Money, money changes everything. 💰 A penny saved is a penny earned (except in Canada, we don’t have pennies). Money can’t buy happiness (but it sure would be fun to try). Money Talks. 🤑 Not enough month at the end of my money. Money is the root of all evil. 💲Money’s Too Tight (To Mention). Can’t Buy Me Love. 💰 A light purse is a heavy curse.

Here’s some ways to save…

1. Money Talks

Stay connected. Stay safe. Zoom meetings help you stay connected and a Zoom account is free (40 min time limit/unlimited on holidays). If you do need a paid account, don’t be afraid to ask for a discount. For example, I received a 20% discount off Zoom for the group I founded, “Chronic Not Hopeless”. We’re a free (donations gratefully accepted but not expected, etransfer: chronicnothopeless@gmail.com) supporting each other group. There’s also, Skype, Facebook Messenger, Discord, etc.

“It’s easy to meet expenses, everywhere we go, there they are.” ~Anonymous

2. Money Money Money

Do you love streaming, but not the cost of streaming? There are some “free” alternatives, when it comes to streaming (but don’t be fooled and keep an eye out, some become decidedly less free and others more free!). Though we don’t have as many options here in Canada as larger population countries, but times are achangin’, so stay tuned. Here are few, including but not limited to:

Tubi (free and fantastic).
Food Network
Pluto TV
YTV
Slice
Vice
TVO/TVO Kids
CBC/GEM
OMNI
APTN lumi
BET
The Weather Network
CPAC
HGTV
Food Network
Classic Cinema Online

Knowledge: Kids (even has “Paw Patrol”)
Roku channel (if you stream on Roku)
Kanopy
Hoopla
PopcornFlix
Crackle
Filmrise various channels
CTV/Global (limited)
Also, you can buy an indoor digital TV antenna or an outdoor antenna…there are so many ways to save and see!

Plus, look for Free Trials (many streaming services are, sadly, removing their “free” trials, for example, Netflix and Disney Plus) of streaming/music/reading services. Here’s a few available now, including but not limited to:

Acorn TV
Britbox
Crave/HBO/HBO Max/TMN
Spotify
Amazon Prime Video/Kindle Unlimited/Audible
Apple TV/Apple Music
Amazon Music
YouTube/YouTube Premium
Sirius Canada
PBS
Sundance Now
Crunchyroll
Shudder
Smithsonian
Funimation
Discovery Channel
and more!

Watch and see if they’re right for you. Note the start date of your free trial and cancel if you don’t like them. Cancel a few days before, you’ll still have the preview to the end of the trial. Easy-“stay home”-“stay safe”-“stay connected”-free-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

“The safest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it in your pocket.” – Kin Hubbard💲

3. Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)

Like cash? Make some, legally, with coupons, contests, samples, and surveys! Clip, click, print, check your mail, check your email, and scan. I save a lot of money with coupons, sometimes even getting items free (what a lovely word, I never get tired of hearing or seeing it). If you’re into it, there’s also lots of free samples, promo codes, discounts, coupons, contests, and surveys out there: Savealoonie, Lifepoints, Save.ca, Samplesource, Websaver, Lifepoints, Smartcanucks, Pinecone Research, Swagbucks, Asking Canadians, and so, so many more. Sometimes, I get freebies, coupons, samples for items I don’t want or use, but get them anyway. so I give them to others. Find more ways to save and places to find savings online through frugality blogs and other websites. If you have suggestions for ways to save, please leave them in the comment box below. I love to learn. I love to save.💲

“Money often costs too much.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

4. Cheap Thoughts/Money For Nothing

Now look at them yo-yos, that’s the way you do it
You blog and vlog and record, loading on the inter-net
They say, blogging, that ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it
Money for nothin’ and your clicks for free
Money for nothin’, clicks for free…

Truth is, blogging, vlogging, YouTubing, social media, etc., these are work, not money for nothing, not clicks for free and I’ve heard rumours some people make quite a living from it, er, not me, but I live in hope…

Whatever your reasons for wanting to blog: fame, fortune, emptying your brain (clearly, that’s mine), etc., you’ll need to dive into the challenging and sometimes murky depths of blogging, vlogging, social media, YouTubing, etc. You don’t have to be in Dire Straits to want to save or make money and there are many free or cheap blogging/vlogging platforms and editors, WordPress, Wix, Blogger, Weebly, Tumblr, Ghost, Medium, LinkedIn, Quik, Splice, Anchor, Filmora, VidLab, InShot, iMovie, Adobe, Vizmato, and well, tons more…and of course, YouTube. Will you be a viral sensation? Who knows, you’ll never know until you try.

“When people say they want to be rich and famous, just try rich and see if that doesn’t get most of it for you.” ~Bill Murray

5. Money Changes Everything

Groupon. Make sure you read the fine print (always good advice, for every single thing in life). I’ve found some great deals there, including but not limited to: Costco memberships with Shop cards/products that negate the amount of your membership (really!); pizza (anyone who says money can’t buy happiness, has never paid for a pizza or the makings of a pizza, yes, you can make pizza at home!). Oh, and I paid $4 for a movie w/ popcorn and a drink – I went and saw that movie in a theater, remember those? Back in the good old days when we went to a place, went inside the building, with other people, sat in seats, beside other people, and watched a movie.

“Money is numbers and numbers never end. If it takes money to be happy, your search for happiness will never end.” ~Bob Marley

6. Money Honey

Get paid to shop! Music to our ears and our wallets (virtual or otherwise). That’s exactly what some apps do, like: Rakuten Canada (formerly Ebates), Caddle, Checkout 51, Airmiles, PC Optimum, Petro-Points, Shopper Army, Swagbucks, Plum Rewards (the free version), The Mission Store, David’s Tea, The Body Shop, and so, so many more – look them up! And don’t forget to add the Honey, an app that checks for online coupons and can save you even more!💲

“I been shaking two nickels together for a month, trying to get them to mate.” ~Raymond Chandler

7. Love Don’t Cost a Thing

Libraries aren’t just buildings with books (but seriously, books are awesome!!!). #booklove don’t cost a thing when you use your library, especially now many libraries are fine free (you should still return your items in a timely manner). Also, many library resources are now digital: ebooks, e-audio books, streaming – and they’re returned automatically. Did you know many libraries offer free language programs, free programs like “The Great Courses”, free newspapers, free magazines, craft videos, etc. And so much more!!! Also, most cities allow you to get a non-resident card for a small fee. Go online, check it out, what do you have to lose?

Look around your neighbourhood for “Little Free Libraries” – take a book, leave a book. Truly a community spirit exercise. Sharing is caring, in so many ways.

“Money isn’t the most important thing in life, but it’s reasonably close to oxygen on the “gotta have it” scale.” ~Zig Ziglar

8. Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)

Price/Ad Matching – you can bring a flyer (not so much now, but “BC” – “Before Covid”, or show an app on a smartphone (ie. Flipp, Reebee, etc.) from one store to another, just show it to clerk and get items cheaper. Of course, an easy, amazing way to save is sales. These can also be combined with sale/reward/points items.

“A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.” ~Jonathan Swift

9. Easy Money

It doesn’t have to be complicated, look close to home. Look around your place. If you have the time and energy, cooking, canning, preserving, and baking are shockingly easy ways to save money. As well, decluttering, repurposes, sewing, mending, knitting, DIY, gardening, and so much more. I love the Depression Era saying, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”.

“I put a dollar in one of those change machines. Nothing changed.” ~George Carlin

10. If I Had a Million Dollars

Sort through your “treasures”: those hidden and not-so-hidden gems collecting dust, or being used to hang clothes on; those just-in-case; might-fit-me-someday; what-if-I-need-it? stuff; maybe stored — sell them, donate them, give them away, swap them, etc. Wave a magic wand and like Harry Potter, “Evanesco!”, poof, it will all go away and you’ll be left with money, or a sense of giving, or both. Note: remove animate objects like family, friends or pets from the room before using this spell.

“The four most expensive words in the English language are, ‘This time it’s different.’” ~Sir John Templeton

11. Price Tag

Why pay more for “new”? Buy gently loved, previously loved, new to you. In this wildly consumer-driven culture, we too often “Dumpit to Crumpit”. Though luckily, many people also generously donate. Treasures to be found at: thrift stores, secondhand stores, mission stores, Salvation Army, Goodwill, yard sales/garage sale, Buy Nothing groups, swap groups, eBay, marketplace, Etsy (some new stuff, handmade) many of these places now are online as well! Don’t let perfectly lovely things go to the trash heap when you can give them new life.

“The best things in life are free. But you can give them to the birds and bees, I need money (That’s what I want).” ~The Beatles + The Flying Lizards + The Kingsmen + Jennell Hawkins (etc.)

12. Take The Money and Run

There are endless free things to see and do in your community. Explore your neighbourhood. Go for lovely walks in your parks. Parks are an amazing resource, ready for anything: Walks. Cycling. Picnics. Tai Chi. Yoga. Boating. Ice skating. Jogging. Fishing. Photography. Martial arts. Bird watching. People watching. Playing. Pausing. I love walking through our Ponds – though I live in a large, very busy city, when I step in here, I’m in the woods…

Get out there and discover!

“I’m having an out-of-money experience.” ~Author Unknown

13. Taxman

The Taxman (or taxperson) cometh, but no need to run out a pay big bucks for tax programs, a person, or company, the government gives you all that, online to do your taxes, free and well, I can’t say easy, taxes are so needlessly complicated, the least they can do is not make you pay even more for tax programs.💲

“The best way to teach your kids about taxes is by eating 30% of their ice cream.” ~Bill Murray 🍦🍦🍦

14. Too Much Month at the End of the Money

Happy Birthday! Lots of places give birthday “treats” – free stuff or discounts, etc. Don’t feel comfortable giving your “real” date of birth, make yourself a few years younger. But remember, sometimes age does matters! Specifically with Student Discounts, Veterans Discounts, Healthcare Workers, Senior Discounts (some start as low as 55 – the new 45?), etc. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts at: stores, restaurants, education, pharmacies, thrift stores, travel, car rentals, banking, hotels, entertainment, museums, galleries, and so many more! Get free ice cream, discounts, books, cookies, and so much more.

If money doesn’t grow on trees, why do banks have branches?

15. Keep Your Eye on the Money

Online is filled with reasonably priced or even free programs, courses, resources, webinars, etc. For example, how about Mindful Art (please feel free to join “Chronic Not Hopeless Mindful Art” and other programs (free!) on Zoom, contact: chronicnnothopeless@gmail.com for more info, links, questions, to volunteer, etc.) There’s also Art Therapy and keep in mind, you don’t have to be an artist to benefit from art therapy; it’s a fun activity to do while reminding yourself of your value. For example, check out “Paint It Out! Theurapetic Art” with Salima Andany, BSW, Cert. ExAT & Sandtray Therapist paintitouttherapeuticart@gmail.com

Any other recommendations?

How about online education, for free!

These are just a small sampling. Before you throw large amounts of money at courses, programs, webinars, there are many for reasonable prices, or even for free!

“Why is there so much month left at the end of the money?” ~John Barrymore

16. Cheap Thrills

Of course, YouTube – the vast universe of stuff at your fingertips!!!
Travel the world and beyond. Meditation. Mindfulness. Cooking. CPR. Chess. “Graham Norton”. Health videos (beware). Card games. Board games,. Video games. “Honest Trailers”. Baking. Gaming. Knitting. Life hacks. Magic tricks. Sewing. Quilting. Coding. Household repairs. Shoe repairs. Car repairs.
Want to know how to cut an onion without crying?

Decluttering. Organizing. Tips and tricks. Sourdough tricks. Exercise videos. Modern and classic TV and movies. Learn languages including: “Dothraki”, “Klingon”, “Elvish”,
“Parseltongue”, “Huttese” and even some “real” languages. How to budget (oh no, the “b” word!). Live performance and concerts. Music videos and events. Lip Sync Battles. Cat videos, so many cat videos. How to make masks. How to sell on eBay. How to fight a shark…

How to do just about anything. Find most any (and I mean any) fix. Find “news”…from anywhere in the world (galaxy?). Find reviews. Find stuff that make you snooze…Thank you: Dolly Parton (for sharing your love of books with so many children with “Dolly’s Imagination Library”), and so many others for reading us bedtime and other wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff, you know, stories, poems, sonnets thus keeping our spirits up and our hearts and minds soothed, all for good causes. Get online and explore.

“I’m so poor I can’t even pay attention.” ~Ron Kittle

17. Mo Money, No Problems

Want to make memes, posters, social media posts, presentations, brochure, marketing, cards, flyers, infographic, resumes, logos, postcards, photo collage, invitations, banners, business cards, desktop wallpaper, thumbnails, and more? There are many free options (with options to pay for “more”), such as, but not limited to: Canva, vistacreate (formerly Crello), imgflip, Filmora, Memegenerator, Digifloat, Makeameme, Wondershare Pixstudio, Snappa, Quickmeme, etc.

“It frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy.” ~Groucho Marx

18. Can’t Buy Me Love

Can’t buy me love! And…

Walking – free.
Loyalty – free.
Quiet – free.
Integrity – free.
Common sense – free.
Snuggling (the snuggle is real) – free.
Do you wanna build a snowman? – free.
Gratitude – free.
Courage – free.
Dancing – free.

Generosity – free.
Comfort – free.
Joy – free.
Forgiveness – free.
Compassion – free.
Hope – free.
Imagination – free.
Smiling – free.

Friendship – free.
Sincerity – free.
Perseverance – free.
Respect – free.
Empathy – free.
Moonlight – free.
Laughing – free.

Truth (not just your truth, the truth) – free.
Singing – free.
Love – free.
Understanding – free.
Ambition – free.
Fairness – free.
Cheer – free.
Art – free.
Literature (see library information above) – free.
Music (your brain is full of it, let it flow) – free.
Cookies – sadly, rarely free (we need a weather machine that makes it rain cookies, who’s with me?), but you can buy the ingredients on sale or with price matching, etc., frugal.

Know what else is completely, utterly free? Kindness is free! So spread it around. Sprinkle that kindness anywhere and everywhere. Fill the world with it…Kindness is the key, and lucky for us, the free key.

All things considered I’m pleased with my year of chronic change challenge. Life has continuously and unrelentingly thrown very large, weaponized lemons at me, so I’m drinking a lot…of lemonade.