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How to Save Money and Get Freebies

SaraK | May 30, 2010 |

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In this time of world economic recession, more than ever, one should be saving money wherever one can. Over time, I have discovered that there is such a thing as a free lunch, if you know where to look for it.

I have compiled a list on how to get free items and save money in a variety of categories below.

How to get freebies

Free magazines - phone the publishers, tell them that you are interested in their publication and would like a media pack.
Free groceries, cosmetics etc. If you are interested in trying out a new product on the market, phone the company that sells it and tell them that you are interested in trying their product out and would like to try out a sample first. Most of the time they won't have sample sizes but will provide you with a normal size product free. Also ask them to put you on their mailing list for special offers.
Free small business advice - go to business schools at university students where MBA students (most of whom are experienced business people) will be quite interested in tackling real problems
Alternate free medical consultation - for minor problems/ dental work - medical universities where medical students are eager to get exposure to real-life problems.
Unclaimed winnings, lotteries and insurance claims. You could be a beneficiary without knowing it. Phone the National Lotto helpline to ask them if you've won anything that you don't know about. Also phone major insurers where you or someone you may have inherited from have had policies and find out if they're holding anything in your name.
Free software to do almost anything – www.Downloads.com.
Free medical (and related) advice - Log on to websites like www.health24.com and click on experts, then click on the most likely expert to solve your problem. Submit your question and check for responses in a few days' time. Advice is free and given by qualified professionals.
Free groceries, cosmetics etc. If you have had a bad experience with a product, don't hesitate to call the company and complain. They will usually try to keep your business by sending you the equivalent value of the product or more free.
The free lunch. Most large franchises and hotel groups have mystery guest programmes whereby one can enjoy a free meal or hotel stay at their establishment in return for reviewing it. You need to find out how to get on to these programmes in your respective country and of course , good writing skills are essential.

Almost free - How to get huge savings

Here are several methods on how to save on a number of things. You may not be getting it for free but you will be paying a lot less for it.

Savings on property purchases 1 – Before buying a house, phone the banks and ask them for their list of repossessed properties. You might just find something there. Repos are normally priced at a bargain.
Savings on property purchases 2 - Alternatively look at buying directly from a private seller as opposed to an estate agent. These are also usually cheaper as the seller does not have to pay commission to the estate agents. Private property is usually advertised in the newspaper or internet classifieds.
Savings on international telephone calls – Use Skype or other similar applications.
Savings on excursions, tours and outings- Students and pensioners – always carry proof that you are a pensioner or student when going on tours, excursions or for outings. You get huge discounts.
Savings on groceries and other shopping – a lot of stores have certain weekdays designated for pensioner shopping. If you go on this day to the store, you get a certain percentage off your purchases.
Savings on holidays - Book hotel accommodation during off-peak season. When booking, first ask for the price then always ask what special offers are on at the time.
Savings on groceries for non-pensioners –Buy in bulk wherever you can. The supermarket is generally cheaper than your local store as they have bulk buying power.
Savings on books - buy second-hand books or use a library.
When paying for your goods at a supermarket till, always watch as the cashier registers your purchases on the checkout display, especially for discounted purchases. Cashiers commonly make mistakes causing to you to pay more than what you owe. The most common mistakes are recording the same item twice, recording the normal price instead of the discounted price, and recording 2-for-1 offers as separate purchases.
If you see an item advertised for a certain price and approach a competitor with the evidence. They will often beat that price to get the business.
Look for home remedies for minor ailments without paying doctors a fortune.
Try making your own home-made concoctions for household cleaning materials. Tons of websites will show you how. These will also be greener and cleaner than industrial materials.
Make a list of all the occasions you are going to have to buy gifts for – for the year e.g. birthdays and anniversaries. Buy the items all year around at sales and label them so you don't forget who you bought them for.
Buy items after season for much better prices. Everything goes on sale eventually.
Make a budget for what you plan to buy and stick with it.
Look at newspapers for deals on furniture, electronics and other items. Second-hand stores, especially the larger ones are often not much cheaper than the new items and you don't get the benefit of the guarantee period.
Consider purchasing demo models. These are usually much cheaper.
Never shop at the last minute. The sales clerks see your sense of urgency and will be more reluctant to give bargains.
Do not fall for advertisements that give gifts with the purchase of a certain item. Usually you would not have bought the item to start with.