It goes without saying that the best way to save money is not to spend it in the first place. Looking online for freebies can be a big help. Websites listing free stuff allow you to browse through all the things you can get for nothing. Let’s take a closer look.
Free stuff websites
Websites for free stuff gather together hundreds of offers for free samples. You can click through and sign up to receive the ones you want. The items can take a very long time to arrive, though. In fact, you will probably have forgotten all about it by the time it arrives in the post. It’s not a good idea to use your main email address for free stuff. Otherwise, it will be swamped with marketing messages.
Below are four sites well worth checking out if you’re looking to try new stuff for free. In fact, some of the offers are duplicated across several of them.
1. Free Stuff
The Free Stuff website allows you to filter the offers so that you only see things that are genuinely free. That way, you can avoid the competitions and coupons.
2. Latest Free Stuff
Latest Free Stuff categories include free books, health and beauty, household and free computer stuff. Find the ‘Freebie’ categories to narrow down your search.
3. All Free Stuff
In addition to samples and coupons, All Free Stuff has a section on its website specifically for product testing. This is probably worth the trouble for more expensive items, like electrical goods.
4. Magic Freebies
Magic Freebies has an excellent ‘Save Money’ section that lists free days out in your area and restaurant vouchers.
Websites for free second-hand stuff
If you’re looking for pre-owned items, the following four websites are well worth a look.
1. Gumtree
The place to find second-hand items in your area, Gumtree advertisers post items available for free that they know will be difficult to sell or recycle. Just type ‘free’ into the search bar. A wide range of potentially valuable free stuff can be found on the Gumtree website if you’re prepared to hunt around.
2. Freecycle
As the name suggests, everything on Freecycle is free. You just have to pick it up. You may be lucky and get something that would be expensive to buy, like a lawnmower, in perfect working order. Once you have joined Freecycle, you can also post ‘Wanted’ requests.
3. Freegle
Freegle began as an offshoot of Freecycle, and it works in a very similar way. It claims to be ‘like online dating for stuff’. There are apps for both Freecycle and Freegle in addition to the website.
4. Facebook Marketplace
There are mountains of stuff available for free on Facebook Marketplace, including crockery, cars, clothes, furniture, food and jewellery. Posting unwanted items on Facebook is also a way for people to advertise that they have left things outside their homes for anyone to collect free of charge.
Free food
Using coupons and buy one get one free offers are two ways to get something for free, but you have to make a purchase in order to claim. This is also the case with free stuff at takeaways and cafes.
There are organisations out there that are determined to address the impact of food waste and help those in need.
FoodCycle aims to “nourish the hungry and lonely in our communities with delicious meals and great conversation, using food which would otherwise go to waste”.
The Olio app enables neighbourhoods to share surplus food. As quite a lot of the food on offer is perishable, it is necessary to respond and complete the transaction quickly.
Takeaway
Taking advantage of websites for free stuff can help you stick to your savings goals. It’s a great boost to morale to get something you need, that’s new to you, without spending a penny.