Freeloader's Guide to the Internet: How to Get Free Stuff

Upfront, I must tell you that getting free stuff is fun and addictive; once you get a few free items, you want to find more! This is not a comprehensive guide to all the free stuff in the Internet world, but it is a good starting point.

I have omitted scam-offers which promise you the moon for a "few surveys" but in reality are a never-ending series of add-on sales - I have yet to hear of ANYBODY who gets the free 42" Hitachi flat screen TV, the Playstation 3, and the free Cadillac Escalade. (If you are one of those people who did, please feel free to drop me a line, don't forget the picture of you and the item you got for "free").

These offers had to withstand a few criteria for me;

1) they had to not set off my Norton Anti-Virus; there are some "free" sites that offer nothing but virus attacks. I found a few, and Norton saved the day. Be careful out there

2) they had to offer something for nothing, or relatively nothing. Short surveys or asking about my household in general terms was O.K. but asking for credit card information or wanting me to buy something was not. No postage and handling, no "buy one get 10 free" offers, no money from me in any way, shape, or form.

3) they had to be something I wanted. Free Bibles are everywhere and can be had easily. Same with free online games like Mahjong and Tetris. If it is hard to find, hard to come by, or hard to receive, I didn't go looking for it. Most of the offers will mail something to you (which may take up to three months) while others offer coupons you can print right away, and still others offer emailed coupons sent to your valid email address.

As a caveat; most of this free stuff will open you up to junk mail either in your mailbox or e-mail account, so be warned. Also, these offers are only valid in the United States - sorry everyone else! Now, on to the finds:

BOOKS, EDUCATION, AND LITERATURE

Nothing's better than a free book (and not a booklet, or cookbook, or Bible). Dailylit is an online warehouse of classics like Don Quixote and The Three Musketeers which you can read for free (each "page" is emailed to you once a day, or whenever you set in your preferences) they also offer discounts on electronic versions of some best sellers. Are you an educator? AB/Longman press has a deal for you with their "Reading Hour" program; you read a book online, submit a survey about it, and they mail you a textbook! Or, if you are into geography, are homeschooling a child, or just want to say you got something for free from NATO, try NATO's free "world capitals" game - they mail you a CD-ROM game!

FOOD, SNACKS, AND EDIBLES

Food prices are stadily climbing, so what is better than free food? I'm not sure if gum counts as "food" but Stride gum is offering free gum (or a chance at some cash) through their silly website - I opted for the gum. Quaker Oats is upping the ante with free samples of their new cereal bars mailed directly to you. Meanwhile, Weight-Watchers wants to be sure you eat good food - or at least THEIR good food - and are offering a coupon for a free frozen meal from their Smart Ones line. For those of you who thought the coffee wars had died down, Seattle's Best is offering a 1.75 (one pot) sample of one of three flavors (your choice) sent to your door. For those looking to get their kids healthier snack alternatives, Dandy Lions has an all-natural snack which they want you to try. Or maybe you have allergy problems that only Bee Pollen will help? Pollen Power out of California wants to help you.

MOVIES AND ENTERTAINMENT

Cable and Satelite companies are always telling you that they have the lowest prices on your entertainment needs. But they're mistaken. For the best new and retro television and movies, turn to Hulu for Family Guy, Bones, House, Underworld:Evolution, and Jumanji - all for free with very limited, very short commercial interruptions. Michael Moore is releasing his new documentary, Slacker Uprising, for free download - all he wants is your email (and attention). Both Movie Gallery and Blockbuster want to give you a free movie rental, the latter requires a short survey and will email the coupon. Free music is quickly becoming a thing of the past - or is it? Pandora is an online, customizable, advertisement-free radio station you can access from any computer; just type in your favorite artists and they'll do the rest, .building an entire library through their "music genome project" software which matches genre and styles of music to give you a great, personal radio experience. If you hear something you like, you can probably download it at Spiral Frog for FREE and it's 100% legal! Both sites are ad-click supported so please, click through their ads so they stay in business. If you like computer games, have a good internet connection, and enough hard drive space, try File Planet's free PC game downloads. Or, if you like old-school games that you thought you'd never see again, The Home of the Underdogs is a database of free "abandonware" titles you remember from days gone by. WizKids, the division of Wizards of the Coast which brought you trading card games and miniature games has blended the two into a Star Wars mini-model game and will give you a coupon for a free pack at a store near you.

HOME AND MONEY

The list for "free" money is really thin. But Missing Money may have something in store for you. Depending upon the state and local laws any time you forget to pick up a dividend check or an old paycheck or a deed to uncle Willie's farm in Bucyrus, Ohio the proceeds go to the state. And they stay there...until you claim it. You will have to prove you are who you say you are, of course, but finding money you forgot about is like Christmas...kinda. Other sites which purport to do the same often charge a "fee" or "membership fee" to get what might or might not be yours - avoid them. Is your house falling apart? Do you keep losing your screwdriver? PB Swiss Tools wants you to try theirs, fill out a survey, and keep the screwdriver as a gift! How about your sad pooch or depressed feline? Maybe a treat will pick them up. Greenies, an all-natural snack for cats and dogs wants you to try their snacks and will mail you up to two samples of their dog and cat treats.

FOR SOMEONE ELSE

Getting free stuff is great. Giving free stuff to those who need it is AWESOME! Hunger is a problem in developing countries but nobody seems to know how to help. FreeRice is a website where you test your vocabulary and instead of winning "points" you donate 20 grains of rice per correct answer - talk about pressure! But it is all for a good cause as the proceeds support the UN food relief program. And who can forget the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? Certainly the least we moochers can do is get a company to send them something to make their time in a combat zone a little more comfortable? HBO is teaming up with major manufacturers to send stuff THAT YOU CHOOSE to the troops serving our country in the War on Terror. The products are totally random, ranging from movies to bandaids to moisturizing lotion; but every little bit helps!

In closing, there are lots of local free stuff out there if you know where to look; restaurants which allow kids to eat free with an adult entree or a city food bank which offers free seeds to low- and middle-class families finding it hard to make ends meet while government grants offer financial aid for those in school. Keep your eyes peeled and you too can make ends meet with a little help form the internet!