Who doesn't like free stuff? Think there's no such thing? Kiplinger Magazine says if you look you can find plenty of freebies! It just released its 2010 list of "Fabulous Freebies" and new media director of Kiplinger.com, Douglas Harbrecht, shares some of its secrets of hunting for these 100% off deals !
Mary Schwager, Galtime Consumer Watchdog: If someone wants to scour for freebies of their own in an area they're interested in, what do you suggest for happy hunting?
Douglas Harbrecht, Kiplinger.com: There are plenty of suggestions for freebie lovers, ranging from sites like FreeFlys.com to FreeCoupons.com to reminders of how great museums can be. With our annual Freebies package, we're trying to start a conversation, encouraging our audience to add their own suggestions, and help as many people as possible.
Mary Schwager, Galtime Consumer Watchdog: For the online freebies, how do you weed out what's a potential scheme to just glom onto your personal info, email or address vs. a legit freebie?
Douglas Harbrecht, Kiplinger.com: Our project manager for this feature three years running, contributing editor Erin Burt, is very meticulous. Every year, we start with the proposition that we want valuable stuff only, as opposed to free junk. The world has enough free junk. What has true value to our readers that can be obtained for free? Erin researches each recommendation to ensure there isn't a hidden hook or scam.
Mary Schwager, Galtime Consumer Watchdog: Speaking of that--and the old saying, "nothing in life is free"-- do some freebies come with little strings attached? Like you're stuck on a mailing list or getting sales emails from the company. (Which of course may be a small price to pay for what you're getting for free!)
Douglas Harbrecht, Kiplinger.com: We try to keep such strings to a minimum. We trust that our readers are savvy enough to know that if they ask for a free meal on their birthday offered by an established restaurant franchise, for example, they realize that they will be asked to give information about themselves and be prompted for opt-ins for newsletters and other promotions. But we try hard to make sure what we suggest has value, with few strings if any--and free.
Mary Schwager, Galtime Consumer Watchdog: This is your magazine's fourth annual list, how do you keep evolving with new freebies?
Douglas Harbrecht, Kiplinger.com: Oh, to what would life amount, if there were no fabulous freebies. There always seem to be new ones, and we have enough "classics" now from previous years that we can remind people of these eternal pearls of value. Libraries, for example. I love to listen to Great College Courses while commuting to and from work every day. These wonderfully enriching audio lectures cost nothing because I check them out from my local library. Such a deal.
Check out Kiplinger's slideshow of freebies too!
Have you found any great free deals out there? Please let us know by leaving your tips in the comments section below.
If you have an idea you want Galtime Consumer Watchdog Mary Schwager to check out, please email her.
$20 off the royal peek
