Search Results for: blog the ethics of free stuff

Current Freebies

It’s freebie time again. Remember that these are free to you, but are costing the companies money. Please apply for them in the spirit they’re offered. Free Pampers Sample from Walmart.com – We’re long past diaper days, but if you still have young ones in the house, choose between a free sample of Cruisers of Swaddlers. Stossel in the Classroom – I love John Stossel. He’s witty, informative, and a wee bit snarky. If you teach, get a free DVD and workbook for your class in exchange for feedback. Free Kashi Product – All you have to do is complete … Continue reading →

Free Underwear

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There are a lot of things that I buy used. Underwear isn’t one of them. I draw the line at anything that has touched another’s “safety zone”. What that usually means is that frugal people are generally wearing torn, holey, or otherwise shabby undergarments. I can’t help it. $8 for three pair of underwear on sale, or $8 toward a great sale on tomato paste that I can use for 12 meals. It’s a no-brainer. My mom buys me underwear. Yes, even at my age (“29 and holding”). They’re a very thoughtful gift. Especially when they’re NOT X-Large granny pants. … Continue reading →

Current Freebies

Remember that when companies offer freebies, it’s to gain new customers. Please only take advantage of those items that you conceivably might actually buy in the future. Read The Ethics of Free Stuff for clarification. Okay, that’s covered! Get ready to actually get something in the mail besides bills! Here is my list of current freebies. Iams Promise Pet Food – With three dogs and a cat, we go through a significant chunk of change every month in pet food. We usually go with the higher end stuff because the couple of dollars more we pay for the bag of … Continue reading →

A New Free Sample Site: Costco!

By now, if you have been reading the Deals Blog, you are familiar with the Walmart Free Samples Website. Through their site, Walmart offers a range of nice sized samples, with new offerings popping up on a regular basis. Now it seems that at least one other large store, Costco, is jumping on the bandwagon with regularly scheduled free samples. I have no idea if the samples will ever get “warehouse” sized, but so far they seem to be quite nice. Costco, like other warehouse stores likes to give out free food samples while you shop. Actually on one of … Continue reading →

Free Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! If it wasn’t for Rocky Road, I’d be thin as a rail! Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. But I know I’m far above the national average in consumption. It’s “only” 5.7 gallons of ice cream each. That seems awfully low to me! When we have ice cream, we eat three half gallons among the seven of us (okay, three 1.75 quarts – cheapskates!). I’d guess our consumption is probably closer to twice the national average. I’m eating someone else’s, I suppose. Premium ice creams are on the rise; brands like … Continue reading →

When Your Ethics and Your Income Collide

I live in a working class community where the majority of our population lives paycheck to paycheck. I was often invited into broken down trailer homes and subsidized housing facilities to do presentations for my direct sales business. As I set up my product display on the tattered coffee tables, it was quite clear that my hostesses and guests were struggling to make ends meet. I know…because I’ve been there. The products I sold for both of my direct sales businesses were what I would consider “luxury items”. I didn’t sell food, clothing or cookware. In fact, you could have … Continue reading →

The Ethics of Free Stuff

Okay, put on your steel-toed boots. I’m about to step on some toes here. Recently I had a college-aged friend confide to me that she and her roommate had a standing date for lunch at Costco‘s on Saturday morning. I told her how much I liked their pizza and she snickered. “Not the pizza, silly, the samples.” Now, I know this person well and the only thing in her dorm room is Cup O’ Noodles and orange juice. I doubt that she’s ever bought any of the products being demo-ed on those Saturday mornings. Even once. Her attitude is that … Continue reading →

Frugal Living Week in Review: May 12th Through May 18th

I sometimes get asked the question, where do you come up with your frugal ideas?!? I love this question, because it really humbles me. I am by no means someone who comes to frugality with a natural talent for it. Instead, I try to work hard to come up with new ways to save money and resources and help us all be the best stewards of our stuff. Some of the ideas come from research, some from readers and friends, most of the ideas come from a practical need or experience and some just pop into my head at inopportune … Continue reading →

Your Best Deal of the Year and How to Find This Year’s

What was your best deal from last year and where did you find it? Where do all these good deals come from? Anyone can find them. Of course, it’s probably a lot easier just to check the Deals Blog, but it’s a pretty satisfying feeling to find one yourself, too! I know that I have learned a lot visiting the Deals Forum here on Families.com. There are some pretty savvy savers over there! If you haven’t been there yet, it’s probably the first step. One way I find good deals is that I keep an eye open when I’m shopping. … Continue reading →