Savings Mom: Get Free Goods Online
Sept. 26, 2006 — -- If you've ever surfed the Web, you've probably seen hundreds of advertisements touting unbelievable free offers -- often for a weeklong vacation or a $1,000 gift card.
Of course, once you click on the offer and read the fine print, it doesn't take long to realize that the word "free" is really open to interpretation.
Still, it can be worth digging a little deeper to learn more about the free services that creative Web sites provide.
Many sites provide free services we typically have to buy.
In most cases, the only payment required is tolerating a short commercial or advertising message.
Sometimes, there's no advertising at all.
Here are a few of my favorite Web freebies:
Free directory assistance
I remember the days of being able to simply dial "0" to get any phone number I needed instantly. Now I find myself scrounging for a phone book or using a search engine to find a phone number. By calling 800-FREE-411 (1-800-3733-411), I can easily get any number I need. All I have to do for this luxury is listen to a 10-second commercial.
Free museum admission
Get free admission to hundreds of museums on Free Museum Day. As part of an effort by the Smithsonian Institution, museums across the country have volunteered to let visitors in for free admission on Sept. 30. Find participating museums and details, and download a free admission pass at smithsonianmagazine.com.
Free classified ads
Get free classified advertising from Craigslist.org. This is one of the most valuable freebies around if you need to advertise an item you would like to sell, trade or buy. If you are in the market for anything, you can find a wide selection of things because tons of people advertise their bargains at no cost on Craig's List. As the seventh busiest Web site in the United States with 10 million visitors a month, it must be doing something right.
Free credit report
Get a free credit report from annualcreditreport.com. Smart consumers know that they should check their credit report regularly. Everyone is eligible to get one free credit report a year.
Free blog
Do you have something to say? Have you ever dreamed of having your own newspaper column, book or speaking tour? If so, having your own blog is the easiest way to get your creative, interesting ideas out there. Get a free blog from blogger.com. If others agree that your ideas are interesting and your blog becomes popular, you can even make money from advertising.
Free textbooks
Get free downloadable textbooks from freeloadpress.com. The cost of textbooks, about $900 a year, is prohibitive for many college students. Students can download popular textbooks simply by registering at no cost.
Free phone service
Get free phone service (VOIP) through your computer from various providers including skype.com and mindspring.com. They also offer very inexpensive rates for phone-to-phone service and international calling.
Free recycling
Get free items you need or give away items you no longer need at freecycle.com. Join a local group at no cost, sign up for e-mail alerts if you want to find out when free merchandise becomes available, or feel good about giving away your trash to someone who will see it as treasure.
Free software
Get free software and fun downloads that are safe for your computer by using the advice of America's Digital Goddess, Kim Komando. Her Web site komando.com provides safe links to free software that will help you do everything, whether it's organizing photos or cleaning spyware off your computer.
Free stuff through rebates
Get free items almost every month using free after-rebate- programs from national drugstore chains. Simply visit the Web sites of major drugstore chains to see which items qualify for free rebates and submit one form (per chain) for all eligible items. From Eckerd Drug this month, you can get a $3.99 hair styling product and a $2.99 toothbrush for free.
Stephanie Nelson shares her savings tips as a contributor to ABC News' "Good Morning America." You can find more of her savings tips in her book "The Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom" and on her Web site at couponmom.com.