What freebies do you get?

[doublesnap]

With all the recent talk about cutting back (a few threads about the family on the Today show that cut back 80% of their discretionary spending by not eating out as much and not doing daily Sbucks runs) got me thinking about what we do get for free and if we maximize the benefits.

For example, at my job we are provided Starbucks brewed coffee, a variety of snacks and beverages, and even some lunch items like Hotpockets. We also get to go to conferences 3x/year for a week at a time and we eat very very well (steak at the Ritz!).

So this has led me to cut out visits to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or McDonald's for coffee. I brew some at home for my first cup of the day and then have more at work 20 minutes later. I'll eat a free lunch whenever available at work or at least a snack. I drink oodles of water at work!

I love eating out and maximize it when we're at our conferences and it's pretty much the only time I ever order a $20+ steak. Also, I make use of our leftover conference items be it the boxes of oatmeal and cereal leftover from a Safeway sponsored event or the free USB drives or even a toy for my baby (stuffed PINK! dog from Victoria Secret Pink event).

We also have a gym on site and free parking.

What do you get for free at work that's helping you cut costs?

[HydeParkB]

Free bus pass for the whole family (I work for the bus company)

Free notepads (overflow from our print shop)

Free fitness center, that I am not taking advantage of.

Sometimes there is free food, but rarely. I'm hoping to make a meal from whatever is leftover from the board meeting.

Tuition reimbursement to help with my degree. It's $1500/year, which covers about one class/year.

[Starr]

These aren't all work related but I have been noticing little things all around that make a big difference.

DD loves to go with DH to get the oil changed on the cars, because they give out free popcorn. Its nothing big but she considers it an outing and looks forward to it.

At work I drink water from the cooler and always refill my water bottle before going home. They also have coffee, but I rarely drink it.

Don't be afraid to ask for coupons. I buy our washing detergent at the place where we bought our washer and dryer. When we bought it I got a small sample and a coupon for 20% off in the future. So after I loved it, I went in and bought the biggest size, in a 5 gal bucket, and saved 20%. Then I asked for another coupon and she gave me one more. So for 6 months worth of washing, alot, its costed about $25.

A lady that DH works with gave us tickets to see the circus this Friday, DD is going to be so suprised. Honestly I don't think I would have shelled out the $25 but she was more than happy to pass them on as long as she knew somone would use them and they wouldn't go to waste.

[Jilian]

We live in a deed restricted community and get free pest control, frree landscaping, free fitness center, free billiards room, and community pool - they also have different free activities each month like ice cream socials and appetizer parties. DH's work reimburses us for internet service, gets us 10% off cell service, gives him a company car w/a gas card that allows for 20% personal miles to be used for non-work stuff, and he gets a discount at staples with his corporate card.

[griffin2004]

I work for the government, so no freebies for us.

DD does enjoy a "Costco lunch" on their free samples. Other than that, I can't really think of anything.

[Sonnenwende]

My husband's job only pays him enough for babysitting and gas. It is a paid volunteer job, if that makes any sense. Anyway though, he has gotten a lot of great other stuff out of it. He got a 2005 32 inch Sony (HD)TV that works perfectly. He gets free computer hardware. He gets to take home all the computer/electronic stuff they deem as garbage (all with their permission). Sometimes the garbage is not really garbage at all!

I am getting a free whitewater rafting trip in a few weeks from work. Now, that is not a regular thing, but it is definitely a perk, getting paid to whitewater raft! Occasionally, there is free food here. Just depends. Popcorn, water, soda, coffee, and tea are always available. I get to use the fax/copy machine here and that is nice on the rare occasion I need it. There is free life insurance.

My apartment complex has a swimming pool, walking trail, and small gym. I only do the walking trail most of the time, but the swimming pool is more tempting lately. My complex also sponsors $6 large pizzas from Papa John's nights once a month, not free, but a lot cheaper than normal. About the only time we get take out pizza anymore.

We take advantage of all the free public parks in our area about 2-4 times a week, weather permitting.

My grandmother gives me all of her coupons from the Sunday paper whenever we go to see her about once a month.

[lunamama]

Our cell phone is discounted 10%. We can also go with dh to his trainings and stay for free at hotels with him. We also get discounts on outdoor equipment from most major brands, which is really nice.

[kanga1622]

I work for the state so I get absolutely nothing free but they do have discounts with the local B&N and one of the computer companies on a couple of specific systems (I can't remember which company).

DH works for a movie theater part time so he can bring home items from their lost and found if no once claims them in 2 weeks (usually sunglasses or winter gloves). He also get free pop, popcorn, movie tickets, and video rentals. We went on a date to the movies this week and spent $.25 on candy for me! Now that's a good cheap date (and we got to see Wall-E).

[k9wife]

My DH works for the police dept so there are not a lot of freebies. He does get to bring his car home so that helps us. We got rid of our second car because there was no need for it. So that saves us on insurance, gas and car payment. Then every so often some vendor or marketer will bring in packaged goodies that he will bring home. (bread, snack cakes, gatoraide, ect). He has a gas station that gives him free drinks and snacks while he is working. THere use to be a lot of places he could eat for free but not so much now. Most of the time we have a friend working at the movies so we can get in free there but we rarely go.

[doublesnap]

Originally Posted by lunamama

We can also go with dh to his trainings and stay for free at hotels with him.

This is one of the better perks at my job too, we travel 3x/year and I'm allowed to bring my family. Next year, we're going to the St. Regis in Dana Point and Palm Beach. 2010 we're going to Half Moon Bay (San Fran) and DisneyWorld. I'm so excited especially because I'll be able to get free park passes for Disney and my little guy will be 3 by then.

My apt complex has the occasional tenant get together with food/drinks, also features a computer bar, gym, and is near some great walking/biking trails.

I love my freebies!

[Belleweather]

I get very little as far as actual 'perks' from my job, other than free life insurance (I work for an insurer) and the occasional free lunch because we were entertaining clients and there were leftovers.

BUT. I do get a free indoor parking spot in our building ramp, which is 5 blocks from the University that DH will be attending in the fall. Which is HUGE. Paying for him to park would be between $75-200/month, and he'd need a car to be able to manage the kids. So our plan is that I bus or bike in, he drops the kids and parks, and we ride home together, saving gas and a TON of money in parking!

Dh's school will provide access to a free gym and tons of free entertainment with his student ID card, and he'll be working part time at the hospital, which will provide almost-free health insurance ($37/month for the family)

[doublesnap]

Originally Posted by Belleweather

Dh's school will provide access to a free gym and tons of free entertainment with his student ID card, and he'll be working part time at the hospital, which will provide almost-free health insurance ($37/month for the family)

That's an amazing perk! Congrats

[gottaknit]

Originally Posted by griffin2004

I work for the government, so no freebies for us.

: DH works for the state, and there are NO perks to that. He can't even put a picture of the kids on his computer as a screensaver, or call home on an office phone to tell us when he'll be late. He does go on frequent (couple times a month) trips for work that we could join him on, but they are usually to rural areas several hours away, and if we go with him then he has to take his own car and pay for gas, instead of taking a state vehicle.

When I worked for a large research/teaching hospital, I got some pretty good perks. Free monthly bus/train pass, free tuition for college classes (why didn't I take advantage of that?!), free gym (I always showered there after bike commuting, so saved on water, too), easy access to doctor appointments, and I could participate in research studies and get paid cash. There were always vendor fairs, conferences, and whatnot to wander through for free food, too.

ETA: Forgot one! SIL works for Verizon and has us on her employee family plan for cell phones, only 5 bucks a month!!

[kirstenb]

At my job, I get the standard free water/coffee/tea. Occassional meals are free, too. I get 27% off my cell phone bill monthly. About once year, I am flown to Vegas for work meetings/training for a couple of days. We always stay at a swanky hotel on the strip which is fun. I work for a financial institution so I always get the premier bank accounts and services for free, as well as employee discounts on all types of loans (including mortgages).

DH is in the military, so we get discounts to a lot of the area attractions. We can go to the gyms and pools on base for free. We don't have to pay anything in regards to health insurance. DH would say that another perk of his job is that he gets to see lots of different countries, although not so much for me!

[SAHDS]

Originally Posted by k9wife

My DH works for the police dept so there are not a lot of freebies. He does get to bring his car home so that helps us. We got rid of our second car because there was no need for it. So that saves us on insurance, gas and car payment.

Us too. DH takes his patrol car home (a 45. min drive from the precinct) and it saves us over $500/month. Plus, the county pays for his bridge toll (it's one of the only ones that do) so that saves us another $70/month.

We still have 2 other cars, though. A big, nice one for friends, camping and a commuter for running around (we;re pretty far out).

He also didn't have to pay the sign-up fee for the Y because he's county, that saved $70, I think.

He doesn't take individual gifts (people try and give him coffee cards, free stuff, food discounts), but when he's working, the group does. A few years back, there were horrible floods and DH was working on rescue and helping out. The Sargeant went to McDonald's and ordered like 75 Big Mac meals. the manager asked what the deal was, he told him, and they gave them the food for free. I thought that was cool.

[PatienceAndLove]

Originally Posted by doublesnap

With all the recent talk about cutting back (a few threads about the family on the Today show that cut back 80% of their discretionary spending by not eating out as much and not doing daily Sbucks runs) got me thinking about what we do get for free and if we maximize the benefits.

For example, at my job we are provided Starbucks brewed coffee, a variety of snacks and beverages, and even some lunch items like Hotpockets. We also get to go to conferences 3x/year for a week at a time and we eat very very well (steak at the Ritz!).

So this has led me to cut out visits to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or McDonald's for coffee. I brew some at home for my first cup of the day and then have more at work 20 minutes later. I'll eat a free lunch whenever available at work or at least a snack. I drink oodles of water at work!

I love eating out and maximize it when we're at our conferences and it's pretty much the only time I ever order a $20+ steak. Also, I make use of our leftover conference items be it the boxes of oatmeal and cereal leftover from a Safeway sponsored event or the free USB drives or even a toy for my baby (stuffed PINK! dog from Victoria Secret Pink event).

We also have a gym on site and free parking.

What do you get for free at work that's helping you cut costs?

Don't forget our lovely free lbs of coffee per week!

[monarn]

I work at a restaurant, so not much in the way of perks, I get free coffee (which I don't drink anymore) and soft drinks. I get half off a meal, depending on the manager, sometimes he'll make something special and I eat for free. At a bar In used to work at in college we got $1 drinks and free food when we were off, that was great when I was 21/22, we would spend all day at the bar and only have $20 tab tops.

Dh's company gives him a van and pays for his gas, they also give us $25/month towards our cell phone bill. Occasionally, he wins gift cards and they do a decent xmas party, and give out gifts then.