How to Get Free Stuff

Last night, I came home from a steak dinner that was so perfect that it probably sent psychic shockwaves to every carnivore within 500 miles. I then came home and brushed my teeth with a brand new $175 toothbrush. After the dream meal and the top-of-the-line dental equipment, I hadn't spent a dime. In fact, I was $15 ahead.

Believe it or not, there are quite a few non-scam ways to get freebies for minimal effort. Some require a bit of quality control reporting that any average person can do. Others require nothing more than a pledge to deliver word-of-mouth advertising to your friends, family and other acquaintances. It's really as close to a free ride as you're going to find without marrying a 90-year-old billionaire on his death bed.

How to Get Free Stuff Tip 1: Become a secret shopper
I know. You've seen the emails and the magazine ads and assumed that they were all scams. I did the same. My wife, however, is more skeptical of my skepticism, so she signed up for one of the programs simply to prove me wrong (She denies it, but I'm convinced). The result? Tons of free stuff - meals, movies, and other goodies plus a little extra cash for her troubles. All she has to do is shop the assigned business and fill out an online questionairre. We're reimbursed for our entire expenditures, and she usually earns a small fee (usually $5 to $25) for her troubles.

Shops often include chain fast food restaurants, retail stores and table service restaurants, though they will vary depending on your location. While I'm sure there are scam sites out there, hers - Shop N Check - is most definitely reputable. Once again, I was wrong.