Free: All you have to do is ask

This is a guest post from my friend, Suzanne Cramer, Certified Personal Finance Counselor® for CareOne Services, Inc. and a Social Media Specialist. You can follow Suzanne on Twitter where she shares the latest debt industry news, and tips to keep your finances in check @CareOneWorks. Follow Suzanne on Twitter or connect with Suzanne on Google+

We have all heard the saying, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Sometimes free is really free and taking part is only a matter of knowing how. There are hundreds of free offers available across the web, at your local restaurant or even in your own backyard.

When I was younger (before) every family had a computer in their living room, I used to write (handwritten letters) to some of my favorite companies explaining how much I loved their stuff. I got the idea from my fourth grade teacher who had us do a sample letter to a company as a writing assignment. After completing the assignment I kept going! I received all kinds of stuff free; Lisa Frank school supplies, Aussie hairspray (you remember the kind that smelled like grapes), highlighters and much more, all for the cost of the stamp I used to send the letter.

Today the concept is the same but much easier, no stamp required! All you have to do is know where to look and submit your request online.

Freebies on the Internet

• Google freebies. Just type “freebies” in any search engine and you’ll pull up hundreds of sites offering things for free. Of course there will be scams and ill-intentioned folks out there so you have to read all of the fine print before submitting to these free offers.
• Go to the site.  You can go directly to a company’s web sites to see if free samples are available. Often companies offer email contact links, which allow you to email them and ask for samples.
• Contests & sweepstakes.  You can also find lots of contests and sweepstakes you can enter online for free. It usually takes only a few minutes to enter and in some cases the end result could be a big win for you!
• Freecycle & Craigslist.  Freecycle is a place where you can get items for free just as the title suggests. You are helping to save someone some much needed space in their home and helping to save our planet at the same time by not purchasing a new item. Craigslist is a local online classified section where you can also score items people are looking to get rid of for free. My neighbor recently got a free hot tub from people that were looking to get rid of their inoperable hot tub. A $20 part fixed the hot tub!

Sometimes Complaining =Free

I have done this at restaurants where I was unhappy with the meal or service. While it is not something I make a habit of, if you have a bad experience be sure to let them know. Undercooked food, a hair in a salad or 45 minutes waiting for drinks are all unacceptable things to have happen when you are dining out.

Let the restaurant manager know while at the restaurant or call the number of the restaurant and ask to speak with the manager when you return home. They won’t want you to share your bad experience with your friends and family especially socially where things go viral almost immediately. You may be offered a free meal, dessert or drinks for next time.

Remember, to get free stuff, you often have to just ask. If you think there’s a chance something could be free, ask the store manager or write to the company. And don’t forget to go online frequently – free offers change regularly.