My name is Amy L. Hayden, and the idea for this website was planted when my then-boyfriend, Jack, suggested I start a project called “What Should Jack Do?” after he was impressed/overwhelmed by my knowledge of goings-on in Chicago. After mulling over the idea, I thought a better focus — especially in today’s struggling economy — would be on all things frugal in the city. Thus, this site was born.

As for me? I live in the Lincoln Square neighborhood, where I coparent two boys (a pre-tween and a tween) and spend my days maintaining this website and writing stories, both real and imagined. Before launching cheap free chicago as a solo entrepreneurial project, I worked for three years as the Chicago editor for GoCityKids.com/Parents Connect Local, where I was able to become a semi-expert about happenings in my hometown. And in the dozen or so years before that, I worked in print media, completed my BA and two MAs (English and Applied Linguistics) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and spent some time teaching ESL and freshman composition at various institutions of higher learning.

My philosophy is that life’s too short to sit at home wondering what could have been, if only the price were right. I don’t let a limited budget prevent me from living large in the 2nd city, and you shouldn’t either. I hope this site can help.

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