I've read a few accounts of Roman slaves saving money and buying their freedom. How did that work? I assume slaves generally didn't get paid for their activities, so how did they save enough? Likewise, how was their price decided upon. I assume a master could refuse to "sell" their slave and give them their freedom.
Not to discourage any further answers but /u/XenophontheAthenian answered Slavery in Ancient Rome, how did slaves earn money to buy their freedom and how common was a slave to be a freedman this way? which is in the FAQ on Roman slavery.