Freebie Fishing: How to Get Products for Free With No Hassle

Let's face it: Companies only do business if people are buying their product. One of the best marketing ploys for promoting a product is to give people something for nothing - the freebie. Free samples are a great marketing technique - not only does the customer become familiar with the product and packaging, but also giving the customer a feeling of goodwill to the company. (They want my business enough to give me something.) Customers also feel that the product must be good. After all, the company is giving it away so they must know that once I try it then I'll want to keep buying it.

Freebies come in all shapes and sizes - health and beauty products, magazines, food items, software, books, and clothing, to name a few, not to mention coupons and sales. Nearly every kind of product imaginable can be had with a little searching. (Homeschoolers - this is a great way to supplement your curriculum!)

The internet is a great place to find these free samples. There is an overwhelming number of sites that specialize in finding freebies. Most are free (if there is a charge - steer away!) and provide a continually updating links to companies giving out free samples. Some also offer a daily or weekly email with the newest freebies, so you don't have to keep scouring the site. Links on the sites take you to the product's website, often directly to the freebie sign up page. Many sites add further details, as well as allowing users to post their own experience with the freebie. I'll give you a list of my favorites at the bottom.

So how do you make sure you get something for free without losing your shirt, too? Follow some basic (and commonsense) rules.