You've heard these phrases time and time again -- there's no free lunch -- you can't get something for nothing -- nothing in life is free. I's no wonder you are skeptical when you are told you can find free stuff on the Internet.

The truth is there are really freebies, and lots of them, on the Internet. Conversely there are also many "free" offers that aren't truly free. If you want to get really technical about it I could start an entire philosophical dissertation about the meaning of the word free. I wont do that, but I will provide a few of my thoughts on what constitutes a freebie.

My most basic definition of a freebie is "any product, or service you can obtain without opening your wallet." Most of what you find on this site fits neatly under that definition. Occasionally I will list something that requires postage or some other small fee if the value of the item justifies the cost for some people. There can also be intangible "costs" involved in free offers.

You could argue that the time needed to fill out forms is a cost. Many feel the act of making your email address available for possible email lists is also a cost. You of course need to determine if an offer is worth your time. I try to avoid listing things that take a lot of time. If you are concerned about being on mailing lists you may want to read my article on Avoiding Junk Email. I sign up for a lot of freebies and I would estimate I actually get less junk email than most people.

The more skeptical among you may still be asking "why would someone give things away for free?" In most cases the simple answer is "for marketing purposes". If you have ever been to a trade show or similar exhibit you have probably seen free pens, buttons, yardsticks etc. Those are all examples of promotional freebies. On the Internet free items and services are often provided to build more traffic and hopefully more sales. The following will give you an idea of some the free items you will find listed on this site.

• Free Books & Booklets
  
• Free Computer Stuff
  
• Family Freebies

Free services are often supported by advertising. If this concept seems strange, just think about radio and television. These industries have thrived by providing free programming for many years. If you would like to read about some of the more innovative advertiser supported free services you may want to check out these articles:

• Free Internet Access
  
• Free Long Distance
  
• Free Fax Number

A complete category list of the free items and free services on this site can be found on the Subject Library page.

If you have more questions about freebies or this site please check the Freebies Frequently Asked Questions. You may also post your questions on the Freebies Bulletin Board.

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