5 Ways to Get Things Free in College

Ok, so as a college student, you have no money and you need lots of stuff, right? Get used to being poor and wondering where your next meal or cool tech might come from. That's just life in college for most of us. You'll have to get good at scrounging, borrowing, bartering, and learning to survive in the dormroom jungle and college back alleys. Welcome to the real world, freshman! To get your college days started right, here are some great resources for getting free stuff as a student while you try to make that pack of crackers last yet another day:

• 1. Free Stuff sites: There are tons of freebies out there available just for the asking. Check out sites like Free Sample Forager and Fat Wallet. These sites post links daily to free stuff available on the web, including food samples and school supplies.
• 2. Free Condoms: We're not telling you whether you should be getting jiggy during your dorm days, but if do, you better be safe. Check out trojancondoms.com, where you can usually get free condoms just for asking. Also, check your local campus health office or your town's local health department. These places usually offer free condoms, no questions asked.



• 3. Free Food: Got a customer-oriented supermarket nearby? Often, you can get free food samples during the day time or during the early evening hours as food reps want to get you to try new products. Wander around the meat, frozen foods, and snack food sections. Also, check the deli and produce for sample displays ripe for the picking. It won't fill you up, but in a pinch you can calm that rumbling stomach. Alternatively, look for anouncements of festivities which boast free food for the public, such as town celebrations and store grand openings. Crashing a wedding reception might be bad form, but if you are desperate, any event held in public without someone checking the guest list might be a tempting target for the starving student.
• 4. Free Date Activities: So you probably can't afford to take that special date on an evening of expensive activities and fine dining. Consider doing some research on a local park and escorting your date on a narrated tour, explaining the significance any cool thing you pass. Also, ask around in your school's science and sports department. There may be some neat activities you can do for free, such as borrowing a telescope from the astronomy lab, or an ultimate frisbee from the athletics department. Be creative and your date will certainly appreciate the effort!



• 5. Free Transportation: If you want to get around off-campus without a car or money for public transportation, consider offering your skills on a site like Craigslist to barter for someone to drive you where you need to go. Can you cut grass? Perhaps you have babysitting experience. Good at art? Offer to trade your time for a trip or two downtown. Again, be creative, you might be surprise what you can get in exchange for your time.