Four Ways to Help Strangers Save Money

Instead, consider leaving it in a public area where others interested can pick it up and read. They can be left in waiting rooms, park benches, on public transportation or any other area with heavy foot traffic where they're sure to be found and appreciated.

The same can be done with books. If you finish a book that you know you will not read again, instead of keeping it on your bookshelf, consider leaving it somewhere for others to read.

Web sites such as Book Crossing encourage you to leave books in public places so that others can find them and you can even track the book's journey as it is passed on from person to person. By providing these reading materials for free, people can indulge without it making a dent in their budget.

Offer Goods on Freecycle

If you have things around you home that you no longer need but don't want to sell through a garage sale or on eBay, consider offering them up on your local Freecycle site.

Freecycle is an online group created for each city that attempts to keep items that still have life out of landfills.

People offer items they no longer need for free to others in their community. Once accepted, the person will come to your house and pick up whatever it is your offering so there is no cost to you.

It's an amazingly simply way to get rid of things you no longer need while getting them to people who want and need them.

Even if you don't believe the item has value, it could very well save someone money. Quite a few artists use Freecycle to get free material for their artwork. Items that still work can often save people money.

While none of these acts is going to save the recipient a fortune, they will save them a small amount and likely brighten up their day at the same time. When times are tough, everyone needs that.