My favourite website freebies!
Check out my tips to find out how to get ice cream, books, guitar tab, phone calls, tickets, comic books, photos, degree level course materials and much more, for absolutely nothing.
With everyone cutting back and trimming their expenditure there's never been a better time to snap up those discounts and freebies.
So here are a few of my favourite website freebies - with everything from ice cream to kids' activity classes you may be surprised at what you can pick up for free.
Free ice cream
Sign up to the Ben & Jerry's website and you'll be informed of when its next Free Cone Day will be. Yes, you've guessed it, turn up at a participating store on the day and you'll be able to claim free ice cream!
Free photos
If you fancy printing out some of the many photos on your home computer, sign up to Snapfish, Boots, Photobox or Jessop's and you'll receive between 20 and 50 prints, absolutely free.
Free Office software
Spend hundreds of Microsoft Office? Not likely, when you can download the OpenOffice suite for absolutely nothing. And while you're at it, why not kit out your PC for free?
Free classes for kids
Most classes aimed at young children offer a free session to try them out. Check out national classes such as Tumbletots, Monkeymusic and tattybumpkin, but don't forget to call your local class providers, too, as most offer free trial sessions. Pick up a copy of the Families or Family Grapevine magazines from your local school, nursery or library for details of the classes on near you.
Free money
Use a cashback credit card and you'll earn a percentage of your spend back as cash. Put all of your spending on the card and at the end of the year you could have enough to pay for a treat for the family. Just make sure you pay off your bill each month, in full!
Free household equipment
One man's junk is another man's treasure. If you need an item that you suspect is lurking, unused in many garages (gym equipment, anyone?) sign up to your local Freecycle/Gumtree/Snaffleup sites. Items listed are given away free of charge, you just need to pick them up. Plus you could have a clear-out of your own and post items, too.
Free guitar tab
If you're a budding Led Zeppelin, check out songsterr and download the guitar tab for your favourite songs, for free.
Free tickets
If you're planning a day out by train in London or the South, don't forget to check out DaysOutGuide. You can download vouchers that entitle two people entry to a number of attractions for the price of one, including Madame Tussauds and Hampton Court Palace, provided you travel by train.
Free Gym Membership
Many gyms are suffering the effects of the credit crunch and are offering two memberships for the price of one. Alternatively, call up and ask for a free, one-day gym pass to try out the facilities from Fitness First. If you're considering joining a local gym, give them a call and see what it will offer you.
Free Gardening tips and seeds
You can pick up free gardening tips at the BBC website. For those keen on living the Good life, The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is currently holding a number of free Grow Your Own events, which even give free access to the gardens. And if your kids are keen gardeners, make sure they send off for their "Be good to bees" free wild seed packs, from Blue Peter.
Free books
If you're a voracious reader, sign up to readitswapit. You can swap books with other readers online, for free, you just pay the postage.
Free comic books
Walk into a comic book store on Saturday 2 May 2009 and you should be able to pick up a comic book, absolutely free. Free books include special editions of Archie, Cars and Star Wars.
Free loyalty points
If you don't mind your retailer knowing what you buy, sign up to the Nectar, Tesco or Boots loyalty schemes (to name but a few) and you can earn points that can be spent in-store, or online for treats.
Free cards
Don't waste money on cards in the shops - there's a wealth of online electronic cards for all occasions that can be sent for absolutely nothing. Check out 123greetings and MSN ecards.
Free money into your kids' savings account
Sign up to the Kidstart website and every time you order with one of its online retailers, you'll earn a percentage back as cashback into your kiddybank account. Then, once a month that money can be transferred directly to your child/childrens savings accounts, or Child Trust Fund!
Free degree courses
Fancy learning something new but can't afford to sign up to a course? Prestigious US University MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has set up OpenCourseWare (OCW) which offers the course materials for virtually all of its undergraduate and graduate degrees, online, absolutely free.
You don't even need to register. So you could study anything from nuclear physics to English Literature, for absolutely nothing! The only thing to remember is that you cannot earn a degree or certificate from MIT or OCW and you can't get access to the MIT faculty.
Free theatre tickets for kids
For one week only every August, kids can get free tickets to theatres, shows and musicals as long as they have a paying adult to accompany them. What's more, there are loads of free activities and events, too. Kids can peek backstage, take part in a drama workshop, or learn how to apply stage makeup. Check out the KidsWeek website for more details.
Free phone calls
Sign up to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system such as Skype (and get your friends to do the same) and you'll be able to make calls, worldwide, through your computer for free.
Free meals and discounts when shopping online
And finally, for a roundup of the best offers straight to your inbox, don't forget to sign up for our very own Frugal Friday email. You'll get details of how to get two meals for the price of one at many restaurants, and a heads-up for short-lived discounts to save at many retailers. And for even more vouchers check out vouchercodes!
Happy freebie-ing!
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