by Linsey Knerl

Free stuff rules, but finding it can be a headache. How do you know where to look, what you have to do to get it, and know if the offer is legit?  We arm you with the details of all things freebie after a quick and, yes, FREE offer from the sponsor of the podcast version of this article, Audible.com: 

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What’s a Freebie?

Simply put, a freebie is anything you request from a company or clearinghouse that you pay nothing for. Freebies can include small, single-use samples of common products like toothpaste, pain relievers, or cereal. Freebies can also include full-size products from big name companies. Other common items that can be requested for free include computer software, promotional items (like travel mugs, logoed clothing, or business magazines), photo printing services, or video rentals. If it can be purchased, it’s possible to try getting it for free--you just need to know where to look.

Where Can You Find Freebies?

So you’re ready to scout out some free stuff, but you’re not sure where to start. Since free offers change daily (and sometimes hourly), the Internet is still one of the most up-to-date and accurate places to start. The following websites will help you find some of the most popular and legitimate offers available online:

WiseBread’s Daily Deals– Yes, we’re a little biased, but for good reason!  With several free offers available every Monday through Friday (along with super deals on all kinds of items) the Wise Bread blog works hard to give 3-4 no-strings-attached freebies to readers via their website and their newsletter. Past freebies have included video on demand rentals from Amazon, coffee from Starbucks, and computer software downloads.

Common Sense with Money– This Mom blogger has a team of freebie and deal hunters looking day and night for the best freebies. Check the blog several times during the day to make sure you take advantage of hot offers before they are gone. In addition to featuring totally free offers like sample-sized products, she is great about giving a heads up on freebies that aren’t available yet but will be soon!

Deal News – This bargain shopping site is best known for alerting its readers to hot deals on laptops, video games, and clothing. By scrolling down the homepage to the Free Offers, however, you can catch at least a handful of high-quality, no nonsense free offers that won’t ask for your credit card or other payment info. Our favorite freebie from the site?  The new Taco Bell Fresco tacos, which were available with a printable coupon featured on Deal News.

Walmart.com– One of the few mega shopping sites that offers freebies on a regular basis, Walmart features 3-4 samples at a time for items like diapers, heartburn medicine, feminine hygiene products, and vitamins. To see what’s being offered, look at the left-hand side of the home page under “In Stores Now.”  You’ll see a link to for free samples and can sign up for each one individually. They come mailed to your home within 2-3 weeks, and you can opt to keep off of mailing lists if you choose.

What’s Free and What’s a Scam?

Getting freebies can be a great way to supplement your pantry, try a new product before you make a purchasing decision, or collect products to donate to charity.

How does a discerning consumer know when a freebie is legit?  It can be a little tough at first. After all, many sites claim to offer free items and then use your personal info and mailing address for evil purposes. We recommend these quick and dirty tips for knowing if a site is trustworthy before you sign up for that sample:

  • Look for privacy policies – Most major fulfillment companies (those that send out freebies on behalf of the manufacturer or distributer) will have their privacy policy somewhere in the sign-up form or on the bottom of the web page where you register. You should be able to see what, if anything, your name and mailing info will be used for, in addition to having your freebie sent out. If you don’t see a policy, you may not be guaranteed that your information will be kept private.

  • Beware of subdomains and backdoors – A free offer at www.tylenol.com would lead you to believe that it’s a legit offer from Tylenol, itself. But if you’re signing up for free Tylenol from a strange subdomain (www.xyzcompany/1234/form/unsecured)– you can’t be certain who is hosting the registration form. It’s best to sign up for offers from the front door (or secure homepage) if at all possible. If you see a link to a freebie that is so far away from a homepage that you don’t know who’s getting your info, run--don’t walk away to another offer.

  • Stay away from additional offers – Some freebie “offers” are no more than ploys to get you to buy something or sign up for a trial offer that will eventually charge you. Websites can profit by promising you a free bottle of shampoo, for example, if you also sign up for two magazine trials and a 30-day shopping club preview. What you may not know is that the website may earn up to five times the value of the shampoo in affiliate fees and commissions when you complete the offers, making the cost of sending you the shampoo a minimal expense (if they send it, at all). Unless you’re in the market to sign up for extra services, skip these offers, and let these sites earn their money from someone else.

Why Bother with Freebies?

You won’t be able to survive solely on the handouts of companies, but getting them can be a great way to supplement your pantry, try a new product before you make a purchasing decision, or collect products to donate to charity. (Some kind consumers save their shampoo samples and other toiletries to donate to women’s shelters or other charities.)  I like to keep free samples of medicine, bandages, and energy bars in my car’s emergency kit, just in case. There are so many uses for freebies that we can’t possibly mention them all!

Speaking of freebies, it’s free book time again, compliments of Audible.com--the leading provider in spoken word entertainment. Audible has over 40,000 titles to choose from to be downloaded and played back anywhere--just like this podcast. When you sign up for an account, you'll get a free audiobook. You could choose Julie and Julia by Julie Powell; The Shack by William P. Young; or the Four-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris, among so many others. Simply visit Audiblepodcast.com/dealista to get the FREE download of your choice when you sign up today. Again, for your free audiobook, go to Audiblepodcast.com/dealista.

As always, you can send us your questions, comments, and tips to dealista@quickanddirtytips.com or call 206-426-1615. We’re also on Facebook under “The Dealista!”