Getting Started with Freebies

Freebies & Samples
How To Get Started Receiving Free Things by Mail!

Now, I have to admit that I am a freebie addict! I am like a kid in the candy store when my mailman arrives. It's fun to see what kind of surprises will arrive that day. Samples & Freebies usually take 6-8 weeks to arrive. So, unless it's something I'm really anticipating, I usually forget about it and am surprised when it finally arrives! I've received all kinds of stuff for free in the mail from full size Hamburger Helper to toothpaste to bracelets.

First things first, you'll want to create an email account for freebies. Many freebie deals require you to sign up for their newsletters and to be honest, most of them are useless and become spam. Creating a freebie-specific email ensures your main email doesn't become bogged down with junk. Just remember your login information and password! Occasionally, some freebies require an email confirmation and you'll have to log in and click a link from the company's email in order to receive your sample.

Now that you have your freebie email, start signing up for the websites listed here. Many of these listed require you to be a member before the giveaways. The next thing that you will want to do is search the web to find your favorite freebie blogs that update regularly. Here are a few of my favs:

www.vonbeau.com Jamie regularly updates her website with all of the latest freebies and samples. She also uploads videos every Sunday to her YouTube channel showcasing the freebies she received the previous week. VonBeau also offers text alerts for their hot deals. You'll get a text every time she posts a deal that will not last long!

Www.facebook.com/FreebieNinja Definitely one of my favorite fan pages to follow. Ninja posts all of the latest freebies, iwg, and giveaways to his fan page. He also uploads a freebie video each Sunday that can be quite funny! Ninja is definitely one to watch!

Www.freebieshark.com This blog is updated daily and also includes good deals that may or may not be free. I follow this blog for high value coupon alerts and great Amazon deals.

Be wary of people who post links to spam or fake freebies. The links I've mentioned above are pretty much guaranteed to have legit freebies. However, you may run across a few on random facebook pages or tweets. If a freebie or sample requires you to do massive amounts of surveys not related to the product, you can almost be certain that it is a scam. A good tip would be to not use your real full name or birthday when signing up for freebies or surveys. My full name is Alisha but in the freebie world, I use Ali. I also use a birthday close to mine but not the exact one. I still receive all of my freebies by mail with no issue. If you can't shorten your name, use your initials or maybe even your dog's name! I'm not trying to scare into not participating as I have never been scammed knock on wood but it's always better to be safe than sorry. A good rule of thumb is if the freebie sounds too good to be true, then it is probably an attempt at some sort of scam.

Another thing to watch out for is freebies that require a credit card to sign up. Unless the website is well-known or secure, I would probably pass on this offer. However, there are some freebies that will require a CC and are legit. For example, BuluBox is a company that sends a box (for a small monthly fee) of weight-loss samples for you to try. They were doing a promotion where you could get your first month's box free. You had to type in your cc information and if not canceled by the next billing cycle, you would be charged and sent the next month's box. For these types of deals, I recommend using a prepaid card that only has a few cents on it but that it is totally not necessary. Don't forget that when you sign up for these offers, you must cancel them before the next billing date! Be sure to make a reminder so you do not get charged! Personally, if the billing due date is after the free product arrival, I will cancel immediately after receiving the product.

Giveaways & Instant Win Games (IWG)
If You Don't Play, You Can't Win!

I love, love, love, instant win games. They're fun and it's exciting when you score a big prize! I don't expect to win every game nor do I expect to win every giveaway. I may enter 20 giveaways and play 10 IWG in a day but may win only one or even none! If this happens happens to you (and it will), don't get discouraged! There's always tomorrow and the next chance to win! 

Giveaways and IWG can appear almost anywhere. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & company websites are the most frequently used platforms. Some giveaways may require you to "like" a certain post on Facebook or retweet a tweet from a company; while others will simply have you fill out your information on a form.

IWG usually have certain tasks to complete. It may be a game or just a few clicks. The good thing about IWG is that you know right away if you're a winner! There's no waiting!

But there is some waiting....

When It Comes to Freebies

If you sign up for a freebie or win a giveaway, don't expect to open your mailbox the next day and see your prize. With thousands of requests to process, it can take companies weeks to ship your items. Rarely, but it does happen, it can even take months! If it's been longer than 2 months and you still haven't received anything, write a nice email to the company. If you have a winning confirmation number or email, be sure to include that in your email. Most companies have great customer service and you should have an answer in a few days!

So, by now, I hope that you've mastered the basics of freebies and samples! Good luck & May Your Mailboxes Be Filled!