8 Free Things You Can Do When You Are Unemployed

by Srinivas Rao (via Brazen Careerist)

Adobe is offering free software to unemployed developers. They are giving  away Adobe Flex Builder 3, regularly sold for US$249.

Go to their website for more details and to download.

Free Eye Cream sample by iS Clinical

Starting January 10th, 2010 – Take the Dole Challege & get coupons for free products

If you adopted a dog in 2009 – Pedigree will give you a 20 lb bag of dog food

Free Kleenex Sample through Costco

Free Kotex Samples

Free Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets

Free Organic Notepad

It’s hard to believe that they exist, but they do – tuition free colleges.

Thanks to this article on mentalfloss I learned of  of 7 more than I knew of – the only one I was previously familiar with was Cooper Union.

1. College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian liberal-arts college located in Point Lookout, Missouri – 40 miles south of Springfield. The college has a student to faculty ratio of approximately 16:1, over 30 academic majors, and degrees in Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.

The College charges no tuition for full-time students, due to its unique student work program and donations. The program requires students to work 15 hours a week at a on-campus work station and two 40 hour work weeks during breaks. A summer work program is also available to cover room and board costs.

2. Deep Springs College is a two year, all-male, liberal arts college located on a cattle-ranch and alfalfa farm in California’s High Desert. In addition to studies, students work a minimum of 20 hours a week either on the ranch attached to the college or in positions related to the college and community. Students pay only for incidental expenses such as textbooks. Tuition, room, and board are covered by scholarships.

3. University of California Irvine – Law School first offered free tuition for the first entering class. Now it is offering half tuition for the next entering class. UCI is located in Orange County, California.

4. Berea College in Kentucky, offers full-tuition scholarship valued at more than $90,000. Students must work a minimum of 10 hours at the college. Room, board and books are not covered – but the college offers work-study programs to offset the costs.

5. Olin College is an engineering college with 300 students located in Needham, Massachusetts.  Each student receives a 4 year scholarship funded by a $400 million dollar grant.

6. Cooper Union is located in Manhattan, New York City and has degree programs in art and engineering. Every student receives free tuition for 4 years.

7. Curtis Institute of Music located in Philadelphia is admits 160 students and provides full scholarships. In addition all piano, harpsichord, composition, and conducting majors are lent Steinway grand pianos. Students host over 100 public concerts each year, and receive one-on-one instruction from the musically accomplished faculty.

8. Alice Lloyd College is a private, liberal arts college in Kentucky. Students are required to work at least 10 hours per week in exchange for free tuition.

You’re unemployed and now you need to cut down on unnecessary expenses…like your iTunes addiction? Here are some free alternatives that will let you get your music fix and keep your wallet shut.

Grooveshark – Listen to any song in the world for free. Create free internet radio stations. Search for free mp3′s to stream.

Pandora – Pandora radio is the personalized internet radio service that helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites.

Spotify –  Spotify Free is ad-supported and allows for online and offline usage. Download the program and enjoy streaming music. (Currently not available in the United States yet. Spotify is available for European users.)

Barbara’s Bakery – Free sample of Organic Cereal

Yoplait Yoghurt – Get a coupon for a free YoPlus Sample

Kashi Granola Bar – Free chewy granola bar

Taco Bell Fresco Taco – Printable coupon for a free taco

Aquafresh Extreme Clean Toothpaste – Free 0.8 oz sample

Atkins Kit & Bars – Free Quick Start Guide & 3 Free Atkins Bar

Benefiber Orange – Free sample of a Fiber Supplement

Olay Quench Body Lotion – Mail in Rebate (Links to PDF)

Crown Publishing Free Book Offer – Get a free copy of one of three books

Free Wallet – from Eastpak

Safelink Wireless is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month for income eligible customers.

This service is currently available in Alabama, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Wahington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. It will soon be available in other states.  

Eligible customers will receive up to 63 minutes of free airtime (depends on your location). It is available to those on government assistance, such as food stamps, Section 8, SSI, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid.