To Help Build Business, More Companies are Offering Freebies.
Posted on | April 28, 2009 |
This advice came to WHN from a reader who watched the TODAY Show on April 28th. If you have never considered searching for free items offered by retailers via the Internet, this might be a great time to check out TODAY’s recommended websites.
Dear WhatHappensNow,
After being laid off, I admit my family became more creative about our monthly budget. Clipping store coupons, enjoying the free samples at stores like Costco and Sam’s Club and buying non-perishables in bulk gave us some fast and easy ways to save.
I hadn’t considered using the Internet to look for more ways to conserve until today. When you take a few minutes to search, the free items offered on various sites are pretty enticing.
The TODAY segment provided some precautions that I would like to share. First, create a separate email account (one that is free) devoted to communicating with freebie sites. That way, if you begin to receive a lot of spam, you can simply close the account. When filling out a form to receive free items, do not include a phone or credit card number. In fact, the only personal information you share will be a valid mailing address. If an item is offered for nothing, but there are shipping/handling charges, don’t fall for an offer that requires an unreasonable fee. This is a red flag for a scam, according to TODAY’s expert.
- WHN TIP: You can conduct a Google search with the company and freebie name along with the word ’scam’. The Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau sites might also prove helpful if you ever suspect a scam.
I visited Hey, It’s Free, recommended on TODAY, and found a treasure chest of freebies. My favorite part of this website is the list of Cool Sites on the homepage. These links give you countless additional options. Although I haven’t tried ordering free samples yet, I plan to check it out.
Two other sites featured on TODAY are Spoofee and My Savings. If you can’t find something that your family can use on one of these sites, I would be surprised. Just remember that it may take awhile for your free items to arrive. But, you can’t beat the price.
Signed, a WHN fan.
Thanks for the smart savings advice! If you would like to share your experiences about getting goods for free, please email me: Leann (at) WhatHappensNow.com.
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