For bargain-hunters, there's only one thing that's more thrilling than getting a good deal: getting something for free!! With that in mind, I searched for free items that are actually worth pursuing. My list barely scratches the surface. Note that many require Internet access, so if you don't have a computer at home, go to your public library and use theirs - that, too, is free. One note: Free offers and Web site names change fast. While these offers were all available not long ago when I searched them, some may have expired or changed. A key messages is, that with a little searching, you'll be surprised at all the free stuff you can find!
Cards, Books, and other Paper Goods:We know, Gideon Bibles have been available in hotel rooms almost since the book was written (and yes, they don't mind if you take them, though you might wish to mention it to the hotel). But there are other ways to get a Bible that's new or only slightly used. the easiest was, of course, is to ask a local church; they often have a surplus of copies. Another source is the Web site biblesforamerica.org. Fill out a request, and they will send you a modern "recovery" version of the Bible. Also, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons) will send you one for the asking. If you live in the United States or Canada, you can get the King James Version by filling out a form at their Web site (
www.mormon.org/holybible) or by calling 1-800-796-1441. You'll be asked if Mormon Representatives may visit you, and you're free to accept or decline. Finally, some Web sites, such as bibledatabase.com offer free digital Bibles and workbooks.
Greeting CardsWith prices climbing to $3, $4, and beyond, the costs of greeting cards are getting out of hand. You can save big money by printing free cards and similar products (like business cards, calendars, gift tags, and more) at
www.freeprint.com. All it will cost you is the price of paper and the ink in your printer's cartridge. However, if your well wishes need to arrive at their destination today, send an electronic or e-card from
www.hallmark.com Cards are sent to the recipient's e-mail address - you can schedule delivery for today, tomorrow, or a few months from now.
BooksMy wife loves to read so now what about all those books boxed up? If you and your family are all bookworms, your reading habits may be costing you dearly. Your first recourse, is the public library. But what if they don't have the book you want or you're stuck waiting weeks for it? Here's how to recycle books and save a few trees in the process: At
www.paperbackswap.com , you list nine books you no longer want and get three credits to order any three books from a member database of nearly six million titles. If someone wants one of the books on your list, you mail it out to them at media rate (usually under $2 per paperback).
SnapshotsThese days, almost everyone has a digital camera. Sharing photos with friends and family has never been easier, thanks to photo-sharing and printing Web sites like shutterfly.com, kodakgallery.com, and snapfish.com. Though these sites' promotions vary from week to week, signing up for a free account with any of these sites will score you anywhere from 20 to 50 photo prints - - sometimes even a poster-size print. You may have to pay a few dollars for shipping, but it's still a great deal.
Health and BeautyNutrition InformationWhether you're dieting to lose weight or due to a specific health concern - or if you just want to eat more healthfully - -
www.nutritiondata.com should be your first stop on the Internet. You can find a complete nutritional analysis for just about every food item (even brand-name products) by entering it into the site's search field. The site's information comes in quite handy, for example, if you're diabetic and want to know how many carbs are hiding in your favorite brand of yogurt.
Health and Beauty Product SamplesWal-Mart's Web site (
www.walmart.com) posts lots of free samples and special offers of shampoo, aftershave, skin-care items, and similar products. To locate them, look under "In Stores Now" and click on "Free Samples." When you see a sample that strikes your fancy, click on "Learn More," then on "Free Sample." In some cases, Wal-mart will send the item to you; in others, you print out a coupon that you use in the store.
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