There may not be such a thing as a free lunch, but we've pulled together a list of 26 other freebies that are just as good -- if not better. So go ahead. Embrace your inner tightwad.
Plus, we want to know: What's your favorite freebie? Share your best something-for-nothing bargain with us and other readers in the Kiplinger.com forum.
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FREE (AND LEGAL) MUSIC
You can find a smattering of free and legal music tracks online at Amazon.com, CNet's Download.com and Walmart.com. But listening to Internet radio is the best way to get your free groove on. At Slacker.com, for example, you can listen to 75 genre stations and 10,000 artist-specific stations for free. Or be your own DJ and build a customized station. (It's in beta-testing mode, and the free service will be ad supported.)
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FREE SHIPPING
Many merchants offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount. (Some of our favorites: Amazon.com for orders over $25, eBags.com on orders over $50 and Sephora.com on orders over $75.)
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FREE PC PROTECTION
Guard against spyware, viruses and other invaders with three free software defenders:
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FREE BOOKS, MUSIC & MOVIES
If you haven't been to the public library since you graduated from high school, dust off your card. It's your ticket to mounds of free books, magazines, CDs and movies. Many libraries also offer free lectures, book readings and community clubs to residents.
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FREE CREDIT REPORT
You're entitled to one by law once a year from each of the three main credit bureaus. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to see what lenders can see about your credit history.
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FREE E-MAIL
No more fretting over someone sending you a huge e-mail file. Free accounts from Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo now give you at least 2 GB of storage.
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FREE ATMs
A buck or two here and there may not seem like a big deal, but if you're frequenting ATMs outside your bank's network, the surcharges can add up quickly. Get money from an ATM that belongs to a surcharge-free network. Allpoint has about 200 participating institutions and 32,000 ATMs. Money Pass has 600 members and 8,000 ATMs.
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FREE MONEY FOR GRAD SCHOOL
A year of graduate school costs, on average, anywhere from $17,000 for a master's degree at a public university to more than $56,000 at a private dental school. But free money abounds, from grants and scholarships to assistantships and fellowships.
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FREE COLLEGE COURSES
Colleges and universities worldwide are posting course materials on the Internet, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Law School. You won't get credit toward a degree, but you can pursue an interest or sharpen your skills.
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FREE FURNITURE
You'll find all sorts of stuff for free on your local Craigslist and Freecycle sites, including couches, chairs, entertainment centers and tables. Many are in heavily used condition and will work fine to furnish a dorm or first apartment. (One caveat: While free or cheap mattresses abound in classified listings, you should probably steer clear for sanitary reasons.)
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FREE MONEY
You have to buy groceries and gas anyway, so why not use those purchases to get a little more green in your wallet? Sign up for a rewards credit card and get free money, gift certificates, airline miles or other perks. (Of course, it's only free if you pay the balance in full each month without incurring interest charges.)
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FREE KIDS' MEALS
Kids eat free at Denny's and Lone Star Steakhouse every Tuesday night (and some Saturdays) with a paying adult. IHOP, American Cafe, Hooters, Red Robin and Roadhouse Grill restaurants offer kids-eat-free deals at select locations. You can search for eateries in your area at KidsEatFree.com.
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FREE BUDGETING
Looking for help keeping tabs on your budget? You don't have to shell out for Quicken or Microsoft Money software. Track your spending instead through the free service at Wesabe.com. You enter your accounts to organize your spending into different categories on one convenient site.
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FREE PHONE CALLS
Save on your long-distance bill and chat via computer with free software from Skype.com. You won't pay a dime for any call to another Skype user. You can call non-users' landlines, too, for about $3 a month.
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FREE FINANCIAL ADVICE
Not to toot our own horn (okay, maybe just a little), but Kiplinger.com is a treasure trove of free financial advice. Our tools and calculators will help you get on the right financial track. Our expert columnists will answer your personal questions, including general financial answers from Kim Lankford, family and kid topics from Janet Bodnar and big-picture financial planning from our Portfolio Doctor, Jeff Kosnett.
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FREE SALES TAX
Back to school season means tax-free shopping days in 15 states and the District of Columbia. For example, from August 3 to 5 this year, Missouri residents can avoid paying sales tax on clothing purchases under $100, computer software under $350 and even new computers under $3,500. And purchases don't even have to be for a child or a student.
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FREE INTERNET SERVICE
Even after you've upgraded to broadband Internet, it's a good idea to have a back-up dial-up service on your computer for when the cable goes out or your DSL acts up. NetZero, for example, still offers a free version of its software -- ten free hours per month.
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FREE HOME-IMPROVEMENT HELP
To save money on a home renovation project, it's a no-brainer to do the work yourself. Get the skills necessary through free workshops at your local hardware store.
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FREE FLIGHTS
Whether you travel for business or pleasure, consider signing up for an airline's frequent flier program. Enrollment is free, and you can start collecting miles on your first flight that you can eventually cash in for free flights, hotel stays, merchandise and other perks. See the "Program Guide" at WebFlyer.com for the lowdown on each airline's rules.
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FREE LEGAL ADVICE
You don't need to hire a lawyer to handle many routine legal matters. All you need is Nolo, a publisher of self-help legal fare that counsels you on writing a will or a living trust, buying real estate, or minimizing estate taxes. Search its free articles on its Web site, Nolo.com. They're authoritative -- and yet they clearly explain when your situation calls for hiring a lawyer.
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FREE WIRELESS-INTERNET ACCESS
Surf for free when you're away from home at so-called free wireless hot spots. Search for restaurants, parks, hotels or other hangouts in your neighborhood at WiFiFreeSpot.com.
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FREE PHOTO-EDITING SOFTWARE
For basic photo editing, you needn't shell out $100-plus for Adobe Photoshop. It's a great product but probably overkill for routine use. Instead, download Google's free Picasa, a good program that will allow you to tweak, add effects, organize and share your digital snapshots.
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FREE SAMPLES
Wanna try it before you buy it? You can get free samples at Walmart.com. Recent offerings included cleaning supplies, hair care items and greeting cards (the selection changes regularly). Or check out a specific manufacturer's Web site for handouts, or write a company and ask for one.
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FREE ENTERTAINMENT
Get a job at an arena or theater to catch free events and productions. Or, volunteer your services in exchange for a seat when your duties are done.
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FREE CHECKING WITH INTEREST
Many banks offer free checking accounts these days, but they work a lot like mattresses: You can stash your cash there, but it won't help your money grow. Enter ING Direct's Electric Orange checking account. It pays you between 3.9% and 5.2% interest on your money (your rate depends on your account balance) and there's no minimum balance required. You get a debit card, and you can send electronic checks for free.
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FREE VACATIONS
One our favorite freebies comes courtesy of Moments-Notice.com. You can snag bargain fare on a last-minute Caribbean cruise, for example, and get a free voucher for a hotel stay on a second trip.
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