Official Blog of ActuallyFree.info

WEB FREEBIE WEDNESDAY: Pandora Radio

2012-02-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Web Freebie Wednesday, the mid-week event featuring some of the best freebies of the web. Today's freebie is Pandora Radio. Pandora is already a very popular site, but just in case you haven't heard of it, the site offers free internet radio and allows you to create your own music stations. All you do is register and type what you like to listen to. Pandora will then create your personalized stations based on what you typed and correlated with similar artists and sounds in their music genome. Enjoy free music streamed directly from Pandora.

FREE MOVIE MONDAY: Groundhog Day

2012-01-29T20:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Free Movie Monday, Jan 30, 2012. Today's movie is Groundhog Day in anticipation of the actual holiday this coming Thursday (Feb 2). A news reporter (Bill Murray) finds himself stuck in the same day every day. Groundhog day just keeps repeating. After a bout of depression he realizes that he can use the extra time to his benefit and perhaps even gain the affection of his love interest.

From Crackle: Groundhog Day

For better viewing click the "full screen" button.

Family Friendly Warning: Mild profanity and innuendos. A man and a woman kiss passionately next to a fire. A man is seen committing suicide multiple times. A non-married couple falls asleep in the same bed with their clothes on and sleeps together overnight on two occasions.

FREEBIE FRIDAY, Jan 27, 2012

2012-01-27T01:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Freebie Friday. Here are today's freebies:

Free Windex Electronics Wipes: offer is limited to the first 3000 that respond.

Free Kleenex Share Package: Sign up for a Kimberly-Clark account and indicate who you would like to send the free Kleenex to. They'll send a package to you and your friend.

Free First Aid Kit, Emergency Medical Sign, and Signs of Stroke fridge magnet for registering with Florida Hospital. As far as I can tell, you don't have to live in Florida, but that may change.

Free Copy of the book Dropshipping for Dummies from Doba. This is a great resource if you want to start an online/eBay business. Go ahead and get the book, but keep in mind that user reviews of Doba's dropshipping service portray a lot of unsatisfaction. They're a middle man with markups so high it's hard to make a profit on eBay. You can get free access to a dropship and wholesale directory.

Free After Rebate from Fry's Eletronics:

Free After Rebate from Newegg.com

Free After Rebate from Staples (starting Monday, Jan 30)

Note: You can get free anti-virus software without having to deal with rebates, and they're usually just as good as the paid versions.

Office Depot is advertising that starting Monday, Jan 30, there will be 24 software titles for free after "instant, mail-in, and user upgrade rebates." If the title is free after instant and mail-in rebate, then it is actually free if you don't include the sales tax and cost of mailing the rebate. A user upgrade rebate is not actually free since it requires ownership or proof of purchase of a previous version. This is only free if you have a previous version and didn't get it for free after rebate (which likely required that you mail the proof of purchase, so now you wouldn't have it).

Office Max is advertising products that are 1 cent "after MaxPerks bonus rewards." These deals are not actually free. They are more like hybrids of rewards programs and by-one-get-one free sales. You have to spend money to get the deal and the bonus rewards can only be used at Office Max.

This upcoming week is the week before the Super Bowl, so you may find more free after rebate deals and free samples of products related to the Super Bowl (ie. soda, chips, etc.) if you keep your eye open.

WEB FREEBIE WEDNESDAY: Open Clip Art

2012-01-25T05:21:00.000-08:00

Thanks for visiting the official blog of ActuallyFree.info and welcome to Web Freebie Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012. Today's web freebie is Open Clip Art. Open Clip Art is one of the cleanest and most professional clip art galleries online. Their web pages aren't loaded with excessive ads or popups and their clip art is excellent. And the best part is all their clip art is free and dedicated to the public domain. You can use it in any way you wish, for any purpose, without asking permission from the authors and without paying royalties.

Free Movie Monday: Passengers

2012-01-22T18:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Free Movie Monday, Jan 23, 2012. Today's movie is Passengers, staring Anne Hathaway. As a counselor is treating the crew members of a plane crash, she gradually puts the pieces together to find out a shocking secret about the crash. Enjoy.

From Crackle: Passengers

For better viewing click the "full screen" button

Family Friendly Warning: Rated PG-13 by the MPAA. There is mild profanity. A scene of intimacy reveals bare shoulders. The bare back, torso and legs of a man is seen on an examination table in the hospital.

Freebie Friday, Jan 20, 2012

2012-01-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Freebie Friday! Here are today's freebies:

Free Scotch Brite Sponge with a $1 off coupon and a sale at Wal-Mart at 97 cents per sponge (although I can't guarantee that the sale is still active as of this post or that the sale exists at every Wal-Mart). Combining a coupon with a sale is the basis for Extreme Couponing. Within the last couple weeks my wife was also able to get a free Lady Speedstick Deodorant with a coupon out of the Proctor and Gamble circular and a sale at Wal-Mart.

Free Potty Training Success DVD from Pull Ups.

6 Free Wings at Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Exp 1/25

Free Sample of Shout Color Catcher from Johnson & Johnson.

Free After Rebate from Fry's Electronics:

Free After Rebate at NewEgg.com:

McAfee Internet Security Software for 3 users
AVG AntiVirus 2012 for 3 PCs (I've tried this, the CD-Rom just links you to their site online so you might as well download the free version)
Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security for 3 users
Sage Peachtree First Accounting 2012 Software for Small Businesses

Free After Rebate at Office Depot (Starting Monday 1/22/12):

AVG Internet Security for 3 PCs
Free PC in-store tune up

Free After Rebate at Staples (Starting Monday 1/22/12):

Scotch pop-up desk grip tape dispenser
Staples photo plus 4" x 6" paper, gloss, 60/pack
Command medium picture hanging strips, black
McAfee Total Protection 2012 Software for 1 PC
Trend Titanium Internet Security 2012 Software for 3 users

Be sure to read the Free After Rebate page for certain tips and warnings about rebates.

Web Freebie Wednesday, Jan 18, 2012, PDF Escape

2012-01-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Web Freebie Wednesday, the event of the week displaying one of the best freebies of the web! Today's freebie is PDF Escape. PDF Escape is a free PDF editor online. It runs completely through your internet browser so no downloads are required. PDF Escape allows you to add text, images, and hyperlinks to PDF documents. You can also add form fields, and shapes such as arrows, circles, check marks, and lines. There is even a white out function.

I spent a long time looking for a free PDF editor and was very satisfied when I discovered PDF Escape. A paid PDF editor can cost anywhere between $50 - $600. The name brand PDF Editor is Adobe Acrobat, which is $599.00 online. PDF Escape is completely free with no watermarks. The option to purchase a paid upgrade with no ads and more features is available.

Free Movie Monday, Jan 16, 2012, Martin Luther King, Jr. Biography

2012-01-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Free Movie Monday, Jan 16, 2012. Today's movie is short, but fitting since today is MLK day. Many know Martin Luther King, Jr. by his famous "I have a dream" speech, but he did accomplish more than that.

When I think of Martin Luther King, Jr., I think of the words he preached. I believe that if he truly meant what he said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" he meant it without a double standard. His four little children should have the rights of an American, in the United States of America, whether they are black or white or any other race, as long as they are citizens of the USA.

Often when civil rights history is presented, it is presented in the context of how poorly African Americans have been treated, for which there is no excuse. However, as we continue to progress, I see Martin Luther King, Jr.'s words becoming the standard for the philosophy of equality for all. Racism, which includes any philosophy of racial supremacy, should not exist, whether it's whites being racist against blacks or blacks being racists against whites or Asians being racist against any other race or Hispanics or anyone else. We are all children of God, and we should see each other the way God sees us.

Therefore, it shouldn't matter whether Obama is the first black president. What should matter is whether he is a good president. It shouldn't matter how many students in a class are black, white, Asian, Hispanic or any other race. What should matter is that each student is American, and that each student does his or her best to learn the skills they need. It shouldn't matter if an illegal alien is Hispanic, or any other race, and their race should not indicate how they are treated. What should matter is that they are in the USA illegally. When we've reached true equality, race won't even be an issue. The only race we'll see is the American race, and on a grander scale, the human race. We are, after all, riding this planet around the sun together. The issue will be whether we conduct ourselves properly, treat each other with respect and dignity, work hard, and make correct choices. Then will we be judged by the content of our character.

Freebie Friday, Jan 13, 2012

2012-01-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Freebie Friday, Jan 13, 2012. Here are today's freebies:

Free After Rebate from Fry's Electronics:

Fry's Electronics is also advertising a device similar to Magic Jack, which allows you get phone calls through your internet service, by Phone Power. The device is Free After Rebate and the service is $200 a year. A Magic Jack device is $30-$70 and cost $20 a year for the service. They're both more economic than paying $25 a month to Cox Cable or any other phone company, but if this is something you want to do, the Magic Jack may still be a better deal overall even if this Phone Power device is free after rebate.

Fry's Electronics and other retailers below are also advertising many other software titles for free after rebate that are not actually free. These titles either require a tax software purchase or a proof of purchase of an older edition of the software they are advertising. The later is called a users upgrade rebate.

Free After Rebate from Newegg.com:

Free After Rebate from Office Depot (Starting Monday, Jan 15, 2012, see their ad):

McAfee Internet Security 2012

Free After Rebate from Staples (Starting Monday, Jan 15, 2012, see their ad):

Easy Peel Address Labels, 25 sheets
McAffee AntiVirus Plus 2012 1 user Software
Titanium Internet Security 2012
Kaspersky Internet Security 2012

Free After Rebate from MacMall:

USB Power Adapter for iPod/iPhone (and probably any other USB device)

Be sure to read the Free After Rebate page for details on how rebates can actually get you to spend money. Also be sure to read the details of all the rebates before purchasing these items.

Office Max is having a 1 cent sale according to their ad starting on Monday. However, these deals are 1 cent after Max Perks Rewards. Rewards programs in my opinion are not actually free. Just like a buy-one-get-one-free sale is not actually free. But they can be good deals for anyone who already shops at the store frequently.

There are a lot of software titles here, probably because software is cheap to mass produce and they are already competing with Free Software. The most common software that is free after rebate is AntiVirus software, and you can get that for free without having to even deal with a rebate.

More Freebies:

Buffalo Wild Wings Free 6 Wings Coupon (the link shows an ad you might see in an email, I'd suggest going their website and signing up for the email club if you want to be sure you'll get this freebie).
Free Breakfast Entrees at Chick-fil-A for customers at select locations who make a reservation online. Chick-fil-A seems to be having lots of freebie promotions. Just two days ago my wife and I went to Chick-fil-A to use coupons for free breakfast entrees and when we were served there was another coupon for free chicken noodle soup on our tray. A freebie for getting freebies. I like it.

Web Freebie Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012, Sumo Paint

2012-01-11T14:23:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first Web Freebie Wednesday! One of the unique things about ActuallyFree.info is that there is a clear distinction between tangible freebies and electronic freebies. Other free sites may have a free sample here and there and then be loaded free ebooks, other downloads or even scams.

Freebie Friday is an event that we've already started doing, and that will only involve tangible freebies and select services (which are admittedly not tangible but can still help individuals live within a budget). However, a freebie doesn't absolutely have to be tangible to be valuable or useful. That's why Web Freebie Wednesday is also an event we'll start doing often on this blog. Web Freebie Wednesday will mention freebies that are downloadable, digital or electronic. In other words, this event will mention freebies that you can get through the world wide web.

Today's freebie is Sumo Paint. You could potentially spend up to $500 or more on a graphics editing program such as Adobe Photoshop. Maybe if you're a professional graphics artist you'll have to invest in the name brand software if it is the standard for your industry. But the rest of us should never have to pay that kind of money for any software.

Sumo Paint is a paint and graphics program that is run entirely through the internet browser, so you don't even have to download it. It has many of the features that any paid program has and its completely free. You can use it as long as you want, whenever you want, and where ever you want as long as you have internet access. There is a paid upgrade if you are an advanced artist. Have fun.

Free Movie Monday, Jan 9, 2012, Super Size Me

2012-01-08T19:19:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Free Movie Monday. Today's movie is Super Size Me, a 2004 documentary about a guy who only ate food from McDonald's for a full month.

(For better viewing, click the "full screen" button)

Family Friendly Warning: Not rated by the MPAA. KidsInMind rates it as a 4, 4, 5 for sexual content, violence and profanity respectively. A woman talks about her partner's sexual ability (or lack thereof), there is one F-word and lots of medical references and medical exams. Read the Kids In Mind page for the full report.

Freebie Friday! Jan 6, 2012

2012-01-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the very first Freebie Friday; an event we hope to have more often on the ActuallyFree.info blog.

Free After Rebate at Fry's Electronics:

Fry's Electronics is advertising other software items as free after rebate, but they're not actually free since they are upgrade rebates, meaning you have to own the previous version of the software, or they require the purchase of tax software.

Free After Rebate at NewEgg.com

AVG Antivirus Software- 3 users

Free After Rebate Woolite Deep Carpet Stain & Odor Remover. The rebate is good for $5.99 and the product retails for $4.72, find a retailer.

Be sure to read the Free After Rebate page for tips on how to claim rebates and to read information you should know about rebates.

Free Movie Monday, Jan 2, 2012

2012-01-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first Free Movie Monday on the official blog of ActuallyFree.info. This week's movie is The Natural, a baseball drama staring Robert Redford, Kim Basinger, and the diabetes guy (Wilford Brimley). Enjoy!

From Crackle: The Natural

(For better viewing, click the "full screen" button)

Family Friendliness: Rated PG by the MPAA. The movie has some swearing, name calling, adults drinking, displays of affection and one scene of implied sexuality where the man is seen shirtless and the woman's bare back is seen from behind.

New Year Resolutions 2012

2012-01-01T19:13:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! One of the new year resolutions for ActuallyFree.info is to post on the blog more often. So visit again tomorrow for the first Free Movie Monday!

Happy New Year's Eve!

2011-12-31T09:30:00.000-08:00

I usually like to post a Jib Jab video for specific holidays and every year they make a year in review video. However, when I watched this year's video I hesitated for a few reasons. One, it's not as funny as videos made in previous years, two, it's mostly about bad stuff that happened, whereas previous years have had bad and good stuff that happened, so it's not as upbeat, three, I'm always trying to watch the crude humor since I like to keep the site as family friendly as possible. Then, I watched Google's year in review video which seemed to give a much more positive outlook for the year to come. After seeing both, I decided to post both, and let you decide how you will welcome the new year. Are you grateful to get 2011 behind you, or are you ever hopeful for the future?

Family Friendly Warning: Both videos mention controversial issues, they do not necessarily reflect the opinion or philosophy of ActuallyFree.info or the site's staff. They are posted simply as an exercise. The JibJab video has a lot of crude humor, multiple references to sexuality, and one religious exclamation.

(I'd suggest clicking the "full screen" button for the Google video so that you can read some of the descriptions and news headlines if you don't know what some parts are referring to.)

So there you have two different perspectives. Here's wishing you a Happy New Year's Eve (the best night of the year for free kisses)! Despite it being a tough year, may we always learn and grow and keep moving forward into 2012.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! Christmas has a way getting people busy and stressed. Now that it's Christmas day I hope we can put off the thoughts of shopping, getting presents and even freebies and remember the greatest Christmas gift of all . . . our Savior, Jesus Christ. The following video is included to help us do just that. These are leaders of the LDS church, but their message is non-denominational.

May your Christmas be full of happy memories and good times with family and friends. And may we all remember the true meaning of Christmas.

My Christmas Gift to You: Actually Free Videos

2011-12-24T14:30:00.000-08:00

Last year at Christmas, ActuallyFree.info presented a new directory of free software. This year, AF's Christmas gift to you is the Actually Free Videos library.

This is the best collection of freebie-related videos online that I know of. It has videos from YouTube, Howcast, eHow and other resources that all deal with the same topics and strategies for getting freebies as the rest of the site. Now, instead of just reading how to get freebies, you can also see how to get freebies by demonstration. The directory is still new. Currently some of the topics only have one video. However, more and more videos will be added as they are submitted or discovered.

Merry Christmas, from ActuallyFree.info!

Actually Free Videos

Merry Christmas Eve!

2011-12-24T13:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Eve from ActuallyFree.info, JibJab, Obama and the GOP. Enjoy the video.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Last year's video is still active if you want to see that too.

How I got over $300 worth of Christmas gifts for FREE!

2011-12-22T22:44:00.000-08:00

Its been a fun holiday season filled with freebies, including clothes, toys, the hit Disney/Pixar new release, Cars 2, computer software and accessories! Here's how I got over $300 worth of Christmas gifts for free (well, sort of, keep reading):

Everything in this picture was free (and there is one item that is not pictured.)

The first set of items I received for free were from Cafe Press:

Cars 2 Adventure Hut $20
Cars Deluxe 10 Car Figurine Play Set $20
Rocky Balboa Movie $1
2 USB Wall Chargers $10 ($5 each)
USB Car Charger $5

Cafe Press, a leading T-shirt retailer online, didn't exactly give me these gifts directly. I had to do a little work, but not much. Cafe Press has a program for T-shirt designers where the designer creates and uploads a T-shirt design to their site and every time that design sells, the designer gets a commission. There are no costs to the designer. I have uploaded about 20 designs to Cafe Press and received my first commission transfer to PayPal previous to Thanksgiving. I considered this free money because receiving commissions from Cafe Press is a form of passive income. Once the designs are uploaded, they are available in the Cafe Press marketplace for anyone to purchase at any time. I do nothing to sell them. Cafe Press does all the work of selling, printing the shirt, packing it, and shipping it to the customer. I also used completely free resources to create the designs that I submitted, including free graphics that did not violate copyrights or trademarks. It just took a little time to create the designs and upload them to Cafe Press (certainly less than an hour per design), and they now continue to make money for me. I've even seen an increase in sales between Black Friday and the time this article was posted. For more information on making money by creating T-shirt designs, read the Design and Sell T-Shirts page. You'll also find a directory of resources to help you create your designs.

All the items above sell at retail for higher prices than those listed. They were all on sale for Black Friday. The Cars 2 adventure hut was purchased at Wal-Mart. The 10 piece Cars 2 deluxe figurine set was purchased at the Disney Store Online with free shipping. The USB wall chargers and car charger were purchased from Newegg.com, and the $1 Rocky Balboa movie (not in the second picture) was purchased at Best Buy online. I probably would not have purchased the movie if it had cost any more than $1, but I figured I would have rented it from RedBox for $1.20 so I might as well own it for less. All items ordered online had free shipping.

The next set of items were all Free After Rebate (FAR) from Fry's Electronics and Newegg.com. I also got the Cars 2 DVD/Blue Ray combo pack for free after rebate from newspaper coupon inserts (I don't recall if it was Red Plum or SmartSource, but the rebates were also available online).

AVG Anti-Virus (the paid version, not the Free Version) $40
Digital TV for PC 2 $25
Corel PDF Fusion $40
WordPerfect Office X5 $50
Electronic Cleaning Wipes pack of 2 $5
USB 4 port Hub $4
Samsung Bluetooth headset $20
HDMI Cables $1.50
Ergonomic Wireless Optical Mouse $10
Laptop Cooling Fan $10
Cars 2 DVD/Blue Ray combo $10

Fry's Electronics and Newegg.com have become my favorite retailers this season. Week after week and often on the weekends they have had sale after sale which have included free after rebate deals. All of these items were purchased on Black Friday, but I could have purchased many, many more for FAR. The items purchased from Newegg.com could only be purchased online since Newegg is an online-only store; but they all came with free shipping. Fry's Electronics also only has limited locations in select states. I just happen to live by one. I am still waiting for the rebates in the mail since they take 6-8 weeks to arrive, though I've received many notifications by email that they are being processed.

These items were all free after rebate, but I actually ended up paying between $10-$15 when combining sales tax, envelopes and postage (Items purchased at Newegg didn't have sales tax, since I don't reside in the same state where Newegg operates). Also some of the rebates will come in the form of a Visa gift card which has some restrictions and even fees if not used within the first 6 months. I'm hoping/guessing, that I can use them for gas or groceries. One of the points I make with any promotion is to be sure the promotion isn't tricking the customer into spending more money. These were all items I needed or wanted before the FAR promotion and the Visa gift card(s) will be used on items I plan to pay for in my regular monthly budget. For more tips on benefiting from FAR deals and avoiding unwanted costs, read the Free After Rebate page.

If you couldn't tell already, my son loves Pixar Cars. The Cars 2 DVD/Blue Ray combo (not seen in the first picture) also wasn't actually free after rebate. I bought it for $10 at Wal-Mart by price matching with a Sam's Club Black Friday ad. That alone was a steal since a Disney/Pixar new release DVD/Blue Ray combo pack usually sells for $25-$30. There were/are at least three rebate offers available with this item.

The rebate my wife and I used was good for $10 when the movie combo pack and $20-worth of Kimberly-Clark products were purchased. We happened to have already purchased $19 worth of diapers, so all we had to do was purchase a Kleenex box at the dollar store to make up the difference. I considered the movie to be free since I got it for $10 and the rebate was worth $10; and the other products I had to purchase were purchased anyway. It was at least a freebie for my Christmas budget, even though it wasn't completely free for my grocery budget. Again, this promotion did not trick me into spending more money. Even the Kleenex box for $1 was a good deal and something we needed.

As a bonus, I could still possibly take advantage of the other two rebates because the Cars 2 combo pack has 3 proofs of purchase including the bar code. Rebate forms require that the proof of purchase be included and products usually only have 1 proof of purchase. Since the movie has another two proofs of purchase and I know of at least two other rebate offers, I can still possibly get some more freebies. If I'm able to find a sale of Rayovac 10 pack batteries for $5 or less, and Johnson & Johnson products for $10, then I will consider those to be freebies for my grocery budget. For more grocery rebates and deals, read the Free With Coupons page.

On a side note: Blockbuster video is giving away a pack of 2 Rayovac batteries (either AA or AAA) on Christmas day. So if you want to interrupt your regular Christmas routine to get some free batteries, you can. Additional 2-packs are available for 99 cents each. However this may not help much for the rebate offer that I'm trying to complete. I'll have to review the terms of the rebate again.

The last set of freebies were received from Sears Outlet on Free Apparel Tuesdays.

Dress shirt $10
T-shirt $7
Shorts $10

These three items of clothing were given to me by Sears Outlet free of charge; they didn't even charge sales tax. Sears Outlet is/was having a promotion where rewards members could pick one free article of clothing every Tuesday in December. It was free to join the rewards program. One point I make with rewards programs is to avoid getting multiple credit cards since that can affect your credit score. This is a simple rewards program without a credit card. For more tips on rewards programs read the Rewards Programs page.

The Free Apparel Tuesdays promotion was/is only available at Sears Clothing Outlets, not Sears, Sears Appliance Outlets, K-mart or other Sears-owned stores. Sears Clothing Outlets are limited in number and locations. I just happen to drive close enough to one in my daily commute to work. Unfortunately, it's too far away from where I live to make the trip worth it for my wife to go. Otherwise we would have received 6 articles of clothing. ~~The Tuesday after Christmas we will both be close to a Sears Outlet when visiting family. So between the two of us we will get another 2 articles of clothing~~. The promotion doesn't include outerwear, coats or Levi jeans, but I still could have picked clothing that was worth more. This just happened to be what I needed. I was cautious not to buy any sweaters because one little defect in the knitting would mean a quick end to the sweater. Clothes outlets are usually filled with cast-off clothing, off season items, and clothes with defects in the sewing. I had to sift through a lot of these to find clothes that I liked, but every time I was able to find at least 6 articles of clothing that were acceptable. This promotion almost tricked me into spending money that I would not have spent otherwise, but I resisted.

(Update: It turns out that the Sears Outlet by our relative's home is a Sears Appliance Outlet, not a Sears Clothing Outlet, so my wife and I won't be getting any free clothing this Tuesday. I was thoroughly bummed to find this out)

When you add the prices of all items above they come out to $298.50. These were all sale prices so I think it's safe to assume that they are worth over $300. They may have been worth close to $500 in retail or more. There were a couple items that I tried to get but wasn't able to. Fry's Electronics had a 10 piece USB adapter set that sold out before I got there. Victoria Secret was also giving away a free pair of panties which sold out before my wife got there (not for me to wear but definitely for me to enjoy, if you know what I mean. I wouldn't go into any more details since this is a family friendly site. Part of me is actually glad we didn't get that freebie because I think Victoria Secret is contributing to the moral decay of our society with excessive, open, inappropriate advertising in public places and on TV time slots that are seen too often by kids, teens, and men who should keep their eyes on the prize of their own wives. Wow, way off the topic of freebies).

If I had decided to be really ambitious, I could have received over $1,000 or more in products this Christmas season. There were many other free samples, free services, and free products after rebate that were available. I didn't take advantage of them because I didn't need them. But if I had made the effort to get them, I could have sold them online for a significant profit. The most notable deals were for free after rebate software and computer accessories at Fry's Electronics and Newegg.com. Those who are interested in software and computer accessories should continue to pay attention to these stores (as well as Office Depot and Staples) well into January, since I understand computers and electronics have better sales after Christmas. I expect that rebate offers will continue to be made available.

Christmas Countdown Videos and More Freebies

2011-12-20T05:26:00.000-08:00

Only 5 days until Christmas. This post has some funny videos below to help add to the anticipation. But first, here are some more freebies:

Newegg.com has a few items that are free after rebate. Since Newegg.com is an online only store, these items probably wouldn't arrive before Christmas (but they're still free). Be sure to read the fine print on the rebate form before making the purchase.

Samsung Bluetooth Headseat Free After Rebate
Corel Paintshop Pro X4 Software Free After Rebate
McAfee Total Protection 2012 Software for 3 users Free After Rebate
Norton Antivirus 2012 for 3 users Free After Rebate
Webroot Security Anywhere Essentials Software Free After Rebate
Also multiple Xigmatek case fans Free After Rebate

Fry's Electronics has a sale every week and every sale they've had since the week of Black Friday they've had at least one item (not including software) that was free after rebate. Check the ads on the top right corner of their home page (frys.com). Fry's Electronics has locations in Georgia, Arizona, California, Indiana, Nevada, Texas, Washington, Illinois and Oregon. They also ship for purchases online but shipping is not usually free for sale items. Here are this week's freebies:

iPod/iPhone/iPad Charger USB cable FAR
Titanium Antivirus 2012 Software 1 user FAR
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Software FAR
Turbo Floorplan 3D Home & Landscape Deluxe V15 Software FAR

Fry's Electronics is also advertising may other software titles as "free" after rebate but they are only free upgrades (meaning you must have a proof of purchase for the previous version of the software) or they are only free if you purchase advertised tax software.

Remember free after rebate sales may still include some charges, like sales tax. Read the Free After Rebate page for more details. Most of the links on this page are time-sensitive and will probably change or expire by this Friday.

Bass Pro Shops is still having free photos with Santa and free activities and games for kids until Dec 24.

Sears Outlet is having Free Apparel Days on every Tuesday of December (including today and the Tuesday after Christmas) All you have to do is join their Rewards Program, which has free membership, then visit a Sears Outlet and pick one item of clothing (except outerwear and Levis), with no strings attached, no sales tax, absolutely no charge. The rewards program is good for all Sears locations, K-mart and other Sears-owned stores, however the free apparel Tuesdays are only available at Sears Outlet.

Hopefully these freebies will make your Christmas more merry! Here are the Christmas countdown videos:

Visit this blog again within the next 5 days for more funny Christmas videos from Jib Jab and a special post on Christmas.

Cyber Monday Freebies

2011-11-26T10:52:00.000-08:00

Some ads have already surfaced for Cyber Monday, including ads for freebies which are Free After Rebate. Some cyber "Monday" deals start on Sunday. This post will be updated if/as new freebies are found. If you know of any please submit them so that it can be posted and everyone can benefit.

Office Depot (Sunday and Monday, all Free After Rebate, these deals available in store only)

Drive Scrubber Software
Craft Artist Software
Draw Plus X5
Food recipe manager
Free PC Tune-up (boost starup and shutdown speed, remove unwanted files, scan for viruses)

Staples (Sunday and Monday, all Free After Rebate, available in store and online, when you order online there is no shipping since you download immediately, if they offer the boxed CD-rom then it will also be free shipping since everything has free shipping this weekend)

Norton Internet Security 2012 - 1 PC
QuickBooks Online Simple Start 2012
McAfee Total Protection 2012 - 3 PCs
Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 - 1 PC
Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security - 3 users
Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security - 1 user

UPDATE (Sun, Nov 27)

Fry's Electronics (Sunday - Thurs, all Free After Rebate shipping is free on some items, not free on others, all items available in store) NOTE: Some software that is Free After Rebate is only completely free as an upgrade; this means you must have a proof of purchase for an earlier version of the software. The more notable titles are Norton and Nitro PDF.

Service: Free virus scan and hardware checkup

Software

Quicken Simplify and Organize your Money
McAfee Total Protection 2012 - 3 users (free shipping when you order online)
AVG Anti-Virus 2012 - 3 users
Webroot Secure Anywhere Complete 2012 - 3 users ($2.99 shipping when you order online)
Bitdefender Internet Security 2012 - 3 users, 2 year coverage (free shipping when you order online)
Trend Micro Titanium Internet Seucrity 2012 - 1 user (free shipping when you order online)
Avanquest System Suite 12 - 5 users
Lapling PC Mover Ultimate (includes transfer cable)
susteen Datapilot Tether
ilio System Mechanic Professional
Avanquest Driver Genius (free shipping when you order online)
PC Matic - 5 users
Avanquest Fix-it Utilities 12 Professional - 5 users
Corel Videostudio Pro X4 (includes 3D glasses) (free shipping when you order online)
Smith Micro Digital TV for PC 2 (free shipping when you order online)
IMSI Design Clip Art & More 3.5 million
Imsi TurboCAD Designer 2D version 17
Berlitz Spanish Premier (6 languages available) (free shipping when you order online for all 6 languages)
Serif Pageplus Essentials ($2.99 shipping when you order online, may be available for instore pickup)
Avanquest Willcreator Deluxe
Corel WordPerfect Office X5 Home & Student
Sony Acid Musci Studio 8
Nova Scrapbook Factory Deluxe 5
individual Slidshow Expressions 2
Broderbund Mavis Beacon Typing Platinum
Photoimpact Pro 13 (free shipping when you order online)
Datapilot Tethering for Select Mobile Phones (free shipping when you order online)
Norton Triple Bundle 2012 - 3 users (free shipping when you order online)
Kaspersky Internet Security - 3 users (free shipping when you order online)
Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum (shipping is NOT free when you order online)
Corel Paintshop Photo Pro X4 (free shipping when you order online)
Norton Antiviurs 2012 TechBench - 3 users (free shipping when you order online)
Nitro PDF Professional 6 (free shipping when you order online)
Typing Instructor for Kids Platinum 5.0 (mac) ($2.99 shipping when you order online)

Hardware

Retrak 10' USB 2.0 Universal Cable Kit
Hornet Tek Black Box Portable SATA to USB 2.0 Enclosure

Fry's Electronics has locations in Georgia, Arizona, California, Indiana, Nevada, Texas, Washington, Illinois and Oregon.

Bass Pro Shops - Free 4x6 photo with Santa and other events for kids until Dec 24. Check your local calendar.

Newegg.com still has some ~~Black Friday~~ ~~deals available (all items have free shipping)~~

~~Samsung Bluetooth Headset 1 cent after rebate~~.

~~Software Free After Rebate~~.
~~Panda Security Global Protection 2012 - 3 users~~
~~Kaspersky Lab Internet Security 2012 - 3 users~~
~~Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security - 3 users~~
~~ilio System Mechanic Preimium~~
~~McAfee Total Protection 2012 - 3 users~~

UPDATE (Mon, Nov 28)

Newegg.com is no longer offering the items above since they were part of the Black Friday promotion and they have a separate new promotion for Cyber Monday. Here are the Cyber Monday freebies:

(software)
McAfee Internet Security 2012 - 3 users
Corel WinDVD Pro 2011
Corel PDF Fusion
Kaspersky lab Anti-virus 2012 - 3 users
Symantec Norton Ghost 15.0 - 1 user

For more possible Free After Rebate deals at Newegg.com, see their Rebate Center, click on "shipping" so that it shows you the items with Free Shipping first and then scan the pages to find rebates that match the price of the items (this will be a long process, there are hundreds of pages of rebates, just not all free after rebate)

Fry's Electronics is having a sale just for Cyber "Monday" (which is actually valid Monday and Tuesday), the deals listed above are also available until Thursday. NOTE: Some software that is Free After Rebate is only a completely free upgrade, this means you must have a proof of purchase for an earlier version. The more notable titles are Norton and Nitro PDF.

Hardware

Antec Landboard Computer Transport
Retrak 10' USB 2.0 Universal Cable Kit
Hornet Tek Black Box Portable SATA to USB 2.0 Enclosure

Software

Norton Triple Bundle 2012
Nitro PDF Professional 6
Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum
McAfee Total Protection 2012 - 3 users
AVG Anti-virus 2012
Webroot Secure Anywhere Essentials 2012
Serif Pageplus X5
Pinnacle Studio HD Ultimate version 15
Kaspersky Internet Security 2012
Berlitz Spanish Premier (6 langauges available)
bitdefender Internet Security 2012
IMSI Design Clip Art & More 3.5 million
Corel Videostudio Pro X4
Corel WordPerfect Office X5 Home & Student
Over 30 Free Software Titles (This link is only accurate today, Monday, Nov 28. Any day after today the link will show a different advertisement if it shows anything at all)

Geeks.com - These aren't actually free since they're 5 cents each, but I thought they were close enough and they don't even require a rebate. Enter the code: FREESHIP to get free shipping, today only.

GameDr PortaLock for Sony PSP
GameDr Motorized Optical Lens Cleaner for Sony PSP

Geeks.com also has many other items today for under $1; items for 20 cents, 50 cents, etc.

Saturday After Thanksgiving Freebies

2011-11-26T02:48:00.000-08:00

More sales are making more freebies available on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The Black Friday Freebies for Newegg.com and Office Depot are still available Saturday while supplies last, including the Samsung bluetooth headset for 1 cent (as of this posting) and much of the other hardware and software at both stores. The Bass Pro Shops freebies listed on Black Friday are available until Dec. 27.

Fry's Electronics Saturday Sale (all Free After Rebate)

Hardware:

Mini Bluetooth Dongle USB 2.0
1 Million Candle-power spotlight
8 AA or 8 AAA Rayovac Alkaline Batteries
Asus Notebook Earbuds
USB 2.0 Card Reader
10" Neoprene Netbook Sleeve
Nugiant Surger Power Protector
Powerling Emergency Battery Pack with 2 GB pen drive for iPod and iPhone
256 CD/DVD Wallet
Solid Case for iPad 2
Cooler Master AMD AM2/AM3 Heatsink
Cooler Master 80 mm Blue LED case fan
Iocell 2.5" Portable Hard Drive External Enclosure
Bytecc 3.5" Aluminum Black USB 3.0 Hard Drive Enclosure
Wagan Tech DC Splitter with USB
Rhino Mini DC to USB Adapter
LifeSource Digital Pedometer XL15
Citynet International All-in-One 2.0 USB Card Reader
Antec Soundscience Bias Lighting

Software:

Norton 360 All-in-One security - 3 users
McAfee Total Protection 2012 - 3 users
AVG Anti-virus 2012 - 3 users
Webroot Secure Anywhere Complete 2012 - 3 users
Bitdefender Internet Security 2012 - 3 users, 2 year coverage
Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Secuirty 2012 - 1 user
Avanquest System Suite 12 - 5 user license
Laplink PC Mover Ultimate (includes transfer cable)
Susteen Datapilot Tether
ilio System Mechanic Professional - 3 users
Avanquest Driver Genius
PC Matic - 5 user
Avanquest Fix-it Utilities 12 Professional - 5 users
Corel Videostudio Pro X4 (includes 3D glasses)
Smith Micro Digital TV for PC 2
IMSI Design Clip Art & More 3.5 Million
Imsi TurboCAD Designer 2D version 17
Berlitz Spanish Premier (6 languages available)
Serif Pageplus Essentials
Avanquest WillCreator Delux
Corel WordPerfect Office X5 Home & Student
Sony Acid Music Studio 8
Nova Scrapbook Factory Deluxe 5
Slideshow Expressions 2
Broderbund Mavis Beacon Typing Platinum

Fry's Electronics has locations in Georgia, Arizona, California, Indiana, Nevada, Texas, Washington, Illinois and Oregon.

Update: NoMoreRack.com and Coastal.com, receive a voucher that is good until Dec 31 for 3 pair of prescription glasses for $99 or less each for free. Available Saturday and Sunday. Free shipping. This has not been tested and I'm not familiar with this store. Here is their Better Business Bureau report.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T00:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving from ActuallyFree.info and JibJab:

Video warning: some crude humor.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Read the post about Black Friday Freebies if you haven't already.

BLACK FRIDAY FREEBIES!! 2011

2011-11-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

We can never overlook one of the biggest days of the year for free stuff; so here is this year's discovered Black Friday Freebies:

All items listed are Free After Rebate:

Office Depot

McAfee Internet Security 3 PCs
QuickBooks
Print Artist Platinum 24
Digital TV for PC 2
Photo Impact Pro 13
MoviePlus X5
Web Plus
System Mechanic Professional Current User Upgrade

Staples

HP everydy gloss photo paper 50 pack
Norton Internet Security 2012 - 1 PC
QuickBooks
Titanium Maximum Security - 3 PCs
Titanium Maximum Security - 1 PC
Kaspersky Internet Security - 1 PC
McAfee Total Protection - 3 PCs

Newegg.com - Get these deals now! They may have more deals on Black Friday which they haven't announced yet (I'd particularly keep my eye open for a Blue Tooth Headset for 1 cent). The follow deals are available online right now (Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011) and they all come with free shipping.

Software
McAfee Total Protection 2012 - 3 PCs
Corel Paintshop Pro X4
Corel WordPerfect Office X5 Home
Corel Winzip Systems Utilities Suite - 3 PCs
Susteen DataPilot Universal Kit with Cables
Kaspersky Lab Internet Security 2012 - 3 PCs
ABBYY PDF Transformer 3.0
Corel VideoStudio Pro X4
TREND MICRO Titanium Maximum Security - 3 PCs
AVG Anti-Virus 2012 - 1 User
SONY MoviEZ HD
Panda Security Global Protection 2012 - 3 User
IMSI TurboCAD Designer V17
Sage Peachtree First Accounting 2012
Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus 1pc
Laplink PC Lock

Hardware
XIGMATEK Cooling System XLF XLF-F2006 200mm LED Blue Case Fan PSU Molex Adapter/extender
XIGMATEK Cooling system XLF XLF-F2004 200mm White LED Black Case Fan PSU Molex
XIGMATEK LED Fan Crystal series CLF-F2005 200mm Purple LED Case Fan Molex Adapter/extender included
XIGMATEK Cooling System XLF XLF-F2003 200mm LED Orange Case Fan PSU Molex Adapter/extender
XIGMATEK Cooling System XLF XLF-F1703 170mm LED Orange Case Fan PSU Molex Adapter/extender
XIGMATEK Colling System Crystal Series CLF-F8251 80mm Blue LED Case Fan PSU Molex
At least 4 other XIGMATEK cooling systems and case fans, probably more
XIGMATEK PTI-G3606 thermal grease

For more possible Free After Rebate deals at Newegg.com, see their Rebate Center, click on "shipping" so that it shows you the items with Free Shipping first and then scan the pages to find rebates that match the price of the items (this will be a long process, there are hundreds of pages of rebates, just not all free after rebate)

UPDATE (Nov 24, 11 pm eastern):

Found more freebies before going out to face the Black Friday mob

Samsung Bluetooth Headset for 1 cent after rebate at Newegg.com.

Fry's Electronics (Free After Rebate)

Frys Electronics Free Hardware:

20 PK CD Jewel Case
Cooler Master eXtreme 460W Power Supply
Samsung Bluetooth Headset
Logitech Rechargeable S315i Speaker for iPhone AND iPod
Cooler Master ELITE 430
inland Notebook Combination Lock
HD 5450 512MB DDR3
Maxell Wireless Optical Mouse (choice of red, blue, silver, purple)
Notebook Cooler
inland Pro LCD Wall Mount
inland 6' HDMI Cable
Rotating Case for iPad 2
Spider Pocket Speaker for iPhone, iPod
Pro Web Cam 300
Retractable Stereo Earbuds
Cirago Wall Charger for iPod, iPhone, iPad
Kensington Audio Auxiliary Cable for iPhone and iPod
Belkin high spead USB 2.0 4-Port Ultra-Mini (USB) Hub
NuGiant Slim Power Surge Protector
Nand Bluetook class 2 V3.0+EDR Dongle
Cleaning Wipes 2-Pack Bundle

An overall retail value of nearly $400 ($394.3)

Frys Electronics Free Software:

Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 - 3 users
Nitro PDF Professional 6
Studio HD Ultimate 15
Corel Paintshop Pro X4 Ultimate Edition
McAfee Total Protection 2012 - 3 users
AVG Anti-Virus - 3 users
Webroot Secure Anywhere Complete 2012 - 3 users
bitdefender Internet Security 2012 - 3 user license, 2 year coverage
TrendMicro Titanium Maximum Security 2012 - 1 user
Avanquest System Suite 12 - 5 user license
laplink PC Mover Ultimate
susteen Datapilot Tether, Tether your smartphone to your PC
iolo System Mechanic Professional - 3 users
Avanquest Driver Genius
PC Matic - 5 users
Avanquest Fix-it Utilities 12 Professional - 5 users
Corel Videostudio Pro X4, 3D glasses included
SmithMicro Digital TV for PC - 2 users
IMSI Design Clip Art & More 3.5 Million
Imsi Turbocad Designer 2D version 17
Berlitz Spanish Premier
Serif Pageplus Essentials
Avanquest Willcreator Deluxe
Corel WordPerfect Office X5 Home & Student
Sony Acid Music Studio 8
Nova Scrapbook Factory Deluxe 5
individual Slideshow Expressions 2
Broderbund Mavis Beacon Typing Platinum

An overall retail value of $1449.00!

Fry's Electronics has locations in Georgia, Arizona, California, Indiana, Nevada, Texas, Washington, Illinois and Oregon.

Best Buy has free screenings of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 at select locations

Bass Pro Shops - Free 4x6 photo with Santa and multiple other free events for kids through December 27. Free crafts, free games and activities. Check your local listings for a calendar of events.

CVS and Walgreens have deals that they are advertising as free which are not actually free, though they might be good deals IF you are already going to buy some of these products. They offer store credit for the same price as the product so its like a hybrid of rewards cards and buy one get one free sales. People who are active in extreme couponing take advantage of these deals often. CVS listed the following items:

Advil Tablets
Pepto-Bismol
iChill Relaxation Shot
Cepacol
Be Koool from Fever Discomfort
Breath Right
CVS Dental Flossers
Listerine Pocketpaks
LA Looks hair gel
excedrin
Finish Quantum
Advil PM
Fiber One
Hershy's King Size chocolate drops
Carmex
Softlips gloss
Balance Bar
Theraflu caplets
Theraflu travel size
Kleenex cool touch
. . and others; again these are not actually free, but may be good deals. The key is not to let the promotion trick you into buying something that you wouldn't buy otherwise.

For more possible Free After Rebate deals see the FAR introductory page and the Rebate Directory for tons of rebate resources! Have a Happy Thanksgiving and be safe this Black Friday. If I find Cyber Monday freebies I'll be posting them too.

How to Survive Black Friday Sales on Howcast

VD from New York needs a job that provides free housing and transportation

2011-07-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

VD from New York sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"I am almost 19. I want to move out of my house as soon as possible. I basically want a job that provides housing and transportation."

VD, way to take the initiative in an economy where many people are moving back in with their parents. I'm not sure of a specific job, especially a specific job in New York, that provides both housing and transportation. You may be able to get two separate jobs, one providing free housing and one providing transportation. If you get a job as an apartment manager then you would have housing and you should still have time to take another job. If you get a job as a chofer then you might get free housing and transportation. If you become a trucker then you're job will be driving and you will have a place to sleep in the truck (a lot of these new trucks are like small motor homes with a bed and kitchenette). These are just ideas or possibilities to help you get started. If your only criteria is a job that provides housing and transportation, theres always the military which basically provides everything (I hear the Air Force has better benefits than the Army).

Most 19-year-olds only have high school and maybe a year of college under their belt. There are many professions which may compensate you for gas/travel, however they might also require a higher education. I have a friend that works in an accounting firm near New York City. They pay for his transportation, housing, part of his groceries and even movies on the weekend. One thing I can tell you is that you're on the right track looking for a job with perks to help you cover other expenses on your budget.

If you already have your own car, you might be able to get paid to drive it by selling advertising space. This is not something I have tried yet, but I've been meaning to. I have one resource that I've been looking at for a while but haven't submitted my application yet. Check back on this blog to watch for the post that gives the report. You could also try to offer driving cars that people are trying to sell. This gets their "for sale" sign seen in more places. If you want to get any driving job it will probably be required that you have a good driving record.

You could also try starting your own business. If you are able to make it profitable then you can eventually get to the point where the business (not you) pays for your housing and transportation and you get a tax deduction for it. There are many businesses you can start with $0 in start up costs.

Here are some pages on ActuallyFree.info that may help you:

The classified ads directory - search classified ads locally and nationwide to search for jobs which may offer the perks you're looking for.

Job and Workplace Freebies - Use these tools to help look for a job, build a resume, improve your writting skills for cover letters and learn how to interview. (Currently this page does have resources that can help, but it is being updated too, so check back often)

Free Education - This page lists resources that you can use to increase your knowledge and skills for free.

Free Housing - This page lists the different possible ways to get free housing

Free Transportation - This page lists the different possible ways to get free transportation.

Free Business Solutions - Free tools and information for business owners and entrepreneurs.

Make Money Online and Free Money - These pages list ways to start a business with $0 in start-up costs.

Hope these ideas and resources help. Good luck on your search.

ZN from Australia whats to be a Medical Test Subject

2011-05-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

ZN from Australia sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"I would love to become a medical test subject. So where or when can I register."

Australia, wow. Most of the information on ActuallyFree.info is meant for the United States, however, some international information is also available. I have a specific page which describes how to become a medical test subject. You can find it here:

http://actuallyfree.info/BecomeaMedicalTestSubject.aspx

The page was created as one of the many ways to get free money or quick cash. It lists a couple of resources for becoming a medical test subject, but once again, they may only be for residents of the USA, not Australia. I would suggest going to a local hospital or medical school. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Earth Day Freebies Tomorrow!

2011-04-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

If you didn't see the article on Yahoo!, here is a review of some freebies you can get on Earth Day:

Free face cleanser from Origins when you trade in 5 empty containers
Free organic milkshakes from Evos
Free reusable shopping bag from Disney Store when you trade in 5 disposable plastic bags
1 million free trees from Lowes
Free admission to National Parks through April 24
Free digital download of Yoga Journal

There are also many other discounts, sweepstakes and contests.

Freebies to relieve the stresses of tax day.

2011-04-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

Just passing the info along. According to an article on Yahoo! there are lots of freebies and discounts today. Here is a list of some of the freebies mentioned:

Free Mini Icecream at MaggieMoo's
Two free cinnamon bites at Cinnabon
Free chips at California Tortilla
A dozzen bagels at Bruegger's (coupon)
Kids eat free at IHOP throughout April
Free 10-minute massage at Hydromassage (find a location)
Free access to HBO and Cinemax through April 18
Free work out at Bally Total Fitness
Free tax document copying and paper shredding at Office Depot (coupon)
Free entrance to national parks all week.

The article also lists discounts to other places.

Article also suggests checking the following resources for more freebies:

Local shops
Twitter and Facebook for coupons
TaxDayFreebies.com
BradsDeals.com

Shops not giving discounts or freebies this year.

Starbucks
Dunkin Donuts
Ben & Jerry's
Chick-fil-A

Get a Free Car . . . if you're a celebrity.

2011-04-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

I just read an article on Yahoo! about car companies giving cars to celebrities. It makes a lot of sense to me. When a celebrity drives the car, its like getting tons of free publicity. The article is here:

Money for Nothin' and Cars for Free.

If you're not a celebrity however, there is still a chance that you can get free stuff by tapping into company budgets for advertising. If you want free clothes and get paid to wear clothes, then you could sell space on your clothes as a human billboard or brand ambassador. Read more on this page. And if you need a shirt to promote yourself with, you can get one at the Actually Free T-Shirt Store.

I've also heard that you can get paid to drive your car by selling ad space on your car. I haven't tried it yet, but from multiple sources I've seen the company FreeCarMedia.com pop up a few times. Read more on the Get Paid To page.

Free After Rebate deals found at Rite Aid

2011-04-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

Found these Free After Rebate deals while browsing through Rite Aid's weekly circular. Don't think they're useful to everyone, but they should be useful to someone.

Free TENA Serenity Ultra Thin Pads after rebate and free Super Poligrip after rebate.

See all of Rite Aid's rebates.

EV from Kentucky needs materials for a new porch on a mobile home

2011-04-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

EV from Kentucky has sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"Disabled retiree needs materials for a deck or porch to be put on a mobile home."

EV, I have a couple of suggestions for you. Keep in mind, I don't know what your disability is. If you can build the deck yourself, or get friends and family to help, and you just need the materials, then I would first check with local construction companies to see if they have any surplus materials. They may have older materials that they need to replace, they may be reducing their storage space, or they may be finished with a project that is completely paid for and they have left-overs. You can probably work out a deal with them to make the donation tax-deductable. If you are unable to build the deck yourself, they may also be able to help with labor if they can make it tax-deductable.

Another possibility is to tap into government resources. If the modification to your home can be directly related to your disability (for example, the new deck will include a ramp so you can get into your home in a wheelchair), then that will expand the possibilities of what is available for you. I've replied to a message similar to yours in a previous post. Medicare may even pay for it if it is related to your disability. Your level of income and the amount of money that you have in the bank may also be factors for some programs, but not all of them. You'll want to read the advice on the Government Freebies page. Also, here are some links that may be helpful to you.

HUD.gov information for disabled persons
Homes & Communities: People with diabilities
Home Improvement and Repair programs
Disability.gov/housing
Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants

The third idea is a long shot. You can apply to the TV show Extreme Home Makeover and if you're selected they'll dramatically tear down your house and build a state-of-the-art deck and a new home to go with it. Your property taxes will sky rocket, but hey, at least the home was free. Luckily the more recent houses built on the show have funding to pay off the mortgage. The show usually picks large families that are in very dire situations. This makes the show more interesting since the average joe is usually quite boring for TV whether he needs a home or not.

Actually Free is conducting an experiment

2011-04-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

I'm conducting an experiment to test some get-paid-to offers. If they actually pay out, then a report will be published on ActuallyFree.info, but I need help reaching the payout limit. All sites have been checked with McAfee Site Advisor. If you are willing to participate, you can get a free download.

See the description here.

New Ebook Added!

2011-03-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

I just added a new ebook to the Actually Free Ebooks page. Its titled 100 of the Best Freebie Resources on the Web. Enjoy!

SJ from Sacramento, CA wants free housing and free college courses

2011-03-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

SJ from Sacramento, CA sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"I want everything that involves free housing and free college courses."

OK, SJ, you got it.

The Free Housing page on Actually Free describes the different ways to get free housing. Much of it can also be thought of as productive housing, or getting paid to live in a certain place and do certain jobs. The only two ways that I know of where you can possibly get completely free housing is through HUD.gov, if you meet the qualifying criteria (low income), or you can try to get free land and live in a tiny house (not tested by Actually Free). See the Free Housing page for more details. My wife and I got free housing by working as apartment managers. All we had to do was collect rent, do some minor repairs and take complaints. The management company did the rest, including major repairs, finding the tenants, etc. This helped our budget tremendously and it was easy to work into our schedule. I've seen many other management jobs offer better perks than we had. Its not uncommon to get free rent, free utilities, free use of laundry room, free internet and a salary. However, some management positions require more work than others, and they always want some kind of previous "management" experience.

There are a couple of options for free college courses. The first is to get scholarships and grants for school. The scholarships directory lists free resources to find scholarships. Second, if you're just interested in learning, and don't need college credit, then there are tons of free educational resources online. Many accredited colleges and universities offer open courseware online. This means you can access videos and text of any classes that they offer for free. You won't get college credit unless you're enrolled (which costs a pretty penny without a scholarship).

Hope this helps. If I ever find any new material they will be added to the Free Housing and Free Education pages.

Free Stock Videos

2011-03-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

An ActuallyFree.info reader submitted a unique freebie resource - free stock videos. These videos can be used for personal or commerical use. You can use them to make advertisements, school projects, or for clients. Please follow the terms of use. You can use these videos for your own projects but no type of pass-along or resell rights are granted. Thanks to PB for submitting this. Enjoy.

http://xstockvideo.com/

Get Free Help to Prepare Your Taxes

2011-03-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

It's tax season and I just found an excellent article on Yahoo! which explains where you can get free help to prepare your taxes. The article lists 6 different ways.

Check it out.

Free tote bag

2011-02-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, one of the Actually Free readers sent in a freebie. This has not been tested by ActuallyFree.info, but its here for anyone who wants to try it:

"Sign up for our Let's Talk Tomato Club and get a FREE tote bag...while supplies last.

This offer is only available to residents with a valid CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, PA, RI, VA, VT, DC shipping address."

Here is the link: http://www.redgold.com/redpack/rptote

SS from Michigan wants Free Money

2011-01-10T07:31:00.000-08:00

SS from Michigan sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

How do i get free money? can u help?

Well, SS, it just so happens there is a page on ActuallyFree.info, titled Free Money, which explains 16 different ways to get free money, get cash quickly, and make money online. Any method listed which explains how to make money, either on- or offline, involves zero start up costs. So while some of them take some time, they are considered ways of getting free money because it doesn't cost any money to do it.

The quickest and easiest way to get free money is through bank bonuses. There are two online banks, ING Direct and Virtual Bank, that consistently give bonuses to people who refer their friends to their free services. The only steps their friends have to take for the person referring and the friends to get free money is use the referral link to sign up for a free checking, savings, or money market account and keep a certain amount in that account for a month. For ING Direct, the person referring gets $10 for each referral and the friend gets $25 for signing up for a savings and checking account each, for a total of $50. At Virtual Bank, the person referring gets $20 and the friend gets $20 for signing up for a money market account. If you would like a referral to either of these banks, just send me an email.

Another great way to get free money is through a free website. You can get a free website (the domain name costs money after the first year) through OfficeLive.com.This is the same service that ActuallyFree.info uses. Then once you've created some content worth viewing, you can add an advertising service like Google's Adsense. The amount of money you get will depend on how many visitors you get to your website. Google pays out once you've reached $100.

There are other ways of getting free money, but sometimes it depends on what you're going to do with the money. The government offers grants for multiple reasons or if you have a worthy cause, you can start your own non-profit organization (there is a small registration fee for this). Applying for government grants and starting a non-profit are things you can do on your own, so you don't have to hire anyone or give in to any sales pitches if you're interested in this route.

These are just samples of the information you can find on the Free Money page. As ActuallyFree.info continues to research, content will be added to this page. For now, see what you can do with the 16 suggestions listed and each explained in more detail on their own pages.

Hope this answers your question SS. Good luck on getting free money.

My Christmas gift to you - Free Software

2010-12-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

For the last few months I've been updating the Free Software page. I'm pleased to announce that its finished! Before the page listed about 20 items of free software. Now its a portal for an expanding directory of free software with over 200 pages, each listing free software programs in different categories. Each item of software has a link to the download page. It also has the link to the download page's review from SiteAdvisor.com to indicate whether Site Advisor found it to be a safe site to download from. Some of the software was also tested by me, which is also indicated.

Oh, and did I mention that I don't consider free trials to be actually free? That means that all the software listed on this directory is free forever. There may be paid upgrades available (some of which actually have free trials) but if the software is listed, then it has a free version that is free forever.

So here is my Christmas Gift to you:

Free Software

Rockin' Merry Christmas with The President of The United States

2010-12-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

I've always thought Jib Jab is great fun free entertainment! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Page Updated! Actually Free Coupons.

2010-12-06T17:15:00.000-08:00

ActuallyFree.info makes an effort to bring some freebies directly to site users, and whenever that's possible, those freebies are listed under Section 2 (Actually Freebies). The most recent of these pages to be updated is the Actually Free Coupons page. These free coupons are powered by Coupons.com and until recently, they only let associates display banners if those associates' websites weren't popular enough (or in other words, didn't get enough traffic). This was good motivation for Actually Free to work towards gaining popularity. However, since coupons.com now allows the gallery option to be displayed on any of their associates' websites, I figured visitors to ActuallyFree.info would be interested in getting coupons quicker and easier now instead of later. So enjoy the free coupons! You can select and print them for immediate use, and they are absolutely free!

Cyber Monday Freebies

2010-11-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

I found some freebies for Cyber Monday!

Get Trend Micro Internet Security Software Free ($70 value):
Staples Free After Rebate
NewEgg.com Free After Rebate

Get Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 Software Free ($60 value)
Staples Free After Rebate
Frys.com Free through visa card refund.

Free glucose monitor to test your blood surgar ($16 value): Walgreens Free After Rebate.

Free healing cream for diabetics ($8 value): Walgreens Free After Rebate.

Walgreens also had a few "jingle cash" deals where you get the same value in store credit when you buy certain items. Happy holidays!

Black Friday Freebies

2010-11-26T12:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Black Friday!

I've found a couple of freebies with all of the Black Friday deals. The most notable is that Office Depot is giving away at least 14 items of software that are Free After Rebate. I purchased McAfee Total protection for 3 users. The rebates do not cover sales tax, so you may end up paying around $5 for each item. My rebate receipt states that the item must be purchased between 11/21 and 11/27.

On Staples' ads I also found free after rebate photo paper 8.5 x 11 pack of 50 and 4 items of free software after rebate.

And for the disappointing news: I've seen offers that are similar to Free After Rebate deals, but you don't actually get the rebate. Walgreens used to be awesome at giving away items after rebate. Not anymore. Now they offer store credit for every dollar you spend on certain items. So it's kinda like saying, buy these items and you get the same value of other items in the store for free, or a buy-one-get-a-different-one free type of deal. This could still be a good for those who are interested in these products. However, its not free :(

Happy Black Friday, Happy Freebie Hunting, Happy belated Thanksgiving, and Happy Holidays in the months to come.

RS from Salt Lake City, UT needs health care, a diabetes exam, a work-at-home opportunity and a couch.

2010-10-12T13:33:00.000-07:00

RS is someone I met recently who doesn't know that I'm the author of ActuallyFree.info. We had quite a long conversation about some of the needs that he and his wife have. They are both overweight and in poor health. He is an experienced computer programer who has worked in customer assistance and trouble shooting pretty much since computers became marketed to the public. He has been out of work for about 5 years due to his health, and that is long enough for some employers to think his skills are outdated. He has even offered to work for free for a week to prove his skills are up-to-date and still hasn't been hired. Since they have limited funds for transportation, he would very much like a stay-at-home job. He and his wife live in public housing. She has qualified for diability and gets medicaid. He was on medicaid and was receiving medication and regular health care. However, he was denied coverage when he applied for disability because as a default they deny all applicants the first time they apply. So once he was denied disability medaid dropped him. He has breathing problems and possibly diabetes. If he can get a doctor to diagnose him with diabetes he can get disability and medicaid coverage again - a catch 22. He and his wife also need a different couch, since the one they have isn't suitable for people their size.

So to sum it up, RS needs health care for his current medical problems, he needs a doctor to diagnose him with diabetes if he has it (and the symptoms are overwhelmingly indicative of it), he needs a stay-at-home job (or any job), and a different couch.

Since I'm the author of ActuallyFree.info, I had a pretty good start on getting him the information he needed and within a couple of days I presented a packet to him with the following information:

Since RS had already offered to work for free, I though he might be able to build his resume by volunteering at computer-related non-profits. This is also a great way to get freebies. The first one that came to mind was FreeGeek.org, based in Portland, OR. They take old, donated computers, refurbish them, reprogram them and give them away to people in need. Volunteers get their own free computer after a certain number of hours. However, RS lives in Salt Lake City, UT, so I had to find a local couterpart. And it just so happens that there is one in Sandy, UT, which is near Salt Lake. Its called "Computers for Kids."

The next item on his list of needs is a work at home opportunity. His willingness and desire to work impressed me. This sets him apart from many people who are just trying to get a free lunch. He certainly has enough medical conditions and income level to live off of government benefits for the rest of his life. But that's not his intention. And while it is fun to get freebies, ActuallyFree.info was actually created to promote self-suffiency and frugality, not government waste. This to me was what gave RS the best hope for success. Since he has the computer skills, I though of a work at home customer service opportunity that was listed on the Make Money Online page of ActuallyFree.info. I found a company that outsources their customer service reps. Their employees can set up a room in their home to become a customer service call center. If RS can get this job, he will be able to work from home and get medical coverage as a perk. I'm still waiting to hear an update on what happened with this lead.

RS needs health care for his current medical problems and he needs a doctor to monitor him for possible diabetes. A new page was recently added to ActuallyFree.info: Free Health Care. One resource that was particularly helpful was FreeMedicalCamps.com, which listed seven free health clinics in the Salt Lake City, and lists free health clinic all over the country.

In my search, I also found DefeatDiabetes.org. This a non-profit dedicated to "prevention, early detection, and effective self-management of diabetes." I called them to see if they knew of any doctors that would be willing to work-up RS for possible diabetes for free. He guided me to a list on the website of possible doctors and clinics in the Salt Lake are that would do just that. He also sent me a free glucose monitor/diabetic testing kit in the mail for me to give to RS.

And finally, RS and his wife needed another couch. We were able to get one for him through church resources. However, I generally recommend using the resources found on the Classified Ads page of ActuallyFree.info, as well as Reuse and Sharing Sites. There are also local non-profits and government programs that provide furniture for families in need.

Page updated: College Scholarships

2010-08-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hey folks.

I just finished updating the page on college scholarships. This page lists over 20 resources that students can go to in order to get college scholarships. All database access is free.

Check it out! And Good Luck!

New Page Added to ActuallyFree.info - Free Health Care

2010-08-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

Hello blog readers and freebie seekers!

A new page was just added to ActuallyFree.info

The page describes some of the resources for getting free health care. Check it out!

CB from Austin wants to know how to make money online!

2010-08-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

CB from Austin, Texas sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"I would like to learn how to make money from home."

Well CB, I've got the perfect page for you. Its true that I have a free site, but its unique in that I like to think outside the box when it comes to getting freebies. I consider ways of making money online to be ways of getting free money because there are practically no start up costs. So the perfect page I was mentioning is this: A comprehensive list of making money online. This list includes everything from online sales, eBay, freelance work, and making money with a website. As I continue to find resources for making money online, those resources will be listed on the same page.

Enjoy and good luck!

JS needs free credit card points or Wii points

2010-07-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

JS (location unkown) sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"need creditcard or wii points"

JS, the way that is written could mean you need a credit card. If that were the case then I would suggest a rewards card. Use it for all your PLANNED purchases; ie. groceries, gas, etc. Don't go buying extra things just to get the "rewards", you'll end up spending more than you get back. Then pay the balance in full and on time every month. Don't carry a balance or you'll pay more in interest than you'll get in rewards. I'd only suggest this if you're are a "type A" person, the strict, motivated, follow things to the letter type of person. If you're simply a fun and easy going type of person and not the numbers planner, then I suggest not using a credit card at all.

I'm assuming you actually mean credit card points and wii points. The only way I know of to get credit card points is by using your credit card and the only plan I suggest is the one I already described.

The only way I know of to get wii points for free is through programs that are similar to ones described on the Get a Free Gadget page. This also requires a "type A" personality to pull off getting it for free, if it is even still possible. That page may be outdated and I haven't checked it in a while.

Another possible way to get free Wii points is by getting free cash and then buying Wii points. Check the Free Money page and I'd especially suggest the Bank Bonuses page.

Hope this helps, I'll keep my eye open for more options.

JC (no not Jesus) from St. Louis, Missouri needs Free Money

2010-07-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

JC from St. Louis sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"had back surgery out of work for three months getting only 500 dollars every two weeks to live on to pay bills and try to buy food."

JC, I hope you're healing well and doing what the doctor says to get better quicker. I'm sorry to hear about your work situation. Unemployment is more and more common these days. As the Freebie Finding Help page describes on my website, I can only offer information on how to obtain freebies, including free money; I cannot personally provide the freebies. And I actually already have tons of information that might be able to help someone in your situation. Getting the freebies will depend on how well you use the information, if you're eligible and if the freebie actually exists.

The Governement Freebies page gives tips on how to obtain government freebies. If you have a low income and possibly if your back surgery qualifies you as disabled, you could be eligible for benefits including free rent/housing, money to help pay for bills, free medical insurance, and free food (look for nutrition programs and food stamps). Government resources may be where your $1000/mo is already coming from. If it is, that doesn't necessarily mean your not eligible for other programs. If anything, it is easier to get benefits from one government program after you have already been established as eligible for another program for those with low income.

You may also find the information on the Free Money page to be helpful. This page not only lists ways to get free money, but it also lists ways to get quick cash and ways to save money or stretch your dollar to pay for more. I would suggest at least the following pages:

The Make Money Online page explains the different ways to earn money on the internet. I don't know how incapacitating your back surgery has made you, but I know that if you were able to send me an email then you are able to use a computer and you have internet access. This is basically what you need to start.

The Avoid Wasting Money page explains how to reduce costs and lighten your expenses so that you can live within a smaller budget.

And speaking of budgets, you might also be able to use a free budget spreadsheet download here or find more financial freebies.

Based on your situation, you may also be able to use some of the information found on the Free Housing page, Free Coupons, and Free Food.

Hope this helps JC. Good luck and I hope you get better soon.

Get FREEBIES on Earth Day!

2010-04-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

An article on Yahoo's Green site outlines 5 freebies, 4 sweepstakes and 6 store discounts that are being offered today (April 22) in order to celebrate Earth Day.

A lot of the user comments at the bottom of the article describe even more freebies, contests and discounts than the article.

Many of the user comments are also complaining about consumerism and the fact that coupons have to be printed to get the freebies. I offer at least two possible solutions:

1. See if you can download the coupon on your mobile phone. That way you can still bring it to the store without printing it.
2. For every coupon you print, recycle 5 pieces of paper. That way you're giving back more than you take.

Other comments suggest planting a tree for Earth Day, thankfully one of those comments says where can free seeds, but this hasn't been tested.

More FREE FOOD today! Tax relief celebration.

2010-04-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Restaurants are giving away food today to help out tax payers ease the tension of tax day. There is also a free massage offer and other restaurants are giving out coupons and discounts.

Read the article here for details.

Free Fries from Jack in the Box on "Fryday".

2010-04-14T15:22:00.000-07:00

FREE FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT.

Jack in the Box is giving away free fries for their "fryday" promotion this Friday, April 16th, 2010.

At the Jack in the Box website you can also find a free coupon for $1 off the new grilled sandwiches.

Webmasters can also find free Jack in the Box widgets in Jack's office on the website.

Get help finding a SPECIFIC freebie, a service provided by ActuallyFree.info

2010-03-13T12:51:00.000-08:00

ActuallyFree.info provides a unique service offered by no other free site - personal help, from an actual person, on finding freebies.

One of the criteria for receiving this free service is that the request for help must involve a specific freebie. Otherwise, I have no idea where to begin. ActuallyFree.info is already loaded with ideas and information that can help you find freebies. If the request is for freebies in general, then my reply to these requests is to browse my site for ideas and information that is already there.

The requests that I've considered to be successes have asked for specific things like bibles, hearing aids, wheelchairs, a guitar, and money. I consider these to be successes because I can provide specific information regarding the specific freebies that people are looking for.

The following requests are included here to show that these are the types of requests that I can't do much more to help than what I've already written on the site.

GM from Detroit, Michigan sent the following: "I would like to get free items for use in the house, for me , for the car."

GM, which items for the house, for yourself, or for the car do you need or are you looking for?

RB from Duluth, Minnesota sent the following email: "Wanting free stuff."

RB, we all want free stuff. And free stuff is available. Let me know if there is anything specific that you need.

I'm always happy to help, if I know where to begin. For freebies in general, you may want to start with the following pages on the site:

The Classified Ads
Free Samples and Gifts
Free with coupons
Free Money

I'm always open to requests, even if the requests are vague sometimes. And suggestions and comments on the site are always welcome. GM's request, though unspecific, has caused me to think about adding a couple pages or directories to the site. That's something I might consider if I find enough content that could fill those pages. So keep the emails coming and happy hunting for freebies!

Ihop is celebrating national pancake day with FREE pancakes.

2010-02-18T03:38:00.000-08:00

Another free food offer for Feb 2010.

Ihop will give you a free short stack of 3 pancakes on February 23, 2010 from 7 am to 10 am.

Some may think this is just Ihop's way of competing with Denny's free grand slam breakfast the Tuesday after the Super Bowl. However, Ihop has actually been doing this since 2006. They're asking for a donation to Children's Miracle Network and hope to raise $5 Million in 5 years.

Check out the offer here.

Ihop is also holding a contest where the winner will receive free pancakes for a year, specifically a free short stack of 3 pancakes for 365 days in the form of gift cards. In order to enter, submit an essay less than 250 words describing a good deed that you or someone you know performed in 2009.

Enter here. Read the contest rules here.

Read the difference between a contest and sweepstakes here.

Denny's is giving away a Grand Slam again!

2010-02-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

Good news for free food addicts!

Once again, as advertised on the Super Bowl, Denny's is giving away a Grand Slam breakfast on Tuesday, February 9, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Denny's also gives you a free Grand Slam on your Birthday.

Denny's is also having a sweepstakes for a free Grand Slam every week for a year. Check it out on their website.

Excelent Video on Freebies from HowCast

2010-01-18T00:10:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking about placing this video on the ActuallyFree.info home page because it lists in a nutshell many of the strategies that are described in detail at ActuallyFree.info. The only problem is I'm trying to avoid anything that might slow down the loading time. Until the decision is made you can enjoy it here.

How To Get Free Stuff on Howcast

Free Money Success - Free Website with Adsense

2010-01-09T12:16:00.001-08:00

ActuallyFree.info received it's first check from Google in December! Whoo Hoo!

This demonstrates that it is possible to get free money by owning a free website and getting paid to place ads on the site.

You can find resources that offer free web space on the Webmaster Freebies page. The free website service that ActuallyFree.info uses is officelive.com. Although, if you're serious about getting a website, you might want to try some of the other resources available. Office Live is as user friendly as Microsoft Word, but its difficult to modify the website code. This limits search engine optimization.

The advertising that AF gets paid for is Google Adsense and a number of affiliate programs. All of which are free to join.

Click here to learn more about making money online.

Truth be told, I had to pay for a domain name, so AF wasn't completely free up front. And the check I received was hardly compensation for the time that I've put into the site. I could theoretically leave the site as is and continue to get paid by google. But there are many more ways to improve and continue providing freebie information for people that can use it.

ActuallyFree.info won an award!

2010-01-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

ActuallyFree.info won a Bronze Award from NodusAwards.com!

Check it out on the About Us page

The bronze award is given to websites that have "good quality in most areas but lack a polished feel overall." They rated the site based on criteria consisting of 16 questions in 3 or 4 different categories: Appearance, Usability, Content and a Bonus Point.

In those categories ActuallyFree.info received the following:

Appearance - 2/5
Usability - 3/5
Content - 5/5
Bonus - 0/1

To qualify for a silver award, a website has to score 11 points. ActuallyFree.info was only 1 point short with 10 points. Darn! . . . I realize there are lots of areas where the site can improve. Its a lot of work for one guy who barely knows his way around HTML. And to improve the site's rating, I'm certainly open to suggestions.

I was a little disappointed that they didn't give the bonus point. The question for the bonus was "For whatever reason, do you believe the site to be special and an outstanding contribution to the web?"

I'll admit that I'm bias, but ActuallyFree.info is the only free site that I've seen that offers as much freebie education (not just links but good information), that offers freebies directly and even a personal service to help people find specific freebies. I'll always believe the site is special, and an outstanding contribution because it helps people in a lot of ways.

But I'm not complaining. An award is an award! Thanks Nodus.

Free Piece of KFC Grilled Chicken

2009-10-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

KFC is giving away a free piece of grilled chicken to every customer this Monday, October 26, 2009. This isn't the first time KFC has given away chicken. Read a news report here.

Free Money for Paying Off Credit Cards Update

2009-09-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

In a previous post I answered a reader's question about getting free money for paying off credit cards.

I mentioned that some sources suggested to use a credit counseling agency to contact a lender and ask them to settle for a lower amount. I suggested AGAINST this because many of these agencies are scams and when you can actually get your lender to settle for a less amount it will negatively affect your credit score.

What I didn't mention was suggestions for lowering credit card rates. I was reading an article at Consumerist.com which suggested this and they report enough successes to make it worth trying.

I also didn't mention other ways for lowering credit card debt. That was a mistake I'll rectify here:

Negotitiate Better Credit Card Rates
Go Cash-Only, Don't Use a Credit Card except in Emergencies*
Start a Debt Snowball (pay off one credit card at a time)
Set Up a Budget
Cut Back Expenses

Give up unnessesary expenses: Cable, land line phone, gardener, gym membership, eating at restaurants, etc.
Get items for free or by trading.
Use Coupons and don't waste food.

*For #2, I would suggest one alternate habit to form once your credit cards are paid off. Use a rewards credit card for every purchase and pay off the balance in full every month. (If you don't have the money in a checking or savings account to pay off the credit card, then don't use the credit card). That way you don't pay any interest and you get the rewards for free.

These were all suggestions that I found on another article at Consumerist.com. The article was titled: Reader Pays Off $14,330 In 20 Months With Our Tips. This was a great article. Very motivating and encouraging.

Hope this helps. Good luck to all those out there who are reaching for financial freedom.

JP from Michigan needs a free wheelchair and ramp

2009-09-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

JP from Michigan sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"Hi. I'm in need and don't know how to ask for help. I'm disabled and in need of a manual, adult, wide wheelchair. I was hit by a drunk driver many years ago and my wheelchair is broken beyond repair. I've tried to get one through United Way and they claim that they can only give me one for a month. I need it longer since I'm permanently injured and can't walk at all. I recently had back surgery which intensifies my immobility. I have a power chair but it's too big to use inside my house, so I only use it when I go out. Now I'm just scooting around on a computer chair. I also don't have a proper wheel chair ramp. The one I have is a flimsy metal ramp with no railing. I have fallen off of it before, got severely bruised, broke my ribs and had to get stitches. So I also need a wooden ramp. Please help me."
(Not an exact quote, paraphrased for clarity)

JP, wow, that is quite the medical history.

First, I should mention, as I always do and as it is stated on the site: ActuallyFree.info provides information only. I don't have the resources to provide actual items, only information on how to get actual items.

I'll provide the information that I can, but the person you should be in contact with the most is your doctor. He or she can check with your insurance provider for getting a chair.

If you are permenantly disabled, then you are probably eligible for medicare if you don't already have insurance. And medicare pays for wheelchairs. However if the electric scooter was paid for by your medical insurance then you would probably have to wait a period of time before they would pay for another one. And since you can only get around your house on a computer chair for the time being, then lets see what other options are more immediately available:

WheelchairFoundation.org - "The Wheelchair Foundation is a nonprofit organization leading an international effort to create awareness of the needs and abilities of people with physical disabilities, to promote the joy of giving, create global friendship, and to deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen and adult in the world who needs one, but cannot afford one."

LifeNets.org/wheelchair - "The goal of LifeNet's Wheelchair Project is to put wheelchairs that are not currently being used into the hands of someone who can benefit from them."

JoniAndFriends.org - "For nearly a quarter of a century, Joni and Friends has been dedicated to extending the love and message of Christ to people who are affected by disability, whether it is the disabled person, a family member, or friend. Our objective is to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of this group of people in practical ways."

There is also a list of 24 wheelchair organizations here.

There are also links for about 20 wheelchair organizations here.

Many of the above organizations work on an international scale, but they work in the US too, so they're applicaple for you, JP. For International readers I'll also mention this one:

FreeWheelchairMission.org - Their wheelchair looks ingenious. They don't provide wheelchairs in the U.S. because "in addition to private health insurance coverage, Medicare and Medicaid are available in the U.S. to help provide wheelchairs". They will however provide a list of organizations that distribute wheelchairs in the U.S. if you contact their main office.

If by some strange chance you have actually tried all of these organizations, and others, and your doctor can't help you get a chair through your insurance, then you can always check classified ads websites, like Craigslist.org. You just have to be patient enough and diligent enough to find it there. Read this page for more information.

You also mentioned that you need a new ramp. In a previous post I mentioned that I found a program that provides grants and loans to those who are disabled and need to make their homes more accessible. Here is the link. If you're not eligible for this specific loan then contact your local HUD office (Housing and Urban Development) to see what else is available.

Since you're in Michigan, I also found this resource:

The Ray West Memorial Ramp Project is available to those in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. If you don't live in one of these counties then they should be able to point you to a provider where you live.

Since this is the second time I've referred you to someone else just to get more information, I'll also mention that getting something for free always takes diligence and patience. I know bureaucracies aren't fun to deal with, but that's the trade off for not having to pay anywhere from $100-$1500 for a wheelchair.

Hopfully this information will help you to make your home more comfortable and accessible. Take care, and no more falling off that ramp!

Sincerely,

Admin
ActuallyFree.info

Free Money Success!

2009-09-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

Recently a friend of mine at school looked over my shoulder while I was proof reading ActuallyFree.info for mistakes.

"Actually Free?" he said. "Do you really believe that?" "This website isn't real, especially that link that says 'free money'. You can't get money for free anywhere."

My friend was very surprised to find out that I was proofreading my own site! He was also much more open-minded when I told him that I have either tried what I have listed myself, cross-referenced it with a reliable third party source, or at the very least marked it with a "not tested" warning.

One of the sources that I've listed for free money is the ING Direct refer a friend program and the Virtual Bank refer a friend program. The person who signs up doesn't have to spend any money, just keep it in an account with these legitimate, FDIC-insured banks for a period of time. (The referral for Virtual Bank is for a money market account which is not FDIC insured, but checking and savings accounts at Virtual Bank are)

Someone last July requested a referral for Virtual Bank and followed up with me this week to thank me for the free $20 received (that means I received $20 too). The same person also requested a referral for ING direct, so my new "friend" will also be recieving another $25 for free (and I'll be receiving $10). Yes!

Free Money? Absolutely!

If you'd like a referral to either of these banks, don't hesitate to use the Contact Us form at ActuallyFree.info.

DC from Mass. needs an electric guitar, money for home remodeling and paying off credit cards.

2009-09-13T23:01:00.000-07:00

DC from Mass. sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"I am looking for an electric guitar and amplifier. I am totally disabled and cannot afford such luxuries. I am also looking for money to put in an exit to my cellar and pay off credit card bills. When you don't have much, anything will help. regards."

First, as usual, I have to mention that ActuallyFree.info only provides information, not actual items. So here is the information I have for the situation that you have presented:

Getting some help with these items, or getting them entirely for free may be possible, but it will take a lot of diligence and patience. There is no place that you can go to or call for immediate free gifts like the ones you're mentioning. Some activities you might be doing to get these items are checking a message board every day online, calling government employees for assistance, and educating yourself. Calling government employees, or going to government offices is something that particularly requires patience. They're not like a department store or restaurant where the customer is always right. They're simple workers, probably getting paid low salary, they deal with a lot of paperwork, and they basically provide what the law requires. People have to go to them to request assistance; they don't beckon with the advertising of big business.

That's just a background to get you mentally prepared. Here are my specific recommendations:

Free Electric Guitar and Amplifier

I have two suggestions for getting a free electric guitar and amplifier.

The first suggestion is to check the free section on Craigslist.org every day until someone posts it for free. I've found that no matter what I'm looking for, someone always posts it. Not necessarily today, or tomorrow, but eventually it happens. You just have to be ready for it when it happens and be the first to request the item. You can also download software that you can set up to alert you when the item is listed. I had a free resource for this type of software listed on my classified ads page, but those who provided that resource are now charging for it. I'm currently looking for a free alternative. Also, if you have something to trade, then make the offer on craigslist to see if anyone is interested.

The second suggestion I have for getting a free guitar and amplifier is to join Freecycle.org. You can send a request to Freecycle members in your area, and if anyone has a guitar and amplifier that they're willing to give away then they'll respond.

A guitar is a little more specialized than other electronics so you may have to wait longer than usual, but I can imagine someone out there who decided they wanted to learn how to play, but for whatever reason were not able to. And their guitar and amplifier is just sitting there, gathering dust, and taking up space in the garage when the wife wants to clear it out. Or some similar situation.

You could also try a contest give away like the one here, but I haven't tried it myself, so I can't recommend it. It's a contest give away so there's only one winner.

You can get more tips for using classified ads to get free stuff on the classified ads page.

Free Money for Home Remodeling.

Possibly the government will provide money to remodel part of your home, especially since you mentioned you're disabled, and especially if the remodeling is related to your disability.

Usually when people want to know what kind of housing-related assistance the government provides, I think of Hud.gov.

When I went to hud.gov to find out if they have anything for you, I clicked on "home improvements" and then "rural home improvement and repair."

I eventually found a home repair loan and grant program that you may be eligible for. "The Home Repair Program provides funds to make a home accessible to someone with disabilities." The link is here.

If you're not eligible for this assitance program, you can try contacting your local HUD office to see if they can provide you with more information. Find the contact info here.

You can also shoot for the moon by applying to the TV show Extreme Makeover Home Edition. If you get selected they'll remodel you're whole house and send you on a trip for free. The chance of getting selected is probably slim, but it never hurts to apply if you're willing to be filmed.

Free Money for Paying Off Credit Cards

I'm not really qualified to offer credit card advice. It seems like you need someone to help you with this that's more qualified than me, but I'm not sure in which direction to point you.

I tried to get info on things like credit counseling agencies, but I found some conflicting information. A couple of articles at kiplinger.com (one here and the other here) suggested to use a specific counseling agency, which may help you negotiate with your lender to settle for a lower amount than you owe. But an article from the federal trade commission said to be careful with these because they're often scams; also negotiating for a lower amount will lower your credit score. I'd be very cautious about this.

Here are a couple more links from the Federal Trade Commission which might help:

Credit & Loans
Knee Deep in Debt

I'm guessing you'll be able to find free counseling somewhere, probably from the government, but I doubt you'll find any free money to pay credit card bills. You are generally expected to pay for what you owe.

You may however be eligible for money because you are disabled. Try Grants.gov.

You're welcome to look at the Free Money pages of ActuallyFree.info, but these are certainly not solutions for credit card debt.

Sorry this credit card section probably isn't what you were hoping for, but this is a serious issue in our country right now. Only the government would consider paying for other people's credit card debt, and when or if they do it the taxpayers have to pay for it. If anyone besides the government offers to do it, then somehow, I bet it will mean you are simply changing the debt to someone else. You will owe them something that may be worse or it will be a scam.

Good luck on all three of these items (guitar, remodeling, credi card debt). I hoped this information helped to get you started towards accomplishing your goals.

Admin
ActuallyFree.info

How to find out if an emailed link is legit or a scam.

2009-09-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

JLV from southern California sent the following message to ActuallyFree.info:

"I came across this site: getmetobangkok.com. They are giving away two airline tickets free to Bangkok from anywhere in the world. Maybe you might want to include it."

This blog entry will serve two purposes. 1. It will show readers and fans out there that I actually check into links that are sent in and/or added to ActuallyFree.info directories. 2. It can educate others on how to check to see if an emailed link is legitimate or a scam.

One question that I could ask myself is "what is the motive of the person who sent the email?"

I don't know JLV personally, so he could be someone who is actually trying help me out, or he could be someone who is trying to promote the link because he has a vested interest in it. (JLV, if you're out there reading this, no offense is intended. This is just a great opportunity to show others how to handle emailed links) The link was a simple .com link, so I can see that it wasn't a referral link. If it ended with /ref#123 or something like that, then the sender would probably be getting a commission for promoting the link. That doesn't mean the product is not worth looking at; it simply means the sender's motive is more to earn money than it is to share the best product by word of mouth. Worst case scenario is this link leads to JLV's website (or the sender's website, again no offense intended if JLV is reading), and its loaded with spyware that downloads to my computer. Once that happens JLV has all kinds of ways of making illegal money off of my computer.

A common phishing scam is to send emails that look like they're from eBay, PayPal, Facebook, MySpace or some other popular website that requires membership. The phishing email says something like "dear user, please follow this link to update your account and avoid deletion or fees." The person clicks on the link and they're brought to a website that looks like the real deal, but its not. When the person fills out the form provided, they're not updating their account on a legitimate site, they're submitting their personal information to the "phisherman", which is then sold for profit, and can even be used for identity theft. Or the login information is used to log into their actual account on the actual site, and their facebook profile or myspace profile is used to send spam and ads to all the person's friends.

The two most common ways to avoid phishing scams are: 1. If its from the legitimate site, they'll use the name that you used to sign up, not "dear user". 2. Don't follow any links provided by email. Type the actual domain name into the browser (www.ebay.com, www.facebook.com, etc.) to get to the site. All of these sites have message services. If they sent you the email, it will also show up on your profile when you login to the real site (using the domain name that you know)

JLV's email could have been a phishing scam. The site probably tells me I have to submit personal information in order to get the free tickets. But what if its an actual, legitimate drawing? I'm open-minded enough to try it if its legitimate, and hopefully win.

First I have to make sure the website itself is safe if I'm going to visit the site. The best way to make sure a site is safe is to have updated anti-virus protection. Most anti-virus softwares (including free anti-virus software) will not permit someone to click through to a dangerous site. Since I don't have updated software on my older computer, which I was using at the time I read the email, I can also check the link at McAfee SiteAdvisor (www.siteadvisor.com). McAfee keeps a database of reports on millions of websites that they test. The reports are free and open to the public. You can also download the software for free to get an advisory band during google searches, but it slowed down my computer when I tried it. So I just go to their site to read the reports. If McAfee site advisor says that the website is at least safe, then I would type the link into the browser and see what the site has to offer. Maybe I would even try to find the name of a company so I could do some research on that.

McAfee SiteAdvisor didn't have a report on getmetobangkok.com. I submitted it for review, but getting a report isn't immediate (understandable since McAfee gets tons of submissions per day).

The next strategy I can try is to look up who owns the domain name on a WhoIs search. Sometimes a WhoIs search only reveals information for a proxy registration. This means that the person who actually owns the domain name is using the proxy's information in order to not reveal personal information. This is great for individuals who want personal websites without revealing personal information, but its a very bad sign when a "business" uses a proxy registration.

I used the WhoIs search provided by GoDaddy.com to find out that the domain name "getmetobangkok.com" is owned by a company called "c2p print design Pty Ltd" and its located in Australia. If this was a USA-based business, I would then check to see if the business has a report at the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org). Since it is located in Australia, I had to find out who their BBB equivalent is. Their BBB is called the Office of Fair Trading, and their website has a Business Names Details check. Here is the report for C2P Print Design.

Since I now know C2P Print Design is a legitimate business, I would feel comfortable using the domain name getmetobangkok.com. If there was no business registered under that name, then my last step, just to see if the website was safe, would be to go to a public computer at a library or school, not my own, and click the link. If a public computer gets a virus, no data is lost, because my files and information aren't stored on the public computer. The administrator simply re-installs the operating system and the computer is as good as new. Of course, going to a public computer is something I would only do if I really, really wanted to find out what the site had to offer. It is still possible that the site is legit even if they don't have a report with the better business bureau, or even if they have proxy registration information for the domain name. I just wouldn't know how to verify if it was legit or not until I went to a public computer to see if the site was safe and to find more information on the site itself.

When I went to getmetobangkok.com, I found an offer for 2 free tickets to Bangkok from anywhere in the world, just like JLV had mentioned in his email. This type of freebie falls under the category of "drawings, contests, prizes, sweepstakes, etc." The key to getting any freebie offered as a prize in a contest or sweepstakes is to follow all the directions when submitting your entry. This means reading all the fine print and following it to the letter. If the contest allows more than one entry, then by all means, submit more than one entry to improve your chances. More information can be found at the Contests and Sweepstakes page of ActuallyFree.info.

Although I've established that the domain name "getmetobankok.com" is owned by a legitimate company (C2P Print Design in Australia), I will throw up at least one red flag when analyzing the site. They don't have a separate page describing a privacy policy. They do have one sentence on the main page describing a "no spam" policy, but one sentence certainly isn't enough for legitimate sites in the USA. Also, the separate page describing the rules of the game doesn't provide very much information. These are things to be cautious about when submitting personal information. In all fairness, the site and company appear to be new and starting up.

JLV - once again, sorry for making you the guinea pig, and no offense intended. I appreciate the submission and encourage all other readers to submit freebies as well.

For more ways to verify the safety of a site and legitimacy of an organization, freebie, or program, click here.

TN from Fonda, Iowa needs a free Large Print ESV Bible

2009-07-14T02:25:00.000-07:00

Note to readers of non-Christian faiths: I welcome all requests for free information as long as they are family friendly.

TN from Fonda, Iowa sent the following message:

"I need a free extra large print standard English version Bible. I'm a 44-year-old dedicated Christian that lives in a nursing home because I have very severe diabetes. The diabetes has taken it's toll on my vision so that I can no longer finish reading GOD'S WORD. Could you please help me with this request?"

Here is my reply:

TN

As a fellow Christian (though probably not of your denomination), I believe you should get your Bible. Since I'm a poor student myself, I'm unable to personally provide one. The clearly-stated goal of ActuallyFree.info is to provide the necessary information so that people can get what they need for free. And its a pleasure to provide the following information to one who won't allow a visual impairment to keep him from reading the Bible.

The minute I opened your message in my inbox I began to search for free Large Print English Standard Version (ESV) Bibles. Someone on Yahoo! answers suggested the Gideons (the same organization that leaves Bibles in motel rooms). However the gideons do not distribute Bibles to individuals, only to organizations that can accept large quantities (hotels, motels, hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, colleges, etc.). Since you live in a nursing home, you might be able to ask one of the workers if there is someone who can contact the Gideons to request a whole batch of large print Bibles. This would not only benefit you, but others that live in the nursing home as well. If the nursing home is able to do that, they can find the contact information for the Gideons here: www.gideons.org

An article that I read offered the following suggestions for obtaining a free Bible: Contact a local church, download free bible software, use a free online Bible, request a Bible from websites that offer free Bibles, and contact a Bible society (who may or may not be able to offer a free Bible).

I think "contacting a local church" was the first suggestion because that's probably the best resource you can go to that will adjust to your personal needs. As far as the other resources go, I've checked a couple of them out and listed them below. Most "free Bible" sites don't say much about providing for the visually impaired. In my search I tried to keep your specific situation in mind but I also included other sources for the benefit of other readers.

You can read the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible for free online and adjust the size of the font so that its easier to read.

Go here for the ESV Bible: www.gnpcb.org/esv/browse

You can use the following help pages to learn how to adjust the font size for your internet browser:

For most web browsers try typing "Ctrl+" or "Ctrl-"
Adjusting font for Firefox users
Adjusting font for Internet Explorer users
Adjusting font for Google Chrome Users
All users (including Netscape users) can also try instructions on this page

Another excellent online Bible website is www.biblegateway.com. You can compare texts of different versions of the Bible. They also have audio versions of the bible, including free audio of the English Standard version here.

Online text bibles, which can become large print with simple font-changing steps, and online audio Bibles seem to be great options for the visually impaired. I've included more of these sources below. On the matter of getting an actual, printed copy of the ESV Bible in large print, I'm sorry to report that I wasn't able to find a resource specifically for that purpose. However, I've included other resources for free Bibles below. Some of these listed resources may be able to provide you with a free ESV Bible in large print.

May God bless you in your search for a Bible suitable to your needs, and may your continued Bible reading bring you closer to His presence.

Admin
ActuallyFree.info

Read the Bible for free online:
http://scriptures.lds.org/
http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://sacred-texts.com/index.htm
http://www.biblestudytools.com/
http://www.blueletterbible.org/
http://www.searchgodsword.org/

Free Bible audio online (streaming or download):
http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.lds.org/mp3/newarchive/0,18615,5249-1,00.html#TheScriptures (Old Testament here: http://www.lds.org/mp3/display/0,18692,5297-62,00.html, New Testament here: http://www.lds.org/mp3/display/0,18692,5297-45,00.html)
http://www.biblebible.com/bible-audio/
http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/ambassador/free-audio-bible-download (New Testament only, doesn't say which version)

Free Bible software:
http://www.e-sword.net/index.html
http://bibleocean.com/
http://www.theophilos.sk/
http://www.crosswire.org/sword/index.jsp
Bible software from Download.com

Free Bible CD:
http://bibleocean.com/

Receive a Bible for free in the mail:

Bibles specifically for the visually impaired:
http://www.lbwinc.org/order/ (specifically offers braile or large print bibles, write, call or email for their catelog)
http://www.low-vision.org/?dispage=53 (Find Large Print Bible phone number under "Large Print Periodicals", doesn't mention which version)

Free Bible sources that don't say what version they offer:
http://www.biblefreegift.org/ (It appears they accept bible donations, so they probably distribute whatever versions are donated)
http://www.lesea.com/needabible.cfm (Non-USA requests only)
http://www.freebibles.net/ (Can't guarantee a specific version, but will probably work with those who are visually impaired)
http://www.americanbible.org/pages/about-contactus (Contact us form for United Bible Society in USA)
http://www.biblesociety.org/ (United Bible Society's international site)
http://www.tfwoc.com/freestuff.htm (Each of the 4 gospels available as pamphlets)
http://freebiblesociety.org/index.htm
http://www.getyourfreebible.com/index.htm (Africa and Philipines residents only, Bibles available in English, Tagalog and Hiligaynon. New Testament only.)

King James Version:
http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/free-media/free-media
http://www.spirit1.us/dir_06/

New King James Version:
http://www.freebibleproject.com/index.php?requestbible

American Standard Version:
http://www.spirit1.us/dir_06/

New International Version:
http://www.myfreebible.org/ (New Testament only)

Other Free resources:
http://www.bibles.com/Category/Bibles/ABS_NEW/StandAloneCategories_FreeResources.aspx?search=StandAloneCategories_FreeResources
http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/free-media/free-media
http://www.tfwoc.com/freestuff.htm

National Bible Society Websites: http://www.biblesociety.org/old/bibsocs.htm

CB asked, "where can an 80 year old man get free hearing aids?"

2009-06-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

CB asked, "Is there any place that a 80 yr old man can get hearing aids at a reasonable price? We are low income and need help. The man cannot hear, and if the TV volume stays the way it is I will need hearing aids."

Here is my reply:

CB

Thank you for your inquery. This is actually my favorite type of question to answer.

Since the man you mentioned is 80 years old, I first wondered if he would be eligible for medicare. But then I found out that even if he is, medicare doesn't cover hearing aids.

I next wondered if he is eligible for medicaid since you also mentioned that you both live in a low-income household. Medicaid eligibility and coverage is different in every state (I'm assuming your in the USA). For more information on medicaid, go to to this website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp.

There also seems to be other organizations that can offer support for the hearing impaired. Here are some that I've found:

The Better Hearing Institute. BetterHearing.org
This may be the best one to start with since they seem to have most, if not all, the information you'll need. "The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is a not-for-profit corporation that educates the public about the neglected problem of hearing loss and what can be done about it." They have 45 resources listed which offer financial assistance for those with hearing loss.
Better Hearing Institute > Resources > Financial Assistance

Lion Clubs International, LionsClubs.org. Lions and Hearing Awareness
Lion Clubs International offers hearing aids through their hearing aid recycling program.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation. SoTheWorldMayHear.org

Here is a direct quote from their "hear now" application:

"The program is designed to assist those who have no other resource available to them. HEAR NOW is a program of last resort. Other options for assistance include: family support, insurance, state Medicaid program, vocational rehabilitation, school district, VA, church groups, state or local programs. Please call the HEAR NOW office to check your eligibility. . . 1-800-328-8602"

Two articles that I read on the subject suggested that the first step is to get a hearing test. One of them said that the test should performed by a doctor and that if you don't have insurance to cover it then they should be able to tell you when free screenings are available. The other suggested that you can always get free screenings at places that sell hearing aids. Another article suggested to get in touch with hearing aid manufacturers directly. Even though doctors, places that sell hearing aids, and hearing aid manufacturers are for-profit entities they'll know the resources that are available for people in your situation. You can go there having made up your mind that they won't get any of your money, but I would suggest being open to call on these sources since they will know as well as, or better than, anyone where the support can be found.

Since my grandfather had significant hearing loss before he passed away, this is a topic that gives me great pleasure to address. So I thank you again for sending me this question.

Admin
www.actuallyfree.info

PS. I remember my grandfather had his own cordless headphones so that he could listen to the TV at his own volume, while everyone else in the room, especially my grandmother, could listen at a normal volume. Feel free to browse around my website to get ideas for ways to get TV headphones for free. The two pages I'd suggest the most are The Classified Ads and Free Samples and Gifts.

JA from the UK asked, "can you tell me if these are reputable sites"?

2009-03-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

JA from the United Kingdom asked:

"Could you tell me if these are reputable websites? http://www.ofree.net/freestuff.html and
http://www.youronlinegifts.co.uk"

Since my reply reported back to me as "undeliverable" I decided to post it here. Hopefully JA out there is reading this.

Hi JA

At first glance the first one looks a little more tricky. It has links to lots of different places, and a button for users to submit freebies. There is no guarantee that the users of the site haven't put fake offers on the site, although the site owner probably works to keep everything valid. To be absolutely sure, you'd have to check the validity of each website individually that ofree.net links to. In other words, ofree.net is probably valid, but not necessarily everything they link to. I'd suggest not ever downloading the toolbar, those often involve spyware. A lot of the freebies listed are freebies I've seen in other places (free magazine subscriptions, etc.)

The second one could be legit, but might not be. Its a classic rewards program page, which are sometimes scams and sometimes legit. Read my rewards program page to see how they work.

http://actuallyfree.info/rewards.aspx

For both you need third-party sources to confirm how trustworthy they are. You're email suggests you're in the UK. Does the UK have a better business bureau? If so, I'd start there to see if its legit. You can also do a google search for "review sites", "consumer guides", etc. to find other websites that might have reviewed the site in question. Here are some to start with.

http://actuallyfree.info/thirdpartysites.aspx

Hope this helps.

Admin
www.actuallyfree.info

ActuallyFree is no longer in the "beta" phase

2009-03-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I think except for one page, its safe to say that ActuallyFree.info is no longer in the beta phase. All active links should lead to complete pages. If you happen to find a link that doesn't, please let me know. There is much content that still needs to be added to the site, which is why this blog still won't be updated too regularly yet. However, if I get questions on the contact us form that I feel should be shared with everyone, then I'll post them.

Welcome!

2008-11-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the official blog for ActuallyFree.info.

Since ActuallyFree.info is still in the beta phase, efforts are currently focused there to improve the site to a point where it is presentable. Once work is finished there, content will be added to this blog on a regular basis.