Free tools, museum passes, concerts and more: How to spend less in Pennsylvania
As Pennsylvanians and visitors look to save money in an economy hit by Trump’s tariffs, here are ways to save money in your community.
As President Donald Trump’s tariffs are set to make everyday life more expensive, as merchants affected by them raise the prices they charge consumers for groceries, medication, construction, cars, and other goods, Americans are spending less in anticipation of an economy that experts say could be headed into a recession.
Throughout Pennsylvania, there’s a multitude of free resources for those who wish to spend less in the face of a potential economic downturn. From tool libraries to community gardens and free museum passes, here are some of the ways you can save money in the commonwealth.
You can borrow more than just books at the library
Whether you’re looking to give up paying for streaming platforms or want to do some DIY work on your home but would rather not buy new tools, you can head to the library.
Libraries across the state have special lending collections that include home improvement tools, free passes to museums and other cultural sites, children’s toys, musical instruments, and much more. Most libraries have information about their collections on their websites, and you can also ask a librarian.
These collections vary by library. For example, the Lancaster Public Library offers dolls, board games, harps, ukuleles, explorer bags, baking pans, and more.
The Upper Dublin Library has a long list of children’s toys, a digital microscope, reusable water balloons, a therapy light, a thermal leak detector, stud finders, binoculars, and a pickleball kit, among many other items.
At the Abington Township Public Library, you can borrow tool kits, passes to get into museums and other cultures sites for free, laptops, birding backpacks, turntables, blood pressure monitor kits, and much more.
For the bakers among us, the Ridley Township Library has an extensive cake pan collection that includes pans shaped like Winnie the Pooh, graduation caps, race cars, Hercules, and scarecrows.
Libraries also offer free streaming platforms to watch movies and television, as well as ebooks, audiobooks and services to read magazines and other publications on an e-reader. Check with your local library to find out what’s available with your library card.
Plus, libraries often host free programming that’s open to everyone, including concerts, book talks, support groups, and more. At the Free Library of Philadelphia, for example, you can access free business planning and coworking space, weekly events that connect local poets, and regular dance, music and storytelling events.
Your local library will likely surprise you with what they have to lend: All you need to do is ask!
Free seeds, gardening classes and connecting with neighbors
If you’re looking to grow your own food, some libraries offer seed libraries where people can give and take seeds for fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. The Easttown, Kennett, and Bloomsburg libraries, for example, offer seed libraries.
For those who are new to gardening and aren’t sure how to start, there are a number of places that provide free gardening classes or tutorials.
Food banks often offer free gardening classes. The Chester County Food Bank provides free gardening tutorials on its website and offers free workshops. To find a food bank near you, you can visit Feeding Pennsylvania’s website. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers numerous free gardening workshops and other events throughout the year.
Penn State Extension, which provides educational and business programs for farmers and gardeners in Pennsylvania, has a garden hotline email that connects you with master gardener volunteers who can answer questions about a variety of gardening topics, including when to plant outdoor vegetables, which native plants will work well at your home, as well as provide tips on pruning, plant diseases, and pollinator-friendly plants. You can email [email protected] or call 267-314-8711.
Garden clubs can be a good way to connect with nearby gardeners who can provide knowledge and advice. The National Garden Clubs can provide you with information about the clubs closest to you; to reach them, you can fill out this contact form.
For those who don’t have their own yard, there are community gardens across the state. The Philadelphia Horticultural Society lists community gardens statewide in this online database. Those on the west side of the state can check out Grow Pittsburgh’s vegetable garden map. In central Pennsylvania, residents can rent a plot for $20 at community gardens in Harrisburg. Lehigh County offers community garden plots for $40.
The Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster offers expert advice on growing heirloom plants and can provide information about obtaining heirloom seeds, including no-cost seeds.
Join a local Buy Nothing group, peruse free markets or head to free stores
Buy Nothing groups are hyperlocal online forums, usually on Facebook, that allow residents to either give something away that they no longer need or request something that they’d like to find. To locate one of these forums, you can google the name of your community and “buy nothing group.” These groups exist across the state, including in Lancaster, Erie, Luzerne County, Dauphin County, the Lehigh Valley, West Reading, and State College.
There are also community groups that regularly host what are known as free markets. At these markets, people are able to both bring items like clothing or toys that they’d like to give away and find items they need. The Lancaster Abolition Group, for example, hosts a free market every third Saturday in Penn Square. The Really Really Free Market in Pittsburgh, in addition to items such as clothing and blankets, also offers free services, including bicycle repairs.
There are also free stores, brick-and-mortar shops that offer items at no cost to the consumer. The Media FreeStore in suburban Philadelphia, for example, is open from 12-4 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday. In Braddock, a suburb of Pittsburgh, there’s a free store that people can visit on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. A free store in Allegheny County’s Wilkinsburg offers everything from jewelry and clothing to blankets, curtains and dishes.
Also, pro tip: If you go to local farmers markets toward the end of their operating time, vendors often offer steep discounts on meat, baked goods and more. They typically won’t advertise this, so go ahead and ask if any discounts are available.
