Free week: Seven days without spending

From tote bags to concert tickets, we’ve all bagged free things from time to time – but what would it take to plan a week of exciting no-cost activities? Jeanette, 31, from East London, gives it a go.

First, some ground rules: this was not my week of shoplifting or lying my way into events – I would fill a week with legitimate free activities.

Here’s what I discover:

Free stuff is rarely free

I find that free things broadly fall into the following categories:

• Truly free: a sample chocolate bar
• Requiring monetary outlay: a mini candle with the purchase of a full-size one
• Requiring temporal investment: a good spot at a free, general admission show after waiting in line all day

Planning my week, I discover a new category: requiring personal data.

I enter dozens of travel competitions, win zero trips and now receive innumerable promotional emails.

I also fill in a profile to be a secret shopper only to reach the final page: payment details.

This isn’t free stuff, I realise – this is work.

Be cautious with sharing personal information online and remember that Chase doesn't endorse any websites for competitions or free items.

When it comes to culture, we’re spoilt for choice

Whether you’re into panel shows or portraiture, night clubs or nature walks, the options can feel overwhelming.

I look at listings but often rely on recommendations from friends. And I have them to thank for two free nights out: a soul night on the roof of a members’ club and a Paul Simonon DJ set (no big deal!).

Useful newsletters can be worth the time (and inbox space)

Apparently, a nearby high-end supermarket held a grand re-opening and gave revellers £5 vouchers.

Unfortunately, I left their mailing list seven years ago and had no idea.

Freeing myself from digital clutter can make it difficult to find free things, but I’ve discovered some newsletters can be valuable.

Subscribing to a few that feature local events, I now actually make the effort to read them – and attend the events.

Explore unconventional free activities (like conventions)

While I generally think it’s positive that environmental concerns have led to fewer freebies, I wanted a souvenir of my free week.

Luckily, I was attending a textile show. Trade shows are an unsung hero of free activities. For a simple registration, you get a lanyard and a look into an industry’s inner workings.

I ordered fabric swatches and learned about trends – and snagged a tote bag.

There is, in fact, such a thing as free lunch

Free food eluded me. Then I attended a product demonstration at a luxury kitchen appliance shop.

I was welcomed with a latte and the show began. Before our eyes, quinoa was steamed, vegetables were roasted, and chocolate was melted for strawberries.

I know these things are sales pitches – and I was sold. I got lunch and a new apron!

Did I actually save any money?

Dreams of holidays and kittens aside, I had a few realistic goals for the week:

• Discover new free activities
• Find a power strip for my studio so I can plug the cassette player and the sewing machine in at the same time
• Get a tote bag

On those fronts, the week was a success. I saw some extremely fancy cookers, bagged a tote and finally got a power strip from a girl moving out of the studio – saving me around £9.

Ultimately, I discovered that seeking out free things for their own sake takes a lot of time – and personally speaking I’d rather keep that free.

Looking for somewhere to keep your savings? Bank with Chase and you can open a saver account. Start saving with as little as you like, and we’ll calculate your interest daily and pay it monthly.

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Recommended reading

• What I learnt from a no-spend week
• Can you really save money by shopping secondhand
• Modern haggling and finding the best deal

Disclaimer: The Hub is intended as a knowledge portal to provide information on a range of topics, including financial products. Articles may reference products and services that Chase UK does not currently offer. This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice.