Brainstormed living on the stipend resources
Categories:
This list was brainstormed by DASCorps members during the 2010 PSO.
Health and Wellness
- Get a bike
- Bikes not Bombs: http://bikesnotbombs.org/
- Boulder, CO has a community bicycle webpage with a comprehensive list of local bike shops
- walk to work
- ask about reduced rates at local YMCA
- Peoples’ acupuncture
- Aesthetician/Beauty school students offer reduced rates for massages, haircuts, facials, etc.
- Dental schools students similarly offer reduced rates for services (sign up early)
- Health food stores have on-site doctors who do consultations
- P90X workout plan (share workout)
- cheap prescription eyewear: http://www.zennioptical.com/home.php
- Planned Parenthood
Living Space
- Share internet
- Wireless extender (pigtail)
- Free and cheap stuff
- http://www.freecycle.org/
- free sections on local Craigslist page
- community drives
- Time exchange
- Community bulletin boards
- Bulk trash nights
- Thrift stores
- Cinderblocks and wood furniture
- Electric blanket
- Heating co-op
- Shrink-wrap windows
- Heating bill budget plan
- St. Vincent de Paul emergency aid for utilities
Food
- Garden, community garden
- Volunteer for food (at farm, etc.)
- Food not Bombs: http://www.foodnotbombs.net/
- Farmers’ markets will often double food stamps
- Cheap prices at farmers’ markets right before closing
- Volunteer at co-op
- Canning: Ball Blue Book of Canning
- Befriend Starbucks employees
- Health food stores on delivery day
- Dumpster diving
- Federal share program
- Food banks (staff will also know other places to get cheap food)
- Project Bread: http://www.projectbread.org
- Buy with me: http://www.buywithme.com/
- Groupon: http://www.groupon.com/
- Cheapeats
- Potlucks
- Canned foods
- Fishing
Entertainment
- Find listservs for free stuff to do
- Young nonprofits professional: http://www.ynpn.org/s/936/start.aspx
- VISTA Campus
- Couchsurfing: http://www.couchsurfing.org/
- Four Square: http://foursquare.com/
- Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/
- Skill share networks
- Art Walk (free museum nights/ open studio nights)
- University lectures
- Public library
- Reading groups/ book clubs
- Public access/ community radio
- Volunteer
Budget Ideas
- Mint (free through Quicken): http://mint.com
- Former VISTA has established doc template that VISTAS can access to create budget-related strategies
