There is free stuff to be found everywhere, if you just know where to look. Gym memberships, phone calls, books, DVDs, ice cream, and even online courses from Stanford University are some of the items on the A to Z list of freebies. In a challenging economic environment, it's a good time for all of us to look for ways to scale back and save money where we can.

My cousin is in her first semester of college, and I called her this morning to see how she was doing. After we discussed her classes, roommates, and college boys, the subject of money came up. I quickly realized that my discussion of a "budget" was going nowhere fast. So I took another angle with her. I shared my own college experience, and told her how I became very adept at cutting corners and finding all sorts of free offers.

I ended our conversation by promising her that I would send a follow-up email with some ideas about how to hold on to more of her money, and take advantage of all the freebies available for both practical items as well as entertainment. And since most people, in this current economic climate, are trying to tighten their financial belts a notch or two, I thought I would create a Hub to share my ideas on money saving tips. This list is certainly not all inclusive, but it's a start.

Attractions: http://www.free-attractions.com/ is a database for free attractions and free things to do in over 1,500 U.S. Cities. Listings include free museums, free parks, free concerts, free festivals, and free zoos.

Books: "Swapping" has become a popular means of exchanging books, DVDs and CDs that you no longer want, for items that you do want. Popular book swapping sites include: http://www.paperbackswap.com/ and http://www.swaptree.com/

CDs and DVDs: Using the same concept mentioned above, popular CD and DVD swapping sites include: http://www.swapacd.com/ and http://www.swapadvd.com/

Dessert: Indulging in a decadent dessert once in a while, doesn't have to add to the bill. If you are dining out for a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion, simply mention it. You can do this when you book the reservation, or to your server while you are dining. Most restaurants will provide a free dessert as a way of thanking you for choosing their establishment for your celebration.

Education: Universities from Stanford to Carnegie Mellon offer free online classes and workshops. Taking advantage of these courses is a great way to gain exposure to some of the best and brightest minds. http://education-portal.com/articles/Universities_with_the_Best_Free_Online_Courses.html

In addition, The Online Education Database provides 200 free online classes: http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/200-free-online-classes-to-learn-anything

Food: When I was in college, my roommate and I had the "free meal" down to a science. Here are a couple of creative tips of how to eat for free.

• Happy hours are hosted by many restaurants and bars, during specific hours (usually 4 -8). Free food and reduced drink prices are used as a hook to get you in the door. They are highly advertised on local websites and restaurant guides. In addition, review sites such as www.yelp.com offer useful information about happy hour offerings.
• Restaurant and business grand openings, promotions, and other events generally offer free food as a way to get people in the door.
• Gallery openings and museums frequently hold events (which include food and drinks) that are open to the public.
• Many restaurants offer "buy one, get one free" promotions, so keep your eye out for ads regarding these local freebies.
• Last but not least, don't forget to grab a free midday snack at warehouse stores such as Costco and major grocery stores, which offer a plethora free food samples for their shoppers.

Greeting Cards: Nothing compares to sending a handwritten card to a family member or friend, yet online greeting cards are great choice when time is a factor. I also like to send online cards when I know someone is having a challenging day. It is a quick and easy way to show that you care. There are many free online card companies available, including: http://www.hallmark.com/ and http://www.egreetings.com/

Health Products: Find free health product samples, medicines, prescription drug coupons, food, supplements, vitamins, health assessments, toothpaste, and more at: http://www.freemania.net/samples/health.htm

Ice cream: Celebrate your birthday with a free scoop of ice cream courtesy of Cold Stone and Baskin Robins: http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/Birthday/birthday_club.aspx and http://www.baskinrobbins.com/bdayclub/registerinfo1.aspx

Java (coffee): Gevalia.com offers free coffee and a free high quality coffee pot (you pay s/h). This is a great offer that I have used myself. Be sure to sign up carefully, and when your order arrives, cancel your membership (if you choose to) in order to prevent future orders from coming automatically. Also, Coffee Fair offers a link to a 32 page collection of Starbucks coffee recipes and coffee pastries. http://www.coffeefair.com/free-coffee-recipes-ebook.htm

Knowledge: Two of my favorite "knowledge sites" are TED and Uncommon Knowledge. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. Based on an annual conference that brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes) http://www.ted.com/

Uncommon Knowledge is a series featuring The Hoover Institute fellow Peter Robinson, who interviews political leaders, distinguished scholars, and leading journalists. The webcasts feature exchanges of ideas and informed discussions about important issues of the day. http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk

Love: "There is only one happiness in life - to love and be loved." (George Sand) Love is perhaps the best free item on this list. Giving and receiving love changes your life and the lives of others. Additionally, many studies have shown that love provides actual health benefits, including stress reduction, lowered blood pressure, and a stronger immune system. Love can be shown in many ways, including something as simple as a hug.

Movies: Moviesfoundonline.com is an interesting site that provides handpicked movies and documentaries that you can watch on your computer with a simple click of the mouse.http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/top_50_movies.php

NASDAQ: Investopedia.com is one of my favorite websites. It explains everything from the term NASDAQ, to basic investing tips and economic indicators. Topics like "Investing 101" and "Stock Picking" are just a few of the many easy to understand and informative articles and tutorials. http://www.investopedia.com/university

Outdoors: Fresh air and sunshine are both free and good for you. From taking historical walking tours to attending a street fair, there are so many things to do outdoors. Packing an inexpensive picnic and visiting a local park can be a special weekend activity. And don't forget, every community has something that makes it special. So depending on where you live, fly a kite at the beach, hike in the mountains, or explore local public gardens. I like to check out the "local events" section of my paper to find out what is happening. There are many events that are open to the public at no cost; you just have to find them.

Phone calls: Skype is one of the most popular VoIP services. There are many available, as a quick search will indicate, but this is the one I use and can recommend. The software is easy to download, and talking to other Skype users (both domestically and internationally) is free. The site also offers great quality and attentive customer service. http://www.skype.com/

Quantum Physics: "The Secret" popularized The Law of Attraction. Yet it is much more interesting to be able to talk about The Law of Attraction as it relates to Quantum Physics at a dinner party or other social occasion. This short essay is an easy read that provides enough of an overview to amaze your friends with your knowledge. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Law-of-Attraction-and-Quantum-Physics&id=223148

Radio: Listening to tunes online is fun and free. There are many websites that offer this service, including: http://www.pandora.com/?tc=p-036844-0156-1137 and http://music.aol.com/radioguide/bb

Stuff: You can literally find everything from furniture to firewood to pets on two popular websites: http://www.craigslist.com/ and http://www.freecycle.org/. I have a friend who moved to Los Angeles for a 6 month consulting contract and was able to furnish his temporary apartment for almost nothing using these two sites. Another way to get free items is to drop by garage or estate sales during the final hour of the final day. Many times people will give away remaining items, so as to avoid having to haul them off to a donation center.

TV: You no longer have to put your life on hold to watch your favorite scheduled programs. Watch them when you want to, thanks to the explosion of online television. Most major networks offer their most popular shows online (nbc.com, cbs.com, abc.com, etc). In addition, there are sites that allow you to search by channels, shows, or collections. http://www.hulu.com/, http://www.internettvaccess.com/ and http://www.freetvonline.com/

US Small Business Administration: http://www.sba.gov/ is the website for the US Small Business Administration. This is an incredible resource when you are starting or growing a business, yet most people can benefit from the information on this site, regardless of their career or position. It includes access to information libraries, podcasts, statistical data by industry, counseling, financial assistance, classes and workshops, as well as practical information on the basics of business. I have used the SBA for years because it provides a vast amount of useful information in a well laid out format.

Vote: It doesn't cost anything to cast your vote, and participate in the system. Voting is a civil right, hard-won for women, African Americans, and other citizens. And voting is the foundation of our democracy. Don't forget that millions of people around the world have no say in who governs them, so don't squander your own power.

Workouts: Most gyms and health clubs offer free trial memberships which range from a day pass to a one or two week pass. There are two main ways to do this. You can ask a friend or family member who is already enrolled at a gym to sign you up for a guest membership pass. You can also simply walk in the gym of your choice (preferably at non-peak hours) and tell the manager you would like to "try out the gym" before you sign up for a membership. Also be sure to check your local YMCA for free classes and workshops that are offered at various times.

Xanadu: OK, I'm admittedly stretching it here to come up with something free that begins with X. So this entry is for all of the Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John & ELO lovers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m1UWSD-FaA

Your Credit Report: Under a Federal law, you have the right to receive a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months, from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. To request your free annual report under that law, go to www.annualcreditreport.com

Zzzzzs:A good night's sleep won't cost you a cent, but it does provide countless benefits. Sleep is a time for your body to repair damage caused by stress and other harmful exposures. Your cells produce more protein while you are sleeping, and these protein molecules form the building blocks for cells, allowing them to repair damage. So while you sleep, your body restores many vital functions, which allows you to wake up feeling refreshed.

Now that you have all this free stuff, it's time to give back: www.thehungersite.com

The Hunger Site was founded to focus the power of the Internet on a specific humanitarian need - the eradication of world hunger. On average, over 220,000 individuals from around the world visit the site each day to click the yellow "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button. To date, more that 200 million visitors have participated. The food funded by clicks is paid for by site sponsors and distributed to those in need, and 100% of sponsor advertising fees go to the charitable partners.

This video provides a provocative look at current politics, set to the music. No matter which side of the political fence you stand on, everyone can benefit from listening to a good tune. So turn up the speakers and spend a few minutes getting your groove on!