Garden freebie

While I was at school cleaning the teachers' lounge because no one else did, I had to empty the coffee pots.  In the back of my mind, I remember that coffee grounds are good for the garden.  I decided to take the grounds home.

While looking up how to use them in the garden, I found out that Starbucks gives away their grounds for free. 

It looks bigger than it is. About the size of a 10 lb bag of sugar

They are first come, first serve. Fortunately, when I went on a Sunday night at 8ish, they were just finished putting them in the basket.  So I got a large bag, maybe 5 lbs, for free. I think that will work for a while ;-) Plus on the label is says how to add them to your garden.

Car care

At the car wash....shoop shoop... working at the car wash.
One of the things that I have realized is how you look at things.  Millions of people pay lots of money to have their cars hand washed. Me? I get to have it hand washed for free. 

I take my car to my friends house and hook up her hose. I bought some soap and a sponge a long time ago and finally put it to use.

I love that I can go over the areas that get missed otherwise. On my Prius, the little area that is the bottom of the windshield doesn't get washed with the automatic washes.

While getting my gas this morning, I also checked my airpressure.  I cleaned my windshields and emptied all the trash into the can available.

Happy Easter

The best freebie of all...
At our church we have a cross that is draped in black and plain.  However, on Easter Sunday, people bring in flowers which we use to decorate it to show Christ's resurrection.  I was thinking about buying some flowers to put on this year but it just felt "wrong" somehow.
I decided that since our salvation was given freely I would pick some flowers from my yard.  Unfortunately, not alot is blooming today, but I do think it is quite lovely in its "naturalness"

Free basket, free flowers, and free cat. 3 of my favorites

Time and money

I realized one of the best freebies is...free money.  What? You don't believe there is free money?  

Well, here is the simple truth.  If you just leave money in the bank for a while, you get free money. If I leave $100 in the bank for a year, they will give me $2 at 2% interest. Ok, I know that is an over simplification but that is how you can get the free money.

 I have tried searching online for some rates.  I couldn't find any saving rates but there were some sites for CD- rates

Bloomberg Market Rates
Bank Rates
Interest rates

One of the best suggestions that I received was to take a "Financial Day" from work.  I took a personal day and just reassessed my money situation.  I was able to visit the other banks in town and discuss their offers. I even got a notice that if I deposited $100 in their bank and kept it there for 6 months I would receive $50.

Volunteering

One of the best way that I have found to help yourself, is by helping others.  Maybe it is because I live in the volunteer state, but giving time to organizations that you like it a great way to better your life.  I can not list all of the great things that I have received by volunteering.  Some of the simple things are: free meals, clothing, contests to win prizes, and even a trip to another country.

I never would have visited the Czech Republic without volunteering

Of course, the most important and valuable things that I got were intangibles. Volunteering at the animal shelter gave me lots of puppy and kitty love.  I have made many, many friends. I have also gotten to experience things that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Good Times, Good Friends

The important thing is to volunteer for things that are meaningful to you.  “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
― Mother Teresa