By The TOKL team

We’ve scoured high and low, far and wide for the best tips, tricks and deals to help you roll through the recession. Over 30 free things to do, more than 50 ways to save and ten top money-making ideas. Now get out there and beat the crunch

01 Expert exercise… for free
Most gyms let you try their facilities for a free trial period. If you don’t mind the hassle of a few nagging phone calls, take them up on the offer. Then reap as much advice from the trainers as you can during your tryout. Finally, pack it all up and hit the outdoor exercise stations with your newfound knowledge. Fitness First, free seven-day trial (www.fitnessfirst.com.my); True Fitness, free seven-day VIP pass (www.truefitness.com.my); Celebrity Fitness, Free 14 days (www.celebrityfitness.co.id)

02 It’s good to talk
Who needs a phone these days? With online services such as Skype (www.skype.com) and Google Talk (www.google.com/talk), it makes little sense to pay for long, overseas calls any more. Just sign up for your account, choose text, voice or video and chat away. Getting your landline cut will also save the monthly line rental.

03 Map it out
GPS is gradually making its way to our shores but there’s no need to splash out on expensive maps of the region. Malsing Maps (www.malsingmaps.com) host regularly user-updated, comprehensive maps of Malaysia and Singapore, including roads, tracks and trails, in a number of GPS formats. What’s more, they’re completely free.

04 Free degrees
iTunes U, the education section of Apple’s iTunes service (www.apple.com/itunes), offers free podcasts from the top global universities and colleges. Download lectures from Yale, study notes from Oxford and Cambridge, and business presentations from Stanford. You’ll be dealing with Trump in no time and for absolutely no cost.

05 No strings attached
If you need a quiet place to work – with free air-con, WiFi and where you don’t even need to order a thing – take your laptop to Pacific Regency’s Olive Lounge (03 2332 7777/www.pacific-regency.com). Word has it that you can just ask for a glass of water and the staff won’t throw you out.

06 Pretend to be a guest
Free coffee in the morning? How about pastries as well, with take away bags to boot? Drop by Le Meridien KL’s (03 2263 7888/www.lemeridienkualalumpur.com) lobby and help yourself to the Illy coffee counter. Nobody needs to know you are not a guest.

07 Redeem what you need
You can actually redeem your Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com) Enrich Miles for practical things like fragrances, watches, wallets and even nicotine replacements, which you need more than a free flight to Bali. If you are travelling on the company account, get an Enrich card and freeload off it.

08 Spray and go
Dart through the fragrance counters on your way to dinner (if you are dining in or around shopping malls, of course) and fumigate yourself with designer fragrances for free. And for the more adventurous, use the makeup testers in pharmacies to get ready for a night out. Hey, it’s cheap, not hygienic.

09 Surf a couch
Why pay for hotels when you can couch surf (www.couchsurfing.com) your way around the world? There are currently over a million registered couches in 57,678 cities willing to host you for a couple of nights.

10 Free workshops
Forget buying guides for any Apple products; notebooks, desktops or even iPhones. Learn the tricks for free. Machines (www.machines.com.my) and Epicentre (www.epicentreasia.com) often offer Mac workshops. Check the dates and register on their websites.

11 Free fish
Although all you see are corals, seahorses and starfish, you can’t really complain since the new Aquazone exhibition area at Aquaria KLCC doesn’t charge an admission fee. And while you’re there, hang around outside the entrance and log onto the nearby Starbucks WiFi.

12 Blag an art opening
Commercial galleries often hold art openings with free wine, beer and canapés. Not to mention all the hot arty people in the house. Oh, just remember to pepper your conversation with the word ‘juxtapose’. Sign up for the galleries’ newsletters to find out where and when.

13 Read a book at Borders
Take advantage of Borders’ comfortable couches. Grab a seat and a book, and just put it back on the shelf once you are done. Why buy books anymore?

14 Tea with Tai
In the mornings, as the city rubs its eyes awake, Tai Chi practitioners are already up and out, bending this way and that. It’s free, interesting and all you have to do is show up (Lake Gardens, by the main fountain from 6.30am) and follow the instructor.

15 OSIMilate
They’re free, waiting at most malls to be tested with no obligation to buy and only a few dirty looks should you hang out in them too long. They’re the lovable OSIM chairs (www.osim.com). Sit down and get a free massage.

16 Professional printing
Personal documents to print? Don’t do them at home – that costs ink and paper. No, take them into the office and they become crucial office manuscripts, printable at no charge to you.

17 Freecycle
Freecycling is based on the thinking that what one man (or woman, or child) is tired of, another will cherish. No money changes hands – these are unwanted goods offered free of charge to new homes. Advertise or browse online at groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycle_kl or groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycle_petaling_jaya.

18 Indie flicks
Palate Palette (03 2142 2148/www.palatepalette.com) has film screenings once a month featuring a host of local and international shorts, documentaries, features and the lot for free. And you get free popcorn as well.

19 Flip for free drinks
A 50-50 chance of free beer? Yes please. Head to TGI Friday’s (www.fridays.com.my) between 6 and 7pm on, er, Fridays and toss coin with the bartender. You win, you get free bottles of Sol beer. You lose, you’re paying full.


20 15 minutes of fame
You too can take the stage to show off by participating in Doppelganger’s open mic session (www.doppelgangerkl.blogspot.com) that happens every last Sunday of the month at Marketplace (03 2166 0752/www.marketplacekl.com).

21 Free Music
If you’re looking for quality live music for free, there’s plenty happening in town almost every other day. Just check out our music events listings to find out where and when.

22 Book talk
Take part in the book club discussions organised by your local bookstore. At Borders (03 7725 9303/www.bordersstores.com), you’ll get free Starbucks coffee and a voucher, while at MPH (03 7726 9003/www.mph.com.my) you’ll be entitled to free flavoured tea. Both stores offer discounts on the book discussed.

23 Book exchange
Drop by the BookCrossing Zone (Highstreet, Ground Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre) for free reads, or do others a favour and bring your own books to be exchanged.

24 Listen up
Free lunchtime concerts at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC/03 2051 7008) are great for afternoons when you’re flat broke. Check www.malaysianphilharmonic.com for the schedule.

25 Pet-ty prices
Adopt a pet instead of buying one. You’ll be able to save cash, as well as save animals from possible euthanasia. If you’re too cash-strapped to pay an adoption fee, adopt from Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (019 357 6477/ malaysiandogsdeservebetter.blogspot.com). The animals they rescue can usually be adopted for free.

26 Giving back
Sometimes the best way to feel fortunate is to learn to appreciate how good you’ve got it. Do something worthwhile and volunteer at the Kechara Soup Kitchen (012 203 2135/www.kskcommunity.org). The current financial situation won’t feel so gloomy any more.

27 Forest for free
Getting into the forest can blow your work stresses away. But don’t splash cash on the touristy Bukit Nanas or FRIM – head to either Bukit Kiara (Jalan Bukit Kiara Utama, Off Jalan Abang Haji Openg, Taman Tun Dr Ismail) or Bukit Gasing (Jalan Tanjong 5/4, PJ) for free forest freedom.

28 Art grants
There are various art grants available for the struggling artist. Three of the most prominent are the Tabung Bantuan Seni (03 4025 4990/www.artgallery.gov.my), by the National Art Gallery (which offered RM500,000 in art grants last year); The Annexe Gallery’s Grants for Grabs (03 2070 1137/www.annexegallery.com) offers RM50,000 in grants for exhibitions, performances, research, dance, theatre or workshops; and the Krishen Jit Astro Fund (03 7725 4858/www.fiveartscentre.org) which gives grants for performing arts, music, film and writing.

29 Broke beauty
Many beauty counters in department stores offer free makeovers and consultations. The only thing you have to have is thick skin when you tell them you don’t want to buy anything.

30 Gaming on a budget
Too broke to buy the latest FPS or RPG? No worries, Freeloader (www.freeloader.co.uk) offers various free game downloads for your PC.

31 Learn a new language
The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk) offers free language lessons on their website. Choose from French, Spanish, German, Italian, Greek, Portuguese and Chinese. You can also pick up the basics in over 36 other languages.


Click here to go to part II