Every day brings ten, twenty, or even hundreds of new free samples and no-cost trial offers, collectively known in the internet sphere as ‘freebies’. Why don’t more people take advantage of the freebie lifestyle? Some don’t know how to find offers. Others are afraid of their email address or even their identity being harvested and sold on the internet black market. If you are interested in saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year, rest assured that you can find legitimate offers in a variety of places.
Search Engines
Most information on the web can be found with a simple Google search, and freebies are no exception. Try key words such as ‘freebie’, ‘free sample’, and ‘free trial’. Many legitimate sites from manufacturers and retailers will come up, but they will be mixed with a liberal dose of spam-generating sites. How can you tell the difference? Many spam generators ask for your email address up front and never request your address or other necessary details. Others ask you to join numerous other programs or sign up for free trials. In some cases, however, the clues are more subtle. It can be almost impossible for a newbie to tell the difference between a legitimate offer and a scam, which is where freebie message boards enter the picture.
Freebie Message Boards
Many frugal living websites have forums where members can list legitimate freebies they have found and get leads from other members. Because experienced freebie hunters are quick to sniff out scams, any attempts to solicit email addresses and personal information are quickly uncovered and dealt with. Members tend to be eager to share new finds, making these message boards a freebie treasure trove.
Other Sources
Some website, such as SmartSampling.com, TeenFreeway.com, and Walmart.com, offer an ever-changing smorgasbord of freebies sponsored by manufacturers. Compiled lists, such as that at Sage Mommy, offer a regularly updated list of the latest freebies from a variety of sources Houseparty.com gives boxes of free samples and other materials to be used at your very own house party, while buzz marketing sites such as bzzagent.com send samples to be used with the caveat that you tell others about your experiences with the product. There is a whole world of freebies on the internet, enough that many experienced freebie finders never buy shampoo, facial cream, and other health and beauty products.
Before you rush out into the internet unknown to fill your inbox with miniature shampoo samples, consider opening a ‘spare’ email address through a free server such as Yahoo or Gmail. This way, if you accidentally give your address to a spam-bot, you can merely abandon that account and start fresh with a new one. Even experienced freebie hunters often find themselves going through around one email account per year.
Most freebies take a month or more to arrive, so be patient and continue filling out those online forms. Before you know it, every day will bring Christmas in your mailbox, with a variety of health, beauty, and household samples to try.
