What does "free stuff" free up?

I just re-reading my last post that states I've always loved free stuff, which is true and so do a lot of other people, clearly: a google search returns 18,800,000 results for "Free stuff".

But, the important thing to note is that I haven't always had the right attitude towards getting things for free. For a lot of my life I felt entitled to many things by growing up poor. I thought I'd just love free stuff until I had money. So now, I'm not poor, based on my annual salary. However, the picture is much greater than that and the struggle is to use my love of free stuff to pay off all those years that I was living on U.S. government-backed student loans.

So while I've always loved free stuff (who doesn't!?) I find the true challenge is in my mindset.

While I'm tempted to think: "This free coffee* means I can buy myself two tomorrow!"

I try to think "This is a treat. If I wasn't getting this for free, I'd wouldn't be having a coffee*.

*Of course, insert any vice/thing you like for coffee.

I don't feel entitled anymore, but grateful. If I'm doing something free, the alternatives are: spending money and feeling guilty later, compromising my future dreams over something as silly as coffee*, or being frugal on my own (usually involves watching telly or Internet browsing and drinking tap water).

So, bring on the free stuff, but not my excuses and self-justifications that lead me straight back to the dark side of debt.