Week of 10/27/2010

 Some Freebies Come With A Price

Free is a very good price, but some freebies come with an undisclosed price tag attached. Let's face it. Advertisers are a crafty bunch. Some give away free samples simply because they really do want you to try and buy their product. Others are a little more devious. They want to get deeper and deeper into your pocket book, and they do it by getting much needed information -- name, address, land phone, cell phone, age, occupation, income, number of kids and pets, interests.

In all, they are trying to discover how many offers they can throw at you to separate you from your hard earned cash. Others will offer you something for nothing (usually a high-ticket item) only after you purchase 5 or 6 different products for much more than the cost of the "free" item. These are only two ploys; there are many, many more.

Here are a few tips to help you navigate the freebie highway.

• Merchants giving away free samples do need an address, but they don't need your phone number. If you must enter a phone number to complete the offer, make up on but be sure to use the right area code.
• In order to keep tons of garbage email out of your inbox, keep two email accounts -- one for legitimate email from friends, family and business associates and the other to enter into most online sign-up forms.
• If you have to buy something in order to get something for free (unless it's a "buy-one-get-one-free" offer), exit the site PDQ.
• Only download free online stuff from sites you trust like CNET, Tucows, Amazon, Napster, etc. A free download of the latest movie, the hottest rap album or MS Office software is probably illegal and could contain a virus that will destroy your computer.
• Beware of the "pay-only-shipping-and-handling" scam. These free offers usually entail an ongoing charge on your credit card. Trying to get it cancelled can be a nightmare.
• If it's too good to be true, it probably is. A free shampoo sample makes sense because they want you to buy their shampoo. A free vacation to Tahiti is unlikely without hidden charges or committments attached.

Keeping all of the above in mind, two sites that offer a wealth of free stuff are The Free Site and Freebies at About.com.

Week of 11/3/2010

Save Money On Housecleaning

The holidays are just around the corner. Time to give the homestead a good cleaning before friends and family arrive. Here are five ways to have a cleaner, greener home for pennies on the dollar.

• Easy Scrub For Sinks And Baths - Combine 1/4 cup of baking soda with just the right amount of liquid soap or detergent to make a frostint-like paste.
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Pour in 1 cup of borax, leave overnight and flush in the morning.
• Glass Cleaner - In a spray bottle, combine 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap or detergent, 3 tablespoons of white vinegar and 2 cups of water.
• Dusting and Polishing Wood - Moisten a cotton cloth in a bowl containing 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Wipe down wood and dry off with a clean cloth.
• Liquid Cleanser - For cutting grease and cleaning countertops, baseboards and appliances: In a plastic spray bottle, combine 2 cups of very hot water, 1 teaspoon borax, 1/2 teaspoon washing soda and 1/2 teaspoon Murphy's Oil Soap (or similar vegetable-based detergent).

Use inexpensive store brands of liquid detergent or cheap shampoo like Suave or White Rain. Buy vinegar by the gallon.

Week of 11/10/2010

Very Useful Websites

From low-cost mortgages and auto loans to free checking and saving accounts, credit unions can be a source of considerable savings. It could be worth your while to check into a credit union for all your banking needs. Find out which ones you might be eligible to join at Credit Union or CU Lookup.

Having just spent $400 to have a refrigerator repaired, I kknow personally how valuable a site like IFixIt can be. From large appliances to small electronics, IFixIt offers repair instructions to help you save money.

Wondering what delectable treat to whip up for the holidays? How do pumpkin whoopie pies or cranberry upside down cake sound? Drool over the hundreds of illustrated recipes for Thanksgiving or any time of the year at Joy of Baking.

You could think of them as gifts for the inner child. Inflatable turkey, White Castle Burger scented candle, bacon bandages and cupcake beanies are just a few of the kookie, crazy, inexpensive gag gifts you might find for fun times at Perpetual Kid.

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