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Post by tea4me on Mar 15, 2011 14:22:41 GMT -5
I know, I know . . . nothing is free.
After listening to these people in Wisconsin complaining because their government aid is being cut (food stamps, childcare assistance, heat assistance, free health care) it got me thinking about "free" stuff I received.
I got a "free" tetanus shot from the county when I was at a health fair. I was so excited I even called my father to tell him I got something for nothing.
What sort of free things have you received?
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Mar 15, 2011 14:24:20 GMT -5
I get a flu shot every year for free thru my work. Course it is either do it or get fired so I am not sure if that really qualifies as a "free" flu shot.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 15, 2011 14:27:34 GMT -5
A flu shot for my kids at a clinic by public health.
All my pets have been given to me by someone who needed to find a new home for them.
I won $175 on scratch off lottery tickets I got for a present.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Mar 15, 2011 14:59:01 GMT -5
I have gotten soooo many things for free. The list is VERY long, but includes everything from soup to nuts (literally) - and good stuff too - Progresso Soup and Planters/Diamond nuts. Some of the other things that I've gotten for free include but are not limited to: aluminum foil, Ziplocs, paper towels, toilet paper, office supplies, laundry and cleaning products, dental care products, OTC meds, makeup, almost any toiletry/hygiene item that you could think of, albacore tuna, spaghetti sauce, Ronzoni Garden Delights pasta, cereal, bottled water, coffee, sugar, creamer, frozen veggies, cooking oil - just too many to list all of them. My favorite thing that I have gotten for FREE, however, is CASH!! I used to play the 0% balance transfer offer on credit card game. I literally made thousands of dollars doing that. Now, I'm back to small potatoes by taking drug chains rewards gotten for free and using them to purchase items where the manufacturer or the store offers a rebate. So far this year, I have sent away for or have received over $300 in rebates. It's not as easy as the credit card gig, but it works. Oh, I almost forgot. DH get a free public transportation pass from his employer.
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❤ mollymouser ❤
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Post by ❤ mollymouser ❤ on Mar 15, 2011 15:02:38 GMT -5
I once won a free trip for 2 to Hawaii ... airfare, hotel, and some spending money. That was nice. I don't pay copays for flu shots now ... so, technically, they're free, I suppose.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Mar 15, 2011 15:09:40 GMT -5
We got $200 in interest last year by changing banks. I'm not happy with one of them, so I'll play the same game this year and get more. (Wouldn't bother if we were happy, but free money to do what we would do otherwise is always great!)
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Post by joebanker on Mar 15, 2011 15:33:12 GMT -5
I get free toothpast and toothbrush from the dentist. Oh wait I have to pay him for checking my teeth. Never mond.
JoeBanker
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Mar 15, 2011 15:46:38 GMT -5
Lots of free samples and goodies - vitamins, ice cream, dinners, pet food, coffee, cosmetics. Mostly through online deals, coupons and birthday specials.
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jd2005
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Post by jd2005 on Mar 15, 2011 15:47:46 GMT -5
I actually won 2 free round trip tickets on Southwest. I thought it was bogus, but they ended up having zero restrictions. Awesome!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2011 16:05:19 GMT -5
Like Dancinmama, I get lots of stuff free because I coupon.
But there are other "freebies" that don't require you buy something (although a coupon is required). Victoria Secret's sent me a coupon for a free panty. I'll get it for my daughter. Bath & Bodyworks sent a coupon for a small size of one of their new signature product. Penney's always sends a $10/$10 coupon at Easter. I'll get something small for the house (new kitchen towels?) with it.
If we are talking about freebies in the health dept., I always ask my eye doctor for a "sample" (these are full-size) of my eye drops that have a $50 copay. I get a free flu shot. We were recently notified that we are going to be given free Hepatitis A & B shots plus free D-Tap (is that the right acronym) that covers pertussis and tetanus . . . if we want them. I also got a free shingles vaccine, but it was 50/50; I participated in a trial for people in their 50s.
There's tons more "free" stuff that is tied to doing stuff. AT&T is going to give me a $25 gift card for switching to paperless billing. Directv gave me a $10 month credit for 24 months for signing up for auto-pay.
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Clifford
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Post by Clifford on Mar 15, 2011 16:09:53 GMT -5
TANSTAAFL. Although free-to-me sure feels nice. Most of the time my free-to-me's are office lunches. They always taste better than my lunch, due to that special flavor...free.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on Mar 15, 2011 16:50:45 GMT -5
My favorite thing that I have gotten for FREE, however, is CASH!! I used to play the 0% balance transfer offer on credit card game. I literally made thousands of dollars doing that. It's funny, I was just reviewing my finances yesterday and looked back at how many credit card balance transfers I've done in the past 14 years. It blew my mind when I added them all up, and the total amount of balance transfers came to $298,560. I think I might just have a problem. I also added up the total amount of finance charges I've paid on them, and that came to $3822, but I'm sure I made a lot more than that via the spread from earning higher interest rates elsewhere, or paying off higher interest debt (HELOC). Oh yeah, I've also earned $4534 in credit card rewards, rebates, and bonuses.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Mar 15, 2011 18:07:57 GMT -5
$100 for opening a TD Ameritrade account. The rewards I get from my credit cards. DH got $50 in gas cards for safe working on a consulting job. One month free at the fitness center that got me exercising again. When I joined, the key fob and one training session were free. They have monthly customer appreciation so I try to get a banana.
If they are giving something away, I try to get something. The grocers used to have tasting parties before Xmas and gave tons of food away in samples. I could eat a full meal there. I am not so compulsive anymore.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Mar 16, 2011 9:30:31 GMT -5
I got $100 from my cable company for agreeing to stay with them for two years. Didn't plan on switching anyhow so might as well take the free money! We also got our cable bill locked in by agreeing to use theri service for another two years so it won't go up over that time period.
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Post by cytoglycerine on Mar 16, 2011 9:54:27 GMT -5
I once got a surprise retro-payment cheque in the mail. I had worked for the municipal govt as a summer student clerk for a couple of summers, and a good two years after I'd left, I got this mystery cheque in the mail for $3000!!! I had no idea this money was coming to me, and it was a complete - and awesome - surprise when it showed up in the mail. Yeah, I know the money came from the tax pool/city budget yadda yadda yadda, so wasn't REALLY free, but it sure as stink felt "free" to me. I also get a lot of free things (mostly gift cards that I give away as Christmas presents) from the points on my CCs and my Airmiles.
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Clever Username
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Post by Clever Username on Mar 16, 2011 11:22:15 GMT -5
I was handed two tubs of "Italian Baking Cheese" on the way to the train last week. They moved on to "Southwestern" this week.
I'm still not sure if I want to consume more cream cheese.
My wife ribbed me a bit for drinking the Monster and Redbulls they'll hand out sometimes. I've never bought these. So why would I consume them even for free if I didn't like them enough to ever buy?
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