Photo: Constantin Stanciu (Shutterstock)
Whoever said there’s no such thing as a free lunch wasn’t looking hard enough. With inflation continuing to run at a four-decade high, many Americans are doing what they can to trim their budgets, and one of the best ways to save money is to not spend money at all.
I don’t want to spend money, you say, but it’s not like companies are just giving away free stuff! Oh, but that’s where you are wrong. There are definitely places giving out free stuff. Some of it, you might even want! Here are 10 websites you can peruse if you want things but are unwilling to pay for them.
The best sites to find free stuff and giveaways
Just Free Stuff. Launched in 1997, Just Free Stuff has been connecting people with freebies for nearly 25 years. The site brings together consumers with companies that are willing to give away their product in hopes of landing a new, regular customer. Giveaway categories include clothes, books, baby accessories, and more. Additionally, just Free Stuff hosts frequent contests for premium products, ranging from an old fashioned ice cream maker, to a Colorado family vacation. Using the site won’t even cost you your contact information (unless you decide to sign up for their newsletter).
Facebook Marketplace. The site that has been blamed for the unraveling of democracy the world over is also the spot where you can claim someone’s unwanted bike. Facebook Marketplace launched as a feature in 2016. Peruse your local listings for furniture or electronics available for pickup. It takes luck and diligence, but you can grab some good stuff this way.
Buy Nothing Project. If you search the name of your town or neighborhood on Facebook, you’ll probably locate your local chapter of the Buy Nothing Project, an organization that looks to bring communities together to reduce waste and save people money. Anyone with something to give away can post a message (usually with a photo of the item), and all you need to do to claim it is ask for it and arrange pickup. Depending on where you live and how active your group is, you can score some really awesome stuff, from an entire wardrobe for your toddler to a bed frame (some people might also try to give away stuff like an opened box of crackers; it takes all kinds). If you aren’t on Facebook, the organization is making strides to divest itself from the social network, and recently launched its own app on iOS and Android.
Freebies.com. Freebies.com is a website that hosts daily giveaways and contests. You need to make an account with your email address to earn “ballots,” each of which is essentially one chance at winning a giveaway; additional ballots can be earned by doing polls and taking quizzes. If you happen to win a giveaway or two, you can get yourself enshrined in the Freebies.com Member Hall of Fame.
GoodReads. If you’re looking to become more well-read and spend nothing doing it, this Amazon subsidiary offers frequent chances to score free books, both physical and digital copies. Periodically check their giveaways tab for titles on offer; usually entering for a chance to win involves little more than clicking a button.
Krazy Coupon Lady. The Krazy Coupon Lady, created by Heather Wheeler and Joanie Demer, is an established giveaway site that’s been featured on The Today Show and TLC. While its stated goal is to help people lower their grocery bills, the website also offers an impressive “freebies” tab. Sign up for their newsletter to access, and learn how to get your hands on free food, beauty products, and pharmaceutical goods.
r/freebies. Incepted in 2008 as a place to connect its users to free products, this reddit community is home to over 800,000 members. Frequent freebies listed on the subreddit include shirts, magazines, stickers, and food. It’s a well-moderated community, so you can be sure any posts making the rounds have been vetted. (Pro-tip: Go to the “top” tab, and then click “all time” to see the most upvoted freebies on offer.)
I Love Free Things. Founded in 2006, I Love Free Things has been cultivating a directory of giveaways for nearly two decades, including free food, baby products, and pet items. Subscribe to their newsletter if you’d like, but it’s not required to access to their freebie directory.
Craigslist. Craigslist is the Meryl Streep of free stuff; it’s been around forever, and no one doubts its utility. The only limit on what you find for free on the classifieds of the internet is what someone else is willing to give, and how much you’re willing to go through to claim it. Using their location feature, you can see what people in your area are trying to get rid of.
The Penny Hoarder. The Penny Hoarder caters to an underserved demographic on the internet: people who want to get as much free stuff as they can on their birthday. Using their handy Birthday freebie list, you can ball out with 101 free offers to celebrate your completion of trip around the sun. While most of these giveaways are food related, you can also cash in on stuff like a free movie rental from a RedBox.
