Lemondrop

When you're on a budget, one of the first things you have to cut back on is eating out ... or buying food altogether. Recently, Abroad'r View blogger Courtney declared "Free Eats Week" and lived for seven days off of hand-outs and freebies.

Inspired, but unsure that this idea was possible outside of the media-party, specialty-store streets of NYC, I decided to try this in my North Carolina town -- without resorting to dumpster diving. Here's how it went.

Day One

Breakfast: I started my morning grateful for the office coffee maker and creamer. For a manic Monday morning, the caffeine fix was all I needed.

Lunch: I headed for the grocery store, a free-sample haven according to Courtney. My best options are Harris Teeter or Trader Joe's. I browsed the Harris Teeter aisles like I was indecisive, but in reality I was scouring for samples.

I was able to cover most of the major food groups: grapefruit, cantaloupe, ham "off the bone" and provolone. I even made a little ham-and-cheese combo. It was like a full-course meal ... in French portion sizes. They even had cake samples for dessert and sugar cookies put out for kids (but enjoyed by me).

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Then I asked to try the different chicken salads in the deli, which the smiling lady behind the counter provided. (My favorite? The fruit-and-nut version. I had cranberries, chicken, pecans and almond shavings packed into my two little bites.)

And on my way out, I helped myself to the samples in the candy aisle, then went back to the office and drank so much water I felt full.

Dessert: On the way home I stopped at Jason's Deli for their complimentary ice cream – only 90 calories and 2 grams of fat. I'm pretty sure the ice cream is only for paying customers, but it says complimentary on the machine so technically it's not stealing.

Day Two

Breakfast: I put the fat in Fat Tuesday with National Pancake Day at the International House of Pancakes. I got three free silver-dollar pancakes, slathered in butter and syrup. The pancakes were so filling I reached maximum capacity halfway through.

Note: Tipping the waitress does not count as buying food, it's just good manners. Shout out to my server, Apple.

Lunch/Dinner/Whatever: I wasn't hungry again until after I got out of my dance class, so I hit up the two-free-tacos offer at Jack in the Box. When I went to not-pay I was asked for my coupon, which I didn't have, so I had to beg. It worked. But after taking a bite, I realized I got exactly what I paid for. I elected not to eat the freebie. Now I understand why the only time I've ever been to Jack in the Box was after 2 a.m.

Day Three

Breakfast: I put on pajama pants and headed to the Holiday Inn closest to my house for their continental breakfast. I helped myself to scrambled eggs, sausage and a biscuit. I ate some fruit so I'd feel a little healthier and refilled my OJ at least five times.

Before I left I grabbed a bagel, a cereal box and a bottle of juice to get me through the rest of the day. On the way out the door I waved to the guy at the front desk and he waved to me like I belonged there. Success!!

Dinner: Apparently, Wednesday is wino day in Charlotte, because several of the wine bars have tastings on hump day. And with wine tastings comes snacks. I ate a meal's worth of pita chips with hummus, fancy pizza squares and tootsie rolls. Not to mention so many different kinds of wine I felt drunk.

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Brittney Cason is a freelance writer and TV host.