If you are generally wary of free stuff, I’m right there with you. Most of the time, I’ve found, free stuff is like bait. It’s a tasty morsel, a big tease with the clear intent of getting us to part with money we have no intention of parting with to get whatever it is that’s “free.”

But now and then, free is truly free with no strings attached. And when it’s something I find useful in my life, well, that’s a happy find. Today I have three truly free things for you to consider. Chances are good you’ll find them downright awesome!

Marco Polo

Marco Polo is a phone app that combines the best of texting, social media, and video chats—all in one private, easy-to-use app. Marco Polo is the video chat app that brings you closer to the people who matter most. It’s not the same as FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom. It’s real in time without all the hassles.

For example, even even though you may not be with your grandchild,  he can pick up the phone anytime and just say, Grandma, I love you. Or you can all get together at one time. You and your family and or circle of friends can have conversations in real life with no ads, no hassles.

Is it social media?

It’s different from typical social media apps because Marco Polo is real, trusted and built to be good for you. Unlike many apps, Marco Polo does not sell user data for advertising. Marco Polo isn’t about likes or social comparisons. This is an app that parents actually want their families to use.

Similar to video calls?

Marco Polo is vastly more practical. You never play phone tag and you don’t have to schedule blocks of time just to say hi. Marco Polo gives you tone, context, and certainty that your message was heard.

Full life, not full phone

With no limits on length and video stored in the cloud, you have room for life.

Unlimited possibilities

You can talk to friends and family face-to-face even if they aren’t iPhone users because Marco Polo works over WiFi anywhere in the world. No more time zone scheduling!

Private

Marco Polo is designed to be for your closest friends and family. You can’t search and find anyone without their mobile number. Marco Polo is also ad-free and we do not collect your data.

Marco Polo is free and includes

• 100% free with no ads
• Unlimited chats
• Unlimited groups
• Voice effects and camera filters
• Notification controls
• Emojis – heart, thumbs up, smiley face

Busy Kid

BusyKid is an ingenious website that takes the idea of teaching kids the value of money with a job board and digitizes it while including the concepts of sharing and saving.

Simply go to the site, open a free account then add your kids to it. Next, choose from a list of chores to assign them, along with a deadline. For each chore or job, you also need to set points that your child earns upon completion.

The points become a “currency system” that My Job Chart intends will teach children more about money. Children are free to save, spend or share the points they earn. And the “spend” is linked to rewards like a bedtime story or anything they want from Amazon, which you get to add. My Job Chart also offers mobile apps.

IKEA Hackers

Oh, this is fun! IkeaHackers is a free website devoted to amazing ideas and hows-tos for modifying and repurposing IKEA products. Think of IkeaHackers as a place where IKEA hackers from all over the globe gather to share their “geniousness.” They submit their creations, with the hope of providing alternative ideas for IKEA products.

The term “hacks,” as used at this site, may be as simple as adding an embellishment, some others may require power tools and lots of ingenuity. Think: Turning a simply IKEA framed mirror into a jewelry storage vault, by simply adding a couple of hinges. Or a laundry organizer made from IKEA kitchen cabinets.

Curious?

Well, head on over to IkeaHackers to find out what that’s all about. In the meantime, take a look at my favorite IKEA hack of all time.

 

Yes, this is my beautiful kitchen—built entirely by my husband. From demo to finish this total remodel took only 10 weeks, working nights and weekends. All of the cabinets featuring 46 pullout drawers, and 16 doors are from IKEA. The hack? We did not buy any drawer or door fronts from IKEA. Instead, we ordered them custom and prepainted from a local company that custom builds doors, drawer fronts, and the visible trim pieces to fit exactly IKEA’s line of cabinetry.

 

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