6 Things You Should Never Spend Money On

Never again pay for magazine subscriptions, books, movies, and more

I mostly consider my freebie and free sample addiction as a fun hobby, but throughout the years I have learned there are a few dependable freebies that make it possible to not spend any money at all in certain areas of my life.

Hundreds of dollars are saved each year by getting the below items in my life for free, every single time. This doesn't mean I deprive myself either, it simply means these freebies are so readily available that they're there for the taking most of the days of the year.

01
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Magazine Subscriptions

A close-up of a magazine rack.
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I get dozens of free magazine subscriptions to all the magazines I could possibly ever want or have the time to read.

These aren't business journals you've never heard of, but popular magazines that include women, parenting, family, business, and hobby magazines that you are most likely paying money for right now.

In the past, I've received free subscriptions from Woman's Day, ELLE, Family Circle, O Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Parents, Shape, Better Homes & Gardens, Family Fun, All You, Cosmo, US Weekly, OK!, Field & Stream, Allure, Women's Health, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Popular Photography, Good Housekeeping, Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, Glamour, Popular Science, and many more.

02
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Travel Toiletries

A suitcase with an open toiletry case and blow dryer.
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Thanks to all the free samples I get, I'm never without travel-sized toothpaste, free sample bottles of shampoo and conditioner, packets of body wash or tiny soaps, and a large stash of perfume vial samples.

I get these free samples from my daily list as well as free samples programs like PINCHme.

03
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Books and Ebooks

A kindle beside a stack of paper books.
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I'm an avid reader, and I always keep a book around for any downtime I might have. Even though I read all the time, both paper books and ebooks, I never pay for the books I read.

Your local library is a great source for reading books for free—check out libraries.org to find a library near you.

There are also countless websites that offer free ebook and audiobook downloads. LibriVox is one example of a website with free public domain audiobooks read by volunteers. I also really like BookBub and Manybooks.

Our Best Free e-Books for Business list details where to go for free marketing, lifestyle, and other books.

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Movie Streams and Redbox Rentals

A Redbox kiosk.
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In the years that I've been renting movies from Redbox, I've never spent a dime on one. I always use a free Redbox code to rent DVDs. It has a great selection of movies, and it's the only place I rent movies from. Join Redbox Perks for all the details.

Not much of a physical movie person? You can still watch movies online via streaming. Redbox has free movie streams, but so do lots of other sites. And yes, it's all totally legal and free. Crackle, Tubi, Vudu, and Freevee are just a few more examples.

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Makeup and Other Beauty Products

A cup full of makeup brushes.
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I love trying out new makeup and other beauty products, and I get to do this without spending a dime.

I make sure to request any new makeup free samples and beauty free samples whenever they're available. The best source for free beauty products and makeup is through the Allure Free Stuff program. I've gotten tons of freebies from them over the years.

06
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Computer Software and Online Services

A laptop sitting on a table in a coffee shop.
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I can't remember the last time that I've paid for computer software or an online service. There's no need to when there are simply so many great programs out there that are free.

I have free alternatives to Microsoft Office, like WPS Office and OpenOffice, so that I always have access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint viewers and editors.

There are also free antivirus programs from companies like Kaspersky, free photo editors like Photopea, and countless others.