By
Reneé LaVoie
Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 12:10 AM
Category:
FREE Today
There are times that I come across free offers that are just amazing, like when I found out that kids eat free on Tuesday nights at Denny's, or the Free $30 birthday meal at Benihanans. Wow. Other times as I am weeding through freebie fodder I find items that I can't believe anyone would want, even if they are free.
Some of the more amusing finds include the free spittoon so generously offered by Skoal (eeewww), and a free copy of "The Transplant Booklet," a book of puzzles and games based on information about organ donations and transplants--yeah that's something my four year old will love. Buffalo Wild Wings even makes the "thanks but no thanks" list by offering a free poster that features bottles of hot sauce and a chicken dressed as a Rastafarian.
Being free doesn't necessarily make an item desirable. When I'm out on my daily freebie quest I try find to free stuff that is fun and practical. Free bottle openers or free pens and calendars are just going to fill up the house with clutter. Free ice cream is the standard I strive for. In a perfect world there would be a free ice cream deal every day, but even when there's not I ask myself -- "Is this as good as free ice cream?"
By
Reneé LaVoie
Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 08:05 AM
Category:
FREE Today
Free samples are the greatest. Before I lay down a chunk of cash for a new product, I always check the manufacturer's website to see if there is a free sample offer. I remember one time I was all excited about a premium dog food, and dropped $15 on a bag of chow that my furry friend promptly refused to touch, and don't get me started on all the nutritional shakes I've bought, only to find my taste buds just weren't feeling the love.
Free samples are also a godsend in delaying impulse purchases. The free sample I'm excited about right now is the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Illuminating Shampoo.
In the past I have purchased professional color enhancing shampoos that didn't work at all, and then I was stuck with an overpriced bottle of worthless shampoo. Professional hair care products can be worth the investment if they deliver what they promise. Getting to try it out first is excellent.
There are other handy uses for free samples. I sign up for every body lotion, toothpaste, body wash and shower gel sample I see. Then when house guests arrive I give them their own little basket of toiletries. Perfume and cologne samples are another obsession of mine, I love to add them to gifts as an extra little treat. What other uses will I find for my free sample stash? Stay tuned and see.
By
Reneé LaVoie
Monday, May 18, 2009, 09:48 AM
Category:
FREE Today
The world of free Internet offers can be a treacherous place. When I was new to freebies I had some unpleasant adventures. The first was an advertisement for a "free 30 day supply" of a nutritional supplement. I should have known something was wrong when they asked for credit card information. The ad insisted that I could cancel at anytime, and that my credit card would only be charged if I decided I wanted the product. The stipulation was that I had to call them back fast enough to keep the automatic billing from going into effect. Unfortunately, that was the tricky part. Three months later I finally got the billing to stop.
Less dangerous to my bank account was the offer for a free $100 fast food restaurant gift card. All I had to do was complete a survey. I decided to give it a try. One survey turned into two surveys, which turned into a third survey. Two hours later I was still filling out surveys, and finally just gave up.
Not all experiences are like these two. It's not uncommon to fill out a request form, or join an email list to get freebies, and it can be safe and fun if you follow a few basic rules.
-- Never put your home number, or cell phone number on any request form. That's my policy and I'm sticking to it.
-- Create a free Google or Yahoo email account just for freebie offers, to keep your regular email free of spam.
-- Never give out any credit card information. If it's a true freebie, they don't need it.
-- Never give out your social security number.
-- If the offer is contingent on you referring friends or filling out surveys, just walk away. Trust me on this one.
These simple guidelines will help keep you safe on the journey to freebie bliss. Your inbox will be clutter-free, you won't have to tango with the credit card company, and your telemarketer woes--while they will probably never go away for good--will be kept to a minimum.
By
Reneé LaVoie
Friday, May 15, 2009, 01:12 PM
Category:
FREE Today
I have been a bargain hunter since the age of ten, when I accidentally brought my mother a full-priced roll of paper towels while we were shopping. I still have scars. Now a single mother myself, I appreciate the value of that hard earned lesson.
Recently I have become a freebie fanatic. It started when I found out I could get a free hamburger at
Red Robin on my birthday if I joined their email list. I quickly created a free Google email account to keep my regular email safe from spam, and was on my way to freebie birthday bliss. Now when when my birthday rolls around I can spend my whole day eating for free with birthday treats from
Benihana,
Black Angus and
Baskin-Robbins.
One of the things I found out is that when you type in the word "free" on google there are about a gazillion "freebie" sites. Some are great, some are pure fraud, and some are hit and miss. It can take hours plowing through all the rubbish to get to the golden nuggets-- that's where CheapToday Freebies come in. This is my pledge to you, gentle reader, I will drive myself nuts so you don't have to. I will suffer through filling out 13 different surveys only to find that the promise of a free $100 gift card is a labyrinth of lies and deceit, I will sleuth and verify every wild offer I find, and when I find unexpected treasure I will let you know post haste.
Like today when I sceptically sent a text message to Arby's, and really did get a
coupon for a free Roastburger! I was amazed. What adventures await us here at FreeToday ? One thing I know for sure,they won't cost you a dime.
By
Joe Wallace
Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 06:25 PM
Category:
FREE Today
We've been growing like a weed lately, and FREE Today is our latest development. Everybody loves free stuff--after all, the price is right. This is the place where you'll find our favorite hand-picked freebies. Everything from free fast food to fancy coffee, plus samples, trial sizes, coupons for freebies and more. If it's available at no cost, we're on the case.
We're also proud to unveil the FREE Today blog, featuring news, the latest whispers and rumors about upcoming free stuff, plus a look behind the scenes at how we locate the best freebies. Don't miss out on our daily blog, written by freebie-finding Renee' LaVoie for fellow freebie lovers all across the land.
We're not just interested in bringing you the latest in free deals, we want to hear from you. What's your favorite freebie? How do you like what you find in our new FREE Today section? Be sure to leave us a comment and join the ever-growing community of bargain hunters and freebie finders. We'd love to get your opinions, feedback and hot tips. Got a great find you want to share? This is definitely the right place for you. Watch this space--Renee' LaVoie is on the prowl for anything with a price tag that reads $0.00.