Online Freebies: Family Fun At Your Fingertips

If you are a budget-conscious online shopper, you've probably seen them before - websites offering free samples of brand name products, printable grocery coupons, discounts and deals on a variety of items. Online freebie hunting can be fun, but there are a few things that you might want to keep in mind. In these tough economic time saving a little bit here and there can really add up in saving toward a debt settlement negotation.
 
Some sites may offer truly free items with no shipping charges, membership fees and no commitments to buy anything. However, other sites may say something is 'free', only for shipping charges to apply. Consider researching a site thoroughly before you provide payment information. It is up to you whether these 'free' items are worth the shipping charge.
 
Thinking carefully about offers could also help you identify and possibly disregard sites that require a membership fee for access to free items and offers. Try to keep in mind that there are many freebie sites at your fingertips that don't require a membership fee. As usual, when shopping or applying for anything online, you may want to avoid giving personal information such as social security number or credit card number.
 
Many sites ask for an email address to 'register' you on their site for free samples and offers. Asking for an email address does not necessarily mean that a site is not worth your time, but if you choose to submit your email, you may begin to receive an inbox overflow of sales offers from other companies, otherwise known as 'spam.' To avoid this, you could consider setting up a separate, free email account through Yahoo, Google, Hotmail, etc. that you can use to register on these sites. Keep in mind that if you do begin to receive unwanted spam you may have an option to unsubscribe by clicking on a link located somewhere in the email, usually at the bottom.
 
You may want to ask yourself if the sites that interest you offer contact information, are clear about what is being offered for free and if information on the site appears focused and professional. You may want to try web addresses that have been recommended by friends, relatives or reputable sources.
 
Some freebie sites feature discussion forums which may offer you the opportunity to communicate with others regarding freebie sites to try and ones to steer clear of. According to forum feedback, popular sites for you to consider include:
 

Consider Freecycle.org to list items you want to give away or to look for freebies in your area. In addition, keep in mind that modern technology has made sending cards easier than ever. You can find a variety of free online birthday and greeting card choices at 123greetings.com, ecard.com, greeting-cards.com to name a few. Just click on the free ecard section and have fun choosing. A variety of messages, from serious to humorous, are usually available and can be sent right to the receiver's email address.