Two Ways to Find Free Stuff

I'm always looking for that best price possible -- FREE.

One great resource is the online FREE ads on http://www.craigslist.com/. Now, you do have to watch out for your personal information AND your personal safety, because anyone can post a free ad. However, I have received everything from antique furniture to a small dog on the craigslist free ads.

A second resource is Yahoo Groups. There's a group called Freecycle and there's likely to be one based in your neighborhood. In this case, people post ads, you respond, and either they choose you - or they don't. In addition, you can give away perfectly usable items that you don't want or need without having to lug it down to Goodwill. Just go to Yahoo, make a free e-mail address, then look for groups in your area. It's pretty easy, I did it for my Mom in under 10 minutes!

Those are my two top methods of locating great free stuff! Happy hunting!

How To Download Free Clip Art From Microsoft Office

I often use clip art from Microsoft Office when putting together things like the family calendar, the kids' birthday cards, retirement flyers, or some other non-commercial use. Remember, the art is available, but only for personal use. If you want to use it to illustrate your book, or silkscreen on the T-shirts you sell down at the Boardwalk, you have to get permission from owner of the art or photo (and pay for using it).

Step 1
First, go to the Microsoft Office website (see link below).

Step 2
Next, type in the image you're looking for, like "computer". Click on the "Search" button.

Step 3
Wow! More than 1200 items! To reduce the number of hits, look on the left side of the page under "Filter by Type". Click on the drop down that says "All Media Types" and click on "Clip Art".

Step 4
Still more than 1200 hits. You can filter again by going to "Filter by Category", clicking the drop down, and then clicking on the type or style of art. For example: "Abstract". This brings up only 18 pages of clip art to select from.

Step 5
To get a closer look at any clip art, just click on the image. If you like it, click on the box "Add to selection basket". If you don't like it, just close the pop up.

Step 6
Once you've selected the clip art(s), again look on the left side of the page under "Selection Basket". Click on the "Download [x] items" link.

Step 7
A new page will come up. Click on the "Download Now" button. If a dialogue box opens, click on "Open". The clip art will automatically download to the Microsoft Clip Organizer on your computer. You can now close the Organizer box.

The clip art is now on your computer.

Things to Remember:

• Personal use ONLY!
• Add the website to "Favorites". That way you don't have to try to remember the address.
• This article is specific to PCs with Microsoft software. It MAY work for other programs but no promises!
• If the clip art won't download, sometimes you have to clear out your temporary files and then try again.
• Don't try to download too many clip arts at one time.
• Once you've inserted the clip art in your document, you will have to format it. That's another whole post...

Links

Microsoft Office website: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/download.aspx

Microsoft's rules for using clip art from their website: http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/permissions/default.mspx