Think outside the box to save money

In the last couple of days, I've come across two stories about thinking outside the box that I found very entertaining. The first is at Wise Bread, about a millionaire who took out a $5,000 loan.

The second is at Money Ning, about an old man with a son in prison.

The moral of both stories is that you can accomplish a lot by thinking unconventionally. This isn't something I'm gifted at doing, but I manage to come by some great ideas just the same. My two best tricks are:

• Brainstorm. Just a few minutes of letting my brain do its thing without any restrictions or structure often leads to a surprising idea.
• Use others' ideas. My friends often have good suggestions I wouldn't have thought of, and my favorite magazines often have fabulous tips. Of course, these days I also rely heavily on the internet - I get great ideas from the blogs and newsletters that I subscribe to.

What are your tips for coming up with great, unconventional ideas?