Pay, or get it for free?

I was trying to explain the concept of libraries to my son this evening. We were reading a book from the library, and he asked if I bought it. No, I said, I borrowed it. What does borrow mean? he asked. So I explained that I didn't have to pay anything. I couldn't keep it, but I could have it for a while. This is what borrowing means.

He looked at the fistful of pennies he almost always has with him, and said, "But I have money, and I want to pay lots of money at the library." For him, the transaction of paying for something is so magical he can't imagine why you would want to forego it. And I realized that he sees me handing over a plastic card at most stores. How does he know the library card I hand over isn't actually a financial transaction?

I started thinking about all the things I get for free that I could pay for. It's a pitifully short list and I'm determined to make it longer. Anybody else have good ideas?

Reading material, some music and videos. At the library, where else?

Childcare. I do pay for daycare, but in addition use a babysitting co-op and an informal system of neighborhood friends instead of paying a babysitter.

Clothing. I do buy about three quarters of my clothes. The rest come from my sister. When something gets stained or worn, she replaces it. I am willing to wear her gently used clothes and she has good taste. Almost all of my son's clothes come from his older cousins. What we don't get handed down, we buy at thrift stores for him. Maybe five percent of his clothes are bought new.

Garden supplies. Yes, I have bought my tools and most of my perennial plants. But I compost kitchen and yards scraps and so don't pay for mulch or fertilizer, and I've also gotten a lot of clippings from neighbors.

Lotion and soap. No, I don't collect travel sizes of these from hotels. This one is an accidental savings, but for some reason I must be wearing an invisible sign that says "get me bath products as gifts". I get so much of this stuff I can hardly use it all up. Occasionally I rebel and buy something of my own choosing, but usually I use whatever stocking stuffers I end up with.

Furniture, occasionally. Sadly, I don't dumpster dive as much as I used to. But I still find some treasures now and again.

Other ideas to NOT pay for things? Check out your local Freecycle chapter, watch for free-to-a-good-home notices on Craigslist, and of couse, re-use what you already have.