The easiest place to start investigating no-cost items or freebies is online. Just type "freebies" in any search engine, and you'll pull up hundreds of sites offering just that. You can also check theFreecycle group where you live to see if anyone is giving away something that you would like. Or you can try www.craigslist.org for your city, and look under the "For Sale - Free" section. On the Internet you can get anything from products, to coupons, to rebates, to points you can redeem for free merchandise. Some companies may ask you to complete a survey or view an advertisement before offering the reward, but it's free and easy and sometimes fun.

You can go directly to the company's web sites to see if free samples are available. Often companies offer email contact links, which allow you to email company associates and ask for samples. You can also call or write and ask for samples.

You can also find lots of online companies and web sites that offer contests and sweepstakes. It usually takes only a few minutes to enter an online contest and the payoffs can be huge. One cereal company, for example, is offering a free year's supply of cereal to the winner of their contest!

If you have a problem with a product, be sure to call, write, or email the manufacturer about the problem. Companies are often so willing to keep you as a customer, they will offer free coupons for their products. For example, if your child's diapers are from a lot that was manufactured incorrectly, you can contact the company and they'll probably send coupons for free packages of new diapers. Additionally, if you buy prepackaged salad in the grocery, only to come home and find it less than fresh, you can contact the company and they may send you coupons for money off their products or for free products.

To get free fertilizer for your lawn, start your own compost pile. Other lawn freebies include free mulch at some local dumps and botanical gardens.

To get free food, volunteer at a local food shelter. You can feel good about donating some time to a worthy cause, and volunteers are often asked to take home food that will not be used, such as loaves of bread.

To get a free email account, visit the Internet. Many sites offer free accounts that can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection. Just type "free email" in any search engine to find the web sites.

If you do arts and crafts, you can get free materials from local sources. Visit local hospitals to see if they give away old x-ray film. The film makes great stencil material. Visit local newspapers or printers to see if they have spare rolls of blank paper. They'll often give you a roll or a piece of one.

Remember, to get free stuff, you often have to just ask. If you think there's a chance something could be free, ask the store manager or write to the company. And don't forget to go online frequently - free offers change regularly. For more information about online freebies, read Lynette's blog articleSome Legit Things You Can Get For Free.

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