I walk in a different neighborhood and come upon a free curbside offering — a mirror, a dish drainer, a TV set and multiple cardboard boxes full of “one person’s treasures.” I hope the home occupants were able to unload — or generously give away — all the accumulated junk, or unexpected riches, in their front yard. When I was married, my husband and I pushed a sofa out to the end of our driveway with a carboard sign “FREE” on it. The ashes from his cigarettes were ground into the fabric of one arm of the sofa plus our dog had urinated on the other side. Still, the sofa disappeared within two hours. Another time I had a giant, very heavy TV set long after streamlined, lightweight TVs were popular. I got a workout pushing it out to my front porch with a “FREE” sign on it, and it also was grabbed up very quickly. “Free” is a word that not very many of us can resist.
According to Douglas Ehrman’s Dec. 6, 2017 article “31 Websites for Scoring Freebies” in HuffPost, as the world becomes even more commercialized, an increasing amount of free stuff can be had through discount offers, recycling efforts and internet loss leaders. Learning where to look for these deals and free samples can save you a significant amount of money on a variety of stuff. Below are the 31 best websites to check out for free stuff, although not in any particular order:
1. Craigslist
While Craigslist has a mixed reputation — users need to use caution and common sense when interacting with total strangers — it is also a great source of free stuff. As the phenomenon known as freecycling becomes increasingly popular, Craigslist can be a great resource for finding these offers. Freecycling is based on the idea that many people have used items that have remaining useful life, but they are replacing those items anyway. Rather than throwing these items away, the owners offer them to the general public for free.
2. FreeStuff.com
FreeStuff.com (http://www.freestuff.com/) gives you access to free samples of common household items ranging from coffee to moisturizer. You can use this site to save money on many items you use or to try out new brands for free.
3. Trove
Trove (https://www.trove.co/) describes itself as the "people-powered store." The idea of the site is that the more stuff you give away, the more credits you earn with which to buy other things you might want on Trove without having to use cash. While this might seem like it takes more effort than throwing things out, you can get something instead of nothing for items you were going to put in the trash. Using a service like this could be a good option for items that you feel are too valuable to simply give away or throw away but that you're not having success selling.
4. FreeSamples.org
FreeSamples.org is a portal that gives you access to a variety of free product offers for things like household products, as well as coupons for products and local restaurants. The offers are updated every day.
5. The Freecycle Network
The Freecycle Network is made up of nearly nine million members worldwide. It is dedicated to enabling members to get and give stuff for free to put goods to their most efficient use — and keep usable items out of landfills. This nonprofit describes itself as a "grassroots movement," and local volunteer moderators help handle network activity to keep exchanges safe and posts accurate. Membership is free.
6. Women Freebies
Offering people the chance to try before they buy, Woman Freebies (https://womanfreebies.com/) supplies free samples, coupons and giveaways of products geared toward women — from candles and shoes to vacations. This site is a good place to look for fun stuff you need or even a cheap gift for your mom, sister, wife or girlfriend.
7. Drugs.com
Drugs.com (https://www.drugs.com/) is an online resource that offers a drug discount program. The free membership card can save you as much as 80% at major pharmacies, according to the website.
8. Free Stuff Finder
Free Stuff Finder (https://www.freestufffinder.com/) shares deals, giveaways and discounts offered both online and at popular retailers. The site shows you both the original price of an item and the price after coupons and discounts to break down savings for you.
9. Target Corp.
Target has a free sample portal that allows you to try products for free. Furthermore, by signing up for the store's RedCard, you can save five percent on every purchase. Know what you're signing up for before committing. Loyalty cards can come with perks but also typically track your purchases, which some consumer advocacy groups consider an invasion of privacy.
10. Sweet Free Stuff
SweetFreeStuff.com (https://www.sweetfreestuff.com/) offers an e-newsletter that includes regular access to great deals online and free samples. The website also lists giveaways and sweepstakes you can sign up for online.
11. Cardpool
Cardpool (https://www.cardpool.com/) is an online marketplace that allows you to purchase gift cards at a discount to use at your favorite stores. While the discount levels vary, there are some attractive deals to be found. You also can sell your gift cards for cash.
12. The Penny Hoarder
In addition to listing 100 places that have free birthday offers, the Penny Hoarder (https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/) offers advice on saving and earning money in unconventional ways.
13. HeyItsFree.net
Another site with a long list of birthday freebies, Hey It's Free (https://www.heyitsfree.net/) also is a good source for free offers throughout the year. Find coupons for everything from free food and moisturizer to free comic books and codes for free rewards points.
14. Freaky Freddie’s
In addition to deals on products for grown-ups, Freaky Freddie's (https://www.freakyfreddies.com/) has a long list of free kids' stuff. Check out offers for books, T-shirts, coloring books and activities like roller skating.
15. Totally! Free Stuff
Totally Free Stuff (https://www.totallyfreestuff.com/) offers dozens of categories of free stuff as well as daily updates. Search for things in categories for type of person or interest — such as men, women, business, religious, wedding — or by product type, such as kitchen, pet products, toys, sports and automotive.
16. I Love Free Things
I Love Free Things (https://ilft.com/) is another site with a diverse collection of free stuff for kids, from books to deals on fun activities like bowling. The site has dozens of other categories of free stuff for all ages as well.
17. Freeflys.com
Freeflys.com (https://www.freeflys.com/) provides lists of free samples, coupons and coupon codes. You can search the site or look for items sorted by category or brand name.
18. Raise.com
Raise (https://www.raise.com/) is an online marketplace that allows you to buy gift cards for products and services from over 1000 stores and restaurants at a discount. The site also gives you the option of selling unwanted or unused gift cards (https://www.raise.com/sell-gift-cards) for cash.
19. Coupons.com
Couponing has grown from a trend into a lifestyle for many people, and the number of websites dedicated to providing access to coupons has exploded in recent years. As a leader in the industry showcasing more than 2,000 brands, Coupons.com offers multiple ways to get coupons online. You can use the site to print coupons, find coupon codes and find discounts to specific retailers that you can add to your credit or debit card.
20. SmartSource.com
Another great source of free coupons, SmartSource.com (http://www.smartsource.com/) can help you save money on everything from beauty products and groceries to weight loss products and sanding sheets for your DIY projects.
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