How to build chip count

I need some advice. I have listened to the previous advice I have received and play pretty tight in freerolls. This strategy takes me pretty far into the tourney, but then I find that as the blinds get large ($800, $1000) I don't have enough chips to compete effectively. Any thoughts?

loosen up after the donks are eliminated usually about 45min to in hour into the tourney..but also use the donks to try to get alot of chips in the beginning, then stay tight

Too many people tighten up as the blinds grow. Try to think of them being relative to the chips on the table and keep playing the solid game that takes you deep instead of tightening up. As you do that realise others are tightening up too which makes taking down pf pots easier and stealing pots latter by raises with semi blufs to flat out bluffs a lot easier.

Thanks for the info. I find that whenever I try to use the donks to get a lot of chips in the beginning, I almost always get sucked out on, so I have stopped that strategy unless I have a super strong hand and even then it doesn't always work.

No problem , just try to see the flop in the beginning so you know where your are at in a hand when facing a donk because pre flop they can call with just about anything and end up hitting the flop.

I agree with pokerking123. Also, if I win a big pot through a donkey early, I will sit out for fifteen to twenty minutes. Play tight when I come back untill I have a good feel for the table. I've finished in the money once and finished first once. And I've only played free rolls for a week!! I hope this helps, good luck to you.