FrugalBoy Says
What's wrong with being frugal? It won't make you rich, but every little bit helps!
I'm migrating this to http://rewinn.blogspot.com/search/label/money which will have more current stuff.
- Free Samples
- Child & Baby Stuff
- Pet Stuff
- Computer Stuff (New Page!)
- Information & Education
- Misc.
- Periodicals & Magazines
- Stuff for Men
- Transportation
- Other Freebie Sites
Free Samples
- Beverages:
- Batian Peak Coffee: http://www.batianpeakcoffee.com/free_samples.html
- Pacific Chai : http://www.pacificbeverage.com/
- Yogi Tea: http://www.yogitea.com (click on "free sample") -5/12/2007
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The Coffee Sample Page: http://www.coffeefair.com/free-coffee-samples.htm - 1/16/2008
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A Tea Sample Page: http://www.freeleaf.com/ - 1/19/2008
- To Go: http://www.togobrands.com - 4/21/2008
- Costco Free Samples: (change from time to time): http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&search=sample&N=0&Ntt=sample&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US
- Dental Care Products:
- Arm & Hammer toothpaste: http://www.armandhammer.com/ (this has a lengthy video introduction. Look for "Jump to a solution and choose "oral hygiene") - 6/13/07
- Colgate Toothpaste Sample - 7/27/07
- http://www.usdentek.com/survey/usersurvey.aspx (5/12/2007)
- Eucalan Natural Laundry Soap: http://www.eucalan.com/free_sample.php - 1/17/2008
- Lotion: https://www.saveourskin.info/
- Remifem (for hot flashes): http://www.remifemin.com/go/remifemin/_remiSample.aspx?alias=remifemin&tabalias=_remiSample
- Salsa:
- http://splash.homecanning.com/salsa/ (6/1/07)
- http://splash.homecanning.com/salsa/ Use code: t0h01 -(6/12/07)
- Wal-mart offers LOTS of free sample (snacks, paper products, etc.): http://walmart.triaddigital.com/Free-Samples.aspx
Kids & Baby Stuff
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Enfamil: http://www.enfamil.com/NGARsample/
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READYMECH TOYS: http://readymech.com/ - Readymechs are free, flatpack toys for you to print and build. They are designed to fit on an 8.5"x11" page and printed with any printer. You’ll need double-sided tape, thick matte paper, and 10-15 minutes for build time. Very Cool! (6/19/07)
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Rights of a Child poster: http://www.nospank.net/graphics.htm -7/25/07
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Toy (Eire and UK only): http://www.time4toys.com/ Click "Join Our Toy Club" (6/15/07)
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White
House Birth Greetings: To get a free congratulatory card, for the birth of your
baby, from The President and First Lady, send the baby's name,
birth date, and a mailing address to White House Greetings Office, Room
39, Washington, DC 20500. (5/21/07)
Pet Stuff
A lot of pet food companies offer free sample:
- Cyberdog: http://www.cyberdog.com/samples.htm
- Flint River Ranch Natural Dog Food: http://www.frrinc.com/freesample.html
- Iams: http://www.iamspromise.com (click on "receive a free bag of Iams" button)
- Life's Abundance: http://www.trilogyonline.com/Trilogy/Pets/LifesAbundance (sample button is on the left side)
- Maximum (click on "For Dogs" or "For Cats"): http://walmart.triaddigital.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid14650.aspx - 6/1/07
- Natural Choice: http://www.nutroproducts.com/yourfamily/
- Whiskas: http://www.americangreetings.com/promo/whiskas/getsample.pd
- http://www.cesar.com (requires registration, which takes a while) - 5/25/07
Make your own Pet Food - this can be very frugal!: http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/pet-food -5/25/07
Other free pet stuff:
- Free "Greenies" Dog Chew
- Free sample of a supplement to help with coat problems: http://www.stopitch.com/Taste_Sample/taste_sample.html
- Pet Tips: http://pet.tips.net/
Periodicals
- American Baby Magazine: http://www.americanbaby.com/ (free offer is on left side) (5/21/07)
- Good Housekeeping magazine: When you join ClubMom for Free: click here
- Home Improvement Magazines: http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/ Click on the "Subscribe" link to sign up for Lowe's Creative Ideas (ideas for the Do-It-Yourselfer); Lowe's Garden Club (personalize your garden); and/or Lowe's Woodworkers (Free project plans and more)
- The Nation magazine: http://www.thenation.com/ Click on "free 4-week subscription"
- Many more free magazines: http://freebies.about.com/od/magazinesubs/Free_Magazine_Subscriptions.htm -5/25/07
Stuff for Men
I'm a guy. Some stuff works better for men in our culture, although there's nothing stopping women & hermaphrodites from giving them a try.
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The Relationship-Friendly Home Buzz is a win-win-win!
Why would you leave $20 a month at a barber when 99% or more of all men look good in a buzz cut? It never has a hair out of place; it says you're looking exactly the way you want to, in all weather conditions. From a frugality standpoint, it can save you a $20 haircut once a month, from here to eternity. And while saving this real money, it can provide inexpensive "together time" with your wife, spouse, partner or what-have-you. Just make sure your relationship is going well before handing her clippers (a beard trimmer's worked well for me - keep it well cleaned). And do not suggest that you return the favor while she is cutting anywhere near your ears, since her peals of merry laughter can result in accidental plastic surgery. -6/30/07
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Barbeque Outside instead of cooking inside. Cooking indoors heats your house, which then must be cooled. Outdoor cooking is both fun & energy efficient! -7-07-2007
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Replace your air conditioner filters. Dirty, clogged filters can force your system to run longer and use more energy. You should replace the filters monthly for maximum benefits.
Transportation
- Car Talk's Guide to Better Fuel Economy: http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/fueleconomy/
- Gas Buddy: http://www.gasbuddy.com - Look for cheapest gas in your area!
- ERideShare.com or CarPoolConnect.com - why drive when you can share a ride & split the cost?
- US EPA: Fuel Economy - What you can do: http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/whatyoucando.htm
- Pack your car lightly!. Every 100 lbs in the trunk decreases your fuel mileage by 1-2%. Dump your roof rack if at all possible; they can cut down your mileage by up to 5%! Also remember to keep your car in good shape (tires properly inflated, regular oil changes, etc.)
Information
- Auto Loan Calculator: Figure out your monthly auto loan payments:
http://www.bankrate.com/dls/auto-loan-calculator.asp - Books - Free online books:
- Project Gutenberg
- http://www.free-book.co.uk/
- http://www.e-book.com.au/freebooks.htm
- Free Comic Book day may have an event near you:
http://www.freecomicbookday.com/
- And let me point out my own "free online book contribution": Memoirs of William Sampson
- Consumer Reports (free subset of the web version): It seems insane how much useful information about everyday products you can get at http://www.consumerreports.org Of course, to get all their information, they want you to buy a paid subscription, but the purely free stuff has plenty of information that can steer you away from an expensive mistake. Before you buy anything expensive, look at http://www.consumerreports.org
- Energy Star: http://www.energystar.gov/ U.S. Gov site compares energy use (a.k.a. money!) of appliances -(5/13/07)
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http//:www.FeedthePig.org: Lots of great "Financial Literacy" information, including videos.
- Do you Garden at Home? Get your free Gardening Guide from National Wildlife Federation: http://rewinn.blogspot.com/2008/06/gardeners-guide-to-global-warming.html
- Greener Choices: http://www.greenerchoices.org/
This
project of Consumer Reports include a lot of way to save money since
reduce/reuse/recycle is simply "frugality" spelled differently. - Legal Self-Help Guides: Each state's laws vary, so self-help is necessarily by state. A good list is here: http://clarkhoward.com/topics/legal_self_sites.html - 4/9/6
- Banks Information: http://www.bankrate.com
Why settle for a bank with the worst fees when you can get the bank with better fees?
It's now easy to check banks in your town online at
http://www.bankrate.com
Now of course that site has lots of ads; that seems to be how it pays for itself. Be prudent with the ads; stay focused; use their database to see which bank in your city is best for you! A small difference in fees can add up fast.
P.S. pay special attention to ATM fees. If you get cash at ATMs, those fees will kill ya! If you can't get a no-fee ATM, then NEVER use the ATM --- it's better to THINK AHEAD! and get "cash back" at your grocer (if there's no fee). - The Clark Howard Show (on radio) and its website has given me many, many tips on how to "Save more, spend less, avoid ripoffs!" You'll love it (...but please come back here too!): http://clarkhoward.com
- MIT For Free!
Unbelievable! The Massachusetts Institute of Technology now offers ALL its courses for free on the web. Of course, you don't get college credit or grades, and you have to do all the reading yourself. But if you have discipline to do it, here's the course list which links to the course materials: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Global/all-courses.htm
- The Soil And Health Library:
http://www.soilandhealth.org/
This is a free public library, online, about about holistic
agriculture, health and self-sufficient homestead living. Don't worry
about the phrase "holistic" --- the advice sees seems very down-to-earth. For
example, skim
Possum Living: How to Live Well Without a Job and With (almost) No Money
- 2/3/06 - Lawyers et cetera: get free Continuing Legal Education at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4freecle/
- Stop Smoking! Butts steal your money and your life! Here's free help: http://www.quitnet.com/
- RealAge Calculator and health help: http://www.realage.com : Try it - it works! -5/7/07
- Professional Training by the U.S. Department of Peace: http://www.usip.org/training/online -5/8/07
Misc.
- T-Shirt: http://petrix.com/shirt (5/11/07)
- Picture Frame: Go to http://www.braces.org/ and click on the offer in the middle of the top of the page. (4/9/2007)
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Energy = Money:
Save Both!
At today's prices, the easiest way to save money is to save energy --- and it's patriotic too! GreenRibbonPledge.org has a list of easy, no-cost energy-saving (money-saving) tips here: http://www.greenribbonpledge.org For example,
you can save energy
(money) by keeping your car tires inflated!
- Cool Make-It-Yourself Garden Gadgets: http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/outdoors/456
- Coffee Grounds:
Use Them!
Who knew there were so many things you can do with your used coffee grounds? And we're NOT talking about making more coffee from them (yech!) but getting a 2nd use out of something you have a lot of anyway, using these easy tips. - 2/1/06
Bonus: Sustainable Enterprises says: "It is easy to collect coffee grounds from your office. Just put an empty coffee can next to the coffee maker. Empty once a week or as needed. Once people get wind of what you're doing, don't be surprised if others want the grounds, too!" More Tips Here - 2/1/06 - Do Charity For Free at
The Hunger Site:
http://www.thehungersite.com
- It costs you nothing, and it does good. -1/25/06 -
Do Charity For Free: Download a Cookbook!
What could be easier? Through March 31st, 2008, you can download a free cookbook and get $1 donated to the Charity "America's Second Harvest". Just go to http://www.celebrityitaliantable.com, click on "Download Cookbook", and follow directions. Now, of course the sponsors of this cookbook are hoping you'll sign up for their email newsletter. That's up to you - you'll probably like it, but anyway it's optional. So why not give it a try? The Price Is Right! --- 3/1/2008 - Tax Refund on Telephone Services: For your 2006 Income Tax ONLY, you can file for a refund on the telephone tax you paid (...look at old phone bills & you'll see...) to help pay for the Spanish-American War. This sounds like a joke but it's official, according to the U.S. Treasury: http://www.rewinn.com/9913.html
- My favorite thrift store is the Mercer Island Youth & Family Services
- Thrift Store. They don't stock junk, and the money goes to a great cause!
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T
he Complete Tightwad Gazette
Oh, how I loved this when it came out as a cheap little newsletter; but now you can get it all in one volume!
- The author doesn't necessarily realize it, but
R
ich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! - Naturally I would prefer that you get these books through the links on this page; honesty compels me to urge you to get them from libraries or borrow from friends. Just be sure you support your library at their Friends of the Library sale, and lend something to your friends in return!
- Family Fun at Go.com: lots of games, recipes, et cetera!
- Free Music from Nine Inch Nails: - see http://ghosts.nin.com/main/order_options - 3/2/2008
- Yamaha Motor’s Paper Craft lets you print fun & free paper model kits
Other Freebie Sites
- Freecycle! http://www.freecycle.org/. This is still the best resource! "One guy's trash is another guy's treasure" and all you need is an easy way to communicate. Look for a Freecycle site for your city here.
- http://www.ultimatecheapskate.com/links/ Yes, it's the Ultimate Cheapskate --- and his links to OTHER frugality sites! - 3/7/2008
- MyPoints Gives Me Gas..... in a good way! http://www.MyPoints.com is a company that, after you sign up, sends you email advertisements for you to click on, according to the preferences you set up in your account (e.g. automotive, no cigarettes). Each click is worth point, and more points if you actually buy something. Many of the advertisers are merchants I already known and trust, such as NetFlix, Staples; others are new to me. I've been a member of MyPoints for over a year, and typically earn enough points for a gas card about once a month. It's no scam: http://www.mypoints.com
- Web Surveys: Many sites offer to pay you to take surveys. Which are real, which
are fake?
If it seems too good to be true, it's not true. No-one is going to pay you $1700 a month to take surveys! That's a scam! If you have to pay money up front: That's a scam!
But: There are for-real surveys. They offer moderate benefits, typical $1-$10 in exchange for your time. They do not charge you to sign up for anything, and if you do NOT need to give data, like Social Security Number, that help Identity thieves. If a site meets that test, then try a surveys & see if they pay off.
One that has worked for me: Synovate's Global Opinion Panels. I've gotten a little money, reasonable for the time involved. Sign up here: http://www.globalopinionpanels.com/ and learn more here: http://www.synovate.com - CheapSkate Monthly: offers tips here: http://www.cheapskatemonthly.com//ed_cheapskate.asp. Of course, they will try to get you to subscribe to their periodical (they have to meet expenses, same as anyone else!) but their tips are free! - 1/30/06
- Craig's List has free stuff and free publicity for your stuff: http://www.craigslist.org/
- http://marksfreebies.forumup.org
- http://www.thefreesite.com/Free_Samples/
- http://www.totallyfreestuff.com/ - some of these "free" things require that you fill out a lengthy survey & participate in some offers. Use your best judgment whether that's a good investment of your time -5/14/2007
