14 Ways to Find Free Money

Famed economist Milton Friedman once said "There's no such thing as a free lunch." Personal finance experts Ken and Daria Dolan of Dolans.com love Milt, but are going to disagree with him on this one. In fact, today they are going to show you 14 ways to get your hands on free money. You read that right, free. To take advantage of any of the tips outlined here, the only price you'll have to pay is some legwork.

Continue clicking through our gallery to see how you can get yours!

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Free Money: Unclaimed Funds
According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), one out of eight people in the U.S. have unclaimed assets ... with average claims of $1,000! If you have a 1 in 8 chance of getting some free bucks, isn't that worth exploring? Anything from a forgotten bank savings account you had as a kid to a utility bill deposit from a long-ago rental may still be waiting for you to an inheritance from a long lost relative. Most unclaimed assets are turned over to state governments until they're claimed or until a certain number of years pass ... so get a move on! Visit www.unclaimed.org to start your state search, or write to your state treasurer directly.

Free Money: College Scholarships
If your child or grandchild is about to enter college, be sure not to miss free money in the form of scholarships. That's free money you don't want to miss! College scholarships can be as little as $500 or as high as tens of thousands. It's free money, so apply for every scholarship you can find! Even small scholarships add up, so be sure to contact local organizations such as the Rotary Club and women's civic organizations. Free online services such as www.Fastweb.com offer a ton of sources for finding scholarships for which your child may qualify. Also, be sure to check with your child's high school (as well as his top college picks) for even more scholarship opportunities.

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Free Money: 401(k) Matching Funds

Your boss may not have given you a raise this year, but he still might give you some free money. If your employer offers 401(k) matching contributions, you're getting just that! So, if you are lucky enough to still have 401(k) matching (many employers have cut this benefit during this recession) be sure you are enrolled, and be sure you contribute the maximum amount they will match. Otherwise, you're missing out on free money every year--money that will grow exponentially over the years and that you can enjoy once you retire.

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Free Money: Rewards Programs

There's hardly a store you can go into these days that doesn't ask you to join its reward program. Sometimes they come in the form of "tickets" that the merchant stamps or punches each time you make a purchase. Once you've gotten so many punches, you earn a free something. Others let you earn points for every dollar you spend, then let you redeem the points for free stuff. Rewards clubs are offered on everything from movie theaters to restaurants to retail stores. Sign up and earn some freebies every time you spend.

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Free Money: Credit Card Incentives

Credit cards are worse than banks these days when it comes to "nickel and diming" you to death. So, let's turn the tables on them for a change and talk about how you can get some free money from your credit card company. While some rebate programs are getting stingier as credit standards tighten, there are still some very attractive cash-back (free money!) cards worth checking out. Examples include American Express' Blue Cash program, which can earn you up to 5% back on everyday purchases such as groceries and gasoline and Discover card, which pays you cash back on every purchase.

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Free Money: With a "Thank You"

Another way to get free money from your credit card company and other places with which you do business is to sign up for the Thank You Network (www.thankyou.com). You earn points for every dollar you spend with participating credit cards and retailers, such as Citibank, Expedia and more. You then use those points to buy things on the Thank You Network. You can "buy" everything from an iPod to office equipment to a $100 gift card to your favorite retailer (like Barnes & Noble, Gap and Home Depot to name a few). Free money! What's not to like?

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Free Money: Government Grants
There's been a lot of talk about government grants during these days. Much of it is rubbish or flat out scams, but there are opportunities to lock up some free grant money if you know where to look. These are NOT federal assistance nor are they loans. (You don't have to pay them back.) A grant is simply an award given to an individual or organization that will have a public benefit. For example, business grants can help support small businesses, which in turn can help the economy as a whole. There are 26 federal agencies that offer over a thousand grant programs in areas such as the arts, energy, health, business, housing and more. There are also a number of non-profits and charities that offer grants and assistance.

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Free Money: Housing Grants
There are billions of dollars in housing grants offered including those aimed at helping first-time homebuyers, low-income renters and those with poor credit. Home renovations are also often subsidized by housing grants. Currently, there are grants to cover replacement costs for heating and cooling repairs in your home. There are other grants available for weatherization and even energy-related home repairs. Find out more at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development web site at www.hud.gov. While HUD does not directly offer grants to individuals, it works with local governments and other organizations to assist individuals in finding grants and other assistance.

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Free Money: Grants for Women

There are grants aplenty targeted at helping women with a variety of needs. For example, there are grants for women who want to get a college degree or start a business. There are even some that will help subsidize a lower-income household. Some grants are modest (e.g. the Amber Grant's $500) while others offer awards in the tens of thousands -- the latter of which are most common for women-owned businesses.

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