Posts Tagged ‘urban’

Safeway Bakery and Deli Free Samples Haul

Posted: September 5, 2015 in Freebies, Frugality, Health & Nutrition, Scavenging
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Blog Post by Cameron McKirdy

In this HD video, I show you how to get free food samples at any Safeway Grocery Store simply by asking.  First stop; The Bakery.  I scored a chocolate chip cookie, and a rich brownie with fudge frosting by using little effort.  Getting this freebie was child’s play, but the complementary grub isn’t available only for the kids, as you may have thought.  I use this method on most of my visits to large retailers.  The bakers told me they give out 10-15 trays of 45 count cookies daily.  So claim your grub, and don’t let free calories go uneaten.  Also of note, The Bakery is on my way from the back of the grocery store, where I check the half off sale items anyways. 

Free samples and bargains can be had, even at the most expensive Safeway in America, located in my hometown of Seaside, Oregon.  I do this wild stuff to offset the cost of my calorie intake, and for my own sick amusement.  I want to get the maximum out of any given situation, like I did in this social experiment.  The employees are typically really generous, and don’t mind my request.  
Free Cookie Samples SafewayA friend and I once got three types of no cost cookies for each person asking.  So we enjoyed a variety of desserts for free to enjoy while filling my cart.  Share your comments below on urban scavenging.Beef Sample at Safeway DeliIn this photo I show off my huge haul of three roast beef pieces after politely requesting to try some red meat at the deli counter.   This was enough flesh for a hearty sandwich, but I ate it in store, and even shared some with another shopper!  Push the limit, and ask to sample each and every appetizing food type behind the glass.  It’s the education you need to become a smarter shopper.

Click here for more information on how to get free stuff in life in another #SurvivalBros article.

Walmart Parking Lot Car Camping Experience in Eugene Oregon

Posted: August 5, 2014 in Adventures, Automobiles, Comedy and Art, Frugality, Fun!, VW Vanagon
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Recently I camped in a Walmart parking lot on West 11th in Eugene, Oregon.  In this HD video you’ll get the scoop on what it’s like to do some urban stealth camping in my 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon GL.  It was noisy, and the space is well lit, but in general, I got great rest.  It feels good to be somewhere, and not have to pay for the experience.  This was a fun experiment, and I’d recommend it to any Survival Bros. out there.  Staying at Walmart for free beats dropping hundreds for a night in a hotel.  Would you try this?  Live simple my friends.  More videos about my summer road trip coming soon.  Thanks for visiting my blog!  Peace and love.

Have you visited People Of WalMart yet?  Click this.

A Great Goodwill Find Plus Thift Store Shopping Tips

Posted: May 8, 2014 in Adventures, Frugality, Fun!, Gear, Giving Back, HD Videos
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By Cameron McKirdy

1.  Check which color tag is 50% off that week when you walk in the door.

2.  See if the item works.  Plug it in.  Check for missing parts, or if it’s damaged.

3.  If you find something unique – RESEARCH IT on the spot with your smartphone.

  • Search Amazon and eBay
  • Scan the barcode with your phone’s camera

4.  Pull the trigger.  If you haven’t seen it before, BUY IT.  Your item may be a good investment because it’s rare.

Finally, keep the treasure for yourself, give it away to someone deserving, or sell it for a profit online or in person.

Here’s another sweet Goodwill find I scored this week, and show you on video.  It’s a rare Valterra skateboard from 1986!  It shreds.  

I found this road bike at Goodwill too, and now it’s a Bug Out Bike ready in case of emergencies.  I got new tires for it, and purchased a BOB Yak trailer to haul gear down the road with ease.  

Don’t forget to donate stuff you don’t need to charity.  I’ve seen Goodwill do good things in the community, and employee people that need assistance.  You’ll get a tax credit too just for being so kind.  Thanks for reading, and doing your part.  Peace from Survival Bros.

goodwill-logoGood luck treasure hunting at Goodwill and beyond!  Expect epic finds.

FULL BUDWEISER BREWERY TOUR IN ST. LOUIS

Posted: February 11, 2013 in Adventures, Frugality, SB Tips
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When in St. Louis, I made it out to Budweiser Headquarters, and home of the world-famous Clydesdale horses.  The giant Bud complex is a national historic landmark.  The state-of-the-art bottling plant makes about 6 six-packs per second.  And it takes a month to produce a beer.  Watch the HD video of my tour, and let me know what you think.  I had a blast on the 45 minute tour.  The best was scoring pretzels, and two free beers.  Urban foraging at it’s finest.  Take the tour if you have a chance.

– Cameron

Budweiser Beer Tour picture

Saving Money One Bite At A Time

Posted: January 5, 2013 in Adventures, Comedy and Art, Frugality, Health & Nutrition, SB Tips
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The McKirdy Bros Professionally Eating Ribs

The McKirdy Bros Professionally Eating Ribs

Times are tough, for many people this isn’t the first time they’ve struggled to make ends meet. I’d like to humbly share a time in my life my frugality took a dark but interesting turn. It was 2008 and I was a student at the University of Oregon. My major was international studies and so, in a way I was honing my skills for a life of financial hardship. I was “in between jobs” as they say, and while I had saved enough money to still afford rent, my savings were diminishing fast. Food was expensive. I had contributed to society, paid my taxes for long enough for me to feel less guilty about what I was scheming. I looked to the homeless for inspiration and I found none. “They are doing it all wrong” I said to myself.
 
I had long been a fan of free food so I started brainstorming of all the past places food was a plenty. Buffets. Breakfast buffets. Continental breakfasts. The Holiday Inn Express was closest to my house, so that’s where I first walked in as confidently as possible, to a hotel I’ve never been in before. Oatmeal. Apples. Oranges. Muffins. It was a beautiful display of food not meant for me, which made it even more exciting. I had my backpack on me because my Spanish class was in a half an hour. I ate what I could, and opened my bag to shove a bundle of bananas in. I took an extra muffin for my friend because he was broke like me, and as it turns out I’m very generous with other people’s food. This went on for a while. So long that I started to rank the hotels. Phoenix Inn had apple juice and hot chocolate so I gave it a B+. But breakfast was only one meal out of the suggested 3 a day. I had started noticing official University of Oregon food golf carts zipping around campus. I was lucky enough to have experienced this before at catered public events and so I knew they had the goods. One day in between classes I saw a green cart zip right in front of me and if it were possible I would have jumped right on the back and followed it to wherever it was going, but I had to be more inconspicuous. So, I ran. Calmly. Like I was late for a class across campus. Finally the cart stopped in front of the law building. Taking from future lawyers was alright by me. I wasn’t stealing. I was taking something being offered just not to me. Oh was it delicious. The pasta was seasoned and covered in feta cheese and oil. I was in heaven. The breakfasts and occasional catered meal kept me for only so long. I did some grocery shopping rather often to buy my bulk items of hummus, rice, beans and oats. Cheap nutritious foods. I was at Whole Foods when I noticed a bread man checking the dates of each loaf and then collecting the ones that were about to expire. I striked up a  conversation and he told me that he could give me some just not in the store. He told me to meet him out back. A couple of minutes later he was noticeably more casual with me. He didn’t care about the bread. So I took all that I could. Six loaves of organic whole wheat bread. It only lasted me a few days. 
 
Turns out he gave the rest to the Eugene food pantry, but they always had plenty of bread from other donations besides his company. I looked into the pantry and I qualified. I rode my bike to the pantry, and again only had my backpack. They told me to go outside and they would bring me my food allowance. They rolled out a two level push cart full of canned foods, cold milk and other dairy products including a very cheap pint of chocolate ice cream. I could only carry about a quarter of what I was alloted. I wouldn’t have eaten most of the other stuff any way because it was full of MSG, salt and I knew it would taste awful. 

Eventually I was able to get a job and save up some money so I didn’t have to go to all the trouble, but I had a good run. Without all the ways I found to get free food I am sure I would have started charging groceries on a credit card. I hope I don’t have to do it again, but it is nice to know that sometimes beggars can be choosers if you’re smart enough. I am very thankful for each and every free bite to this day. 

Andrew McKirdy

Andrew Scoring Free Organic Bread

Andrew Scoring Free Organic Bread

What It’s Like To Be Homeless

Posted: August 15, 2012 in Adventures, Comedy and Art, Health & Nutrition, Parks, Product Reviews, SB Tips
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I could have sold my soul a long time ago. Instead, I’ve been expressing myself fully, and making all of Earth my home. Having a minimum wage job isn’t going to help humanity or myself. I belong outside, free with the rest of nature to expand.

So I’m living in a tent and couch surfing. There’s nothing wrong with that. I figure it toughens me up. In the outdoors I can test myself, and my gear. Indoors are for fluffy house cats, and domesticated divas watching TV to get their drama fix. The nature of reality isn’t broadcast on TV. The truth is, we are all connected. But it feels like instead of working together, people compete. Compete for girls, money, jobs, cars, and houses. None of that means anything to me. It’s just stuff that can tie you down. I’m endless. You can’t label me. I am as free as the wind. I’ve experienced the highs, the lows, and I’m balanced. I rarely worry. Earth takes good care of me. The authorities are the ones that want to take away your rights and freedoms. No overnight camping they say. I say, that’s what camping is.

Why pay $450 or more per month in rent? That’s crazy. Then you have to commit to an expensive place to sleep. I’d rather find a flat piece of land and make camp. I’m learning important skills like: navigating and reading maps, starting fires, cooking healthy inexpensive meals, and foraging for food. Being homeless gives me an opportunity to be a happy camper with less. I value the small things, like a warm blanket, and friends sharing their survival stories.

The BIG collapse is still coming, but many Americans are already living paycheck to paycheck with little savings. More young people are becoming homeless. They are sleeping in cars with no gas, or crashing on their buddy’s boat for shelter. We need to stop making a big deal out of homelessness, and just help people in need. It’s simple, if you have more, give. I will never be rich because I’d give all my possessions away. I need very little now. Food, water, shelter. To attain those things I hustle, or help people. I don’t think you should have to pay to live. God put me here to do what I want, and to appreciate nature. That’s what I’m going to do. Don’t tell me I can’t sleep on a park bench. Don’t tell me anything. Please just help the less fortunate if you can. The Universe will hook you up. Peace.

P.S. – I’m doing great!

Cameron McKirdy

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