Do Internet Freebies Save You Money?

**staceyy** · 01-08-2007, 07:41 PM

I'm sick with a respiratory virus. Last year I sent for a lot of internet freebies. I received samples of health products along with many other categories of freebies. I threw all of the health products into a shoe box. I had several packets of Airborne, Emergen C and cold and flu packets of Tylenol and Aleve etc. I have enough samples that I do not have to buy any cold and flu meds. Of course, I'm careful not to mix incompatible products.

I also previously stated that I send for internet freebies all year, throw them into a drawer and use them for stocking stuffers at Christmas. Other freebies I use personally. In the last few months, I received a glucose monitor worth $55 and coupons for $22 worth of a diabetic drink. I definitely save money with freebies, I send for a lot of them.

**GMA21** · 01-09-2007, 02:35 PM

I get all kinds of shampoo, conditioner, lotions, pain relievers, coupons, cat food, oinment, cereal, cleansers, vitamin suppliments just to name a few of what I get for free. I have a bag full of free items I had a drawer full but last summer I went through everything & gave a bunch of them away like all my free perfume samples a lady was asking for on freecycle so I gave her a bag of perfume.

**Missy** · 01-09-2007, 02:38 PM

where did you get the glucose monitor??

**favesis37** · 01-09-2007, 04:14 PM

i would love to save mine and use for stocking stuffers

**suesue** · 01-09-2007, 04:22 PM

I have just started to send off for freebies. One thing I found out is that when you are asked for your phone number you can just type in the area code and then 000-0000 and it will take it. I try to give out as little information as possible. Also, I don't give my primary e-mail address.

Does anyone else do this?

**staceyy** · 01-09-2007, 05:47 PM

I got the free glucose monitor from Lifescan, I don't know if they are still offering it. If you do a "Google" search for "free glucose monitor" a number of sites will come up. Some companies will want the name of your Doctor to get permission but Lifescan had me complete a short survey and did not ask for the name of my doctor. They sent me a One Touch Ultra meter.

**monkeywrangler71** · 01-09-2007, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by suesue

I have just started to send off for freebies. One thing I found out is that when you are asked for your phone number you can just type in the area code and then 000-0000 and it will take it. I try to give out as little information as possible. Also, I don't give my primary e-mail address.

Does anyone else do this?

I have an email address that I use just for freebies & contests. I never even thought of using 0s for the phone number - I always made one up, and there is probably someone out there with that made up number who absolutely hates me.

I've gotten several boxes of Electrosol tabs, which saves me about $4 a piece. They are the only thing that works in my broken dishwasher. I also have a bunch of Tylenol samples, and since that's something we almost never use, it saves me from ever having to buy it.

This year I am planning to save freebies for stockings. It didn't occur to me last year until about November.

**AmyMCGS** · 01-09-2007, 06:23 PM

I have a "junk" email account that I use for any type of business transactions... freebies or online purchases.

And you're all welcome to use my phone number

123-456-7890
Sometimes it won't take that, so I use my real area code and then 123-4567.

But back to the original question.... yes, I definitely save $$ by sending for freebies. I always like to try the new products that come out, and if I know I can get a free sample, I'm less tempted to buy it in the store.

**Down_to_Earth** · 01-09-2007, 07:37 PM

Yes. That's why I get them.

When I was packing to move from Columbus, OH to a Detroit suburb, I had two or three boxes' worth of tampons that I had gotten via free samples. Having been rather thin over the summer and not having my periods, it saved me even more.

Once I figured out what happened to some of them, I will definately be stocked for life, especially since I'm constantly adding more.

Also, with my collection of free samples and what I've gotten from hotels (and what my parents have gotten from hotels; I've asked my mom to save them from me), I've not had to buy shampoo. In September, or October, Walgreens had a free after rebate offer for a 20 oz. bottle of Garnier Fructis shampoo, conditioner, or combo. I thought about getting the combo, as I have it already and like it (I got a couple of bottle for a dollar with double coupons), but decided on the conditioner, as I was planning to buy the jumbo bottle of Suave to use with the free shampoo. Thankfully, I didn't have to.

I also probably have a couple of sticks' worth of deoderant from free samples. I save those for traveling. (I use the leftover sample bottles of shampoo/conditioner to fill from bigger bottles and for body wash, if I don't take soap.)

Also, I've not had to buy razors in years. Thanks to the constant offers of the three and four bladed ones, and that I only shave in summer (just two or maybe three times a week at that), they last me for awhile.

Much of what I have is free.

**bumplett** · 01-09-2007, 10:33 PM

oh yes - I would say it saves a good bit of $

I won't have to buy meds for a looooong time (I hope)

I also have an overflowing basket under my bathroom sink full of deodorants, tampons, shampoos, etc.... when my parents traveled more, my mom would always bring me the 'goodies'

**TheRootedNomad** · 01-10-2007, 07:02 AM

I don't have as much time on the computer as I would like and so I don't get the chance to send off for as many freebees as would probably be beneficial to me. i do know that anything I get saves me cash as I don't sign up to get something I won't use. So, yes freebees save me money.