The internet is a treasure trove of freebies if you know where to look. 

From samples and giveaways to promotional offers and rewards programmes, there are numerous ways you can get your hands on free stuff online. 

Here’s a guide to the best strategies and websites for scoring some great deals without having to spend a single penny.

1. Sign up for free samples

Many companies offer free samples of their products to attract new customers. This is especially common in the beauty, food and health sectors. Here are some popular websites to get started.

Magic Freebies UK – A comprehensive site that lists daily freebie offers, including beauty samples, food and drink, and household items.

Star Freebies – This is another excellent resource for finding free samples, competitions and other giveaways.

Latest Free Stuff – This popular site displays a wide range of free sample offers from brands across the UK.

2. Enter competitions and giveaways

Competitions and giveaways are a great way to get your hands on valuable items for free. Many companies and social media influencers run these to promote products and services. Keep an eye on:

Twitter/X and Instagram – Search for hashtags such as #giveaway, #competition and #win. Many brands and influencers host regular giveaways.

Facebook – Join giveaway groups such as UK Deals and Giveaways or follow pages dedicated to sharing competition links.

The Prize Finder – This is a dedicated website that lists hundreds of UK competitions across various categories.

3. Cashback and rewards apps

Several apps offer cashback or points that can be redeemed for free products. While these might require a small purchase initially, the rewards can be substantial.

Quidco – This cashback site allows you to earn money back on your online purchases, which can then be withdrawn as cash or used to buy gift cards.

TopCashback – Similar to Quidco, this site offers cashback on purchases from numerous retailers.

Swagbucks – Earn reward points (called SB) by shopping online, watching videos, taking surveys, and more. These points can then be redeemed for gift cards or cash.

4. Free trials

Many subscription services offer free trials, allowing you to use the service at no cost for a limited period. Some popular options include:

Amazon Prime – They offer a 30-day free trial, giving you access to free delivery, Prime Video, and various other perks. You can sign up here [affiliate link].

Netflix – While Netflix doesn’t offer a free trial any more in the UK, new users can still access promotional offers from time to time.

Audible – This leading audiobook site offers a 30-day free trial, which includes a free audiobook.

Don’t forget to make a note of when the free trial ends, and cancel in good time if you don’t want to start paying.

5. Giveaway groups

If you’re looking for larger items or household goods, local giveaway groups can connect you with people who have such items they are happy to pass on for free. Options include:

Freecycle – A network of local groups where people give away items they no longer need.

Gumtree – Check the ‘Freebies’ section for items being offered free of charge in your area.

Facebook Marketplace – Search for items listed for free within your local community.

6. Review products

Some companies offer free products in exchange for honest reviews. If you enjoy writing reviews, this can be a great way to access free stuff. Options worth trying include.

BzzAgent – Sign up to receive free products from leading brands to test and review.

Toluna – Participate in market research surveys and product testing opportunities.

Pinecone Research – This survey site often sends out products for review. You are also awarded points that can be exchanged for cash or prizes.

In addition, Amazon’s review programme, Amazon Vine, offers valuable items for free in exchange for reviewing them. Membership is by invitation only, but there are steps you can take to boost your chances of receiving one. See my article about Amazon Vine on Mouthy Money for further info.

7. Student freebies

Students can take advantage of various free offers and discounts. 

If you have a valid student ID, you can access a range of freebies and deals via websites such as the following…

UNiDAYS – This site promotes a wide range of discounts and offers to students.

StudentBeans – Similar to UNiDAYS, this site lists deals, discounts and freebies for UK students.

Save the Student -: This popular website covering most aspects of student life has a large section devoted to deals, discounts and freebies.

8. Digital freebies

Finally, don’t forget the vast array of digital freebies available online, including:

E-books – Websites such as Project Gutenberg have thousands of free, out-of-copyright e-books you can download.

Courses – Platforms such as Coursera, edX and FutureLearn offer free online courses on a wide range of subjects.

Software – Many open-source software options are available for free download.  SourceForge is a good place to start.

Tips for success

Stay organised – Use a dedicated email address for sign-ups to avoid cluttering up your main inbox.

Be persistent – Check freebie sites and apps regularly to catch the latest offers. The most popular ones may vanish quickly!

Read the terms and conditions – Ensure you understand the terms of any offer to avoid unexpected charges or commitments.

Closing thoughts

With a bit of effort and persistence, you really can access a wide range of free products and services online. By this means you can potentially save yourself hundreds of pounds on things you might otherwise have had to pay for. In these challenging times, that really can help your hard-earned income stretch a little further.

Good luck, and enjoy your online freebie hunting!

As always, if you have any comments to share about this article, please do leave them below.

Nick Daws writes for Pounds and Sense, a UK personal finance blog aimed especially (though not exclusively) at over-fifties.

Photo credits: Pexels

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Amazon Prime subscribers got a lot more benefits than you might think – and it can even stretch to money off your takeaway.

That’s because you can get access to a deal with Deliveroo, that can get you some discounts.

Here’s everything you need to know, and how to claim it.

What is in the deal exactly?

All Amazon Prime members can get access to Deliveroo Plus. This usually costs you £3.49 a month for normal subscribers.

You’ll get access for 12 months, so over the course of the year, it’s a £40 saving.

Deliveroo Plus gets you free delivery on orders over £25 at selected restaurants. Usually this can cost £4.49 for each delivery… which can add up to a lot of money if you get takeaway regularly.

It also gives you access to exclusive discounts and deals only available to Deliveroo Plus subscribers.

To get the deal, you’ll need to head over to the Deliveroo website, where you can find a page to link Deliveroo and Amazon Prime accounts.

Once you’ve signed in, click on the ‘claim with Amazon Prime’ button, to get access to the deal.

You’ll instantly get Deliveroo Plus for 12 months, but luckily once the time ends, you won’t be automatically signed up for payments continuing the membership.

There are two different membership options (either silver or gold), but as part of the deal, you’ll be signed up to the silver membership.

Even if you order Deliveroo infrequently, you could still be saving £10s or £100s of pounds if you order for the whole family.

Why should I care?

Lots of people have an Amazon Prime subscription, so it’s great to have this deal as an option if you wanted to order takeaway.

The options for food delivery are usually much better on Deliveroo, so you can get a Bella Italia, KFC or Toby Carvery at home without paying extortionate costs for the privilege.

What’s the catch?

You do have to be an Amazon Prime member to get this deal, and also have a Deliveroo account.

Not all restaurants are included in the free delivery offer, so your favourites might not be on there. It’s worth having a look to see what the offer does include however.

The minimum spend to get the free delivery is £25, so it is still quite a lot to spend. If you are choosing to eat at places like Bella Italia however, you should have no issue hitting the spend limit.

What other options do I have?

Sometimes you’ll see offers and voucher codes for Just Eat and Uber Eats, so it’s worth having a look around for codes before you buy.

If you can get 10-25% off your food bill, that may actually add up to a higher amount saved than just getting free delivery.

Where can I find out more?

Head over to the Deliveroo website to link your Amazon Prime account. It should take less than a few minutes, and could mean a nice saving.

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

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Mouthy Money regular, Shoestring Jane, tells you how you can get your hands on free beauty products and treatments!

Many of us enjoy wearing makeup and trying out the latest beauty products to make us feel more confident.

However, they can cost a pretty penny. A decent foundation from a high end brand like Charlotte Tilbury can easily set you back £30-40, whilst companies such as Clarins charge over £70 for a moisturiser.

But it is possible to get free beauty products, and even treatments, for free. You just need to know where to look.

Saving money

Before I go into how you can get free beauty products, let’s talk about saving money more generally. It’s easy to get sucked into the marketing and hype around certain ‘miracle’ products.

But remember that at least part of the price you pay covers the expensive advertising campaigns you see in glossy magazines and on social media. 

Before you splurge, I urge you to experiment with cheaper brands. Saving money on beauty is similar to reducing your grocery bill.

I always recommend that you try the supermarket’s own labels when it comes to food, rather than more expensive branded goods. You may find that the difference in quality is negligible. Do the same with your cosmetics!

To be honest, this approach doesn’t always work with beauty products. For example, a really cheap foundation may end up sliding off your face before you get to work.

Nevertheless, it is worth looking at own-brand skincare at Aldi or Lidl in particular. I have found their moisturisers really excellent and, from £3 a pot, you won’t lose much if you try but don’t like them.

There are cheaper dupes on many cosmetic items that you can try too, as detailed in this post.

If you like the high end brands but can’t afford them, keep reading to find out how to track down completely free beauty products.

Finding free beauty products

Freebies

You can frequently get free samples of healthy and beauty products from specialist freebie sites. Usually you will be charged the postage cost and will be required to sign up to the retailer’s newsletter. 

Here are some of the best freebie sites:

MagicFreebiesUK 

LatestFreeStuff

FreeclubUK

WowFreebies

You can also find free samples at beauty counters in large department stores. However, you can’t just march up and request one. You will usually have to express an interest and have a conversation with the sales assistant.

Ask if you can try a product for a few days and they will often give you a sample in the hope you will love it so much you will come back to make a purchase.

Free samples to test

If you want free beauty products, it is also worth signing up for test panels. You don’t always get selected, but when you are one of the lucky one you will be given a freebie to test and review. 

Manufacturers need feedback on their products and are happy to give out free items in order to get this from the public. There are many sites offering you the chance to sign up to test all kinds of items, but the following offer beauty products and cosmetics to test:

Alba Volunteers, which gives you the opportunity to review make up, facial wipes, cosmetics, shampoo, conditioners and more.

Boots Volunteer Panel . Join up for the chance to test Boots products at home.

Home Tester Club doesn’t only recruit testers for beauty products, but there are always a few to apply for.

Philips Product Testers. You can apply to try beauty products like electric toothbrushes and hairdryers.

Influenster. Sign up for a ‘Vox Box’ from the likes of L’Oreal and Maybelline and in return share your views on your social media accounts.

National Consumer Review gives you the opportunity to review all kinds of products including health and beauty items.  For example, at the time of writing, you can apply to review Mac Lipstick or a Fitbit.

Surveys

It is also possible to take part in market research surveys and focus groups to get your hands on free stuff and help in the development and marketing of new products.

Again, companies are looking to test items amongst their target market, so you won’t be selected every time. The following offer various rewards, including cosmetics and beauty items.

Maximiles: Collect points by answering market research surveys to help shape future products and services.

Testers Keepers: Sign up to try out new products/services for free in return for a review.

Home Tester Club: Get rewarded for saying what you think. Home Tester Club is an online community of shoppers who test products and share reviews to help fellow shoppers buy better.

Clicks Research: You will be testing unique and cutting edge products in all product categories, including cosmetics, toiletries and skincare. 

Free treatments

Now you know how to get your hands on free beauty products, how about finding free treatments?

It should be said that completely free treatments are quite hard to locate and sometimes you will be asked to contribute a few pounds to cover some of the product costs.

However, if you are lucky, there are some places to experience a healthy or beauty treatment that is totally free.

Hairdressing

Look out for signs on hair salon windows requesting models or ask if they ever require them. What they usually want is a head of hair for their trainees to practice on. 

I had a totally free haircut one evening after responding to one such notice. It took much longer than usual, but it was a perfectly good hair do.

Make up sessions

Bobbi Brown

If you have a Bobbi Brown makeup concession near you, you can book a range of complimentary makeup coaching sessions with their expert staff.
The free sessions will show you, for example, how to create a smokey eye, find your perfect lip shade or revamp your skincare routine. You can book one here.

The Body Shop

Pop into your local store and you can have a free makeover and skin consultation from one of the Body Shop’s professional store consultants.
You may also be able to get a free makeover from YSL, Fenty and Spack NK. Ask instore for details.

Beauty colleges

Some beauty colleges make a small charge for treatments such as facials, massages and manicures, whilst others are completely free. It is also worth checking out adult education centres too.

With a bit of time and effort you could get yourself some free beauty treatments and save yourself a ton of money.

Photo by Carlos Rodríguez on Unsplash

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Vegetarians assemble – two major restaurant chains are slashing the price of veggie food on selected days throughout October.

To mark World Vegetarian Day on 1 October, American-Italian restaurant Frankie & Benny’s and Tex-Mex chain Chiquito are offering a half-price vegetarian menu every Monday next month.

It means you can get 50% off vegetarian meals on the 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th October 2021.

If that doesn’t sound good enough, here are some of the mouth-watering dishes on offer:

Tower Beet burger – Slices of battered and lightly fried aubergine, Napoletana tomato sauce, vegan mozzarella, fresh basil and vegan mayo (available at Frankie & Benny’s)

Vegan Pepperoni Pizza – Vegan spicy and smoky pepperoni crumb, roasted red pepper, chilli, fresh basil and vegan mozzarella (available at Frankie & Benny’s)

Why should I care?

If you’re vegetarian or are looking for more plant-based meals, this offer can be a great excuse to hang out with your friends and save money.

It is also a way to celebrate vegetarian dishes, and bring awareness to the ethical, environmental, health, and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.

What’s the catch?

It’s on a Monday, which is usually when most of us are unwinding at home after our first day back at work after the weekend.

But hey, if your workplace or home is close to a Frankie & Benny’s or Chiquito, then why not make the journey? You can always drag your co-workers to the restaurant during the lunch break too.

What other options do I have?

If you go to a Pizza Hut restaurant, Monday to Friday until 3pm (at some it’s 5pm – but do check), you can eat as much as you like from a pizza/pasta buffet – as well as enjoying unlimited free salad – for a set price of £8.99 – and you also have vegetarian/vegan options.

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Happy Star Wars Day! Why Star Wars? Because it’s 4 May – May the 4^th be with you!

If you either don’t understand or don’t like that reference, you should probably stop reading now.

My dad took me to see Star Wars as a starry-eyed 11-year-old in 1977 and it has had a special place in my heart ever since. I’ve got the movies and the posters, and I’m even wearing the t-shirt and matching socks. So today I will be settling down to watch a Star Wars movie, or two, along with millions of other across the galaxy.

If you don’t have the movies on DVD or Blu-ray – or even a dusty old VHS tape – here are a few cheap ways of enjoying Star Wars today.

The discounts are strong with this one…

If you sign up for a seven-day free trial of the new Disney+ streaming channel, you can binge all nine Star Wars movies, from Episode I – The Phantom Menace, through to the latest instalment, Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, which premieres on the channel today.

In addition to the main movies, you can also spend the week watching the spin-off films Rogue One and Solo, along with the new live action series, The Mandalorian. There is also a seemingly endless supply of Star Wars cartoons and Lego animated series.

If you get bored with Star Wars, Disney+ offers hundreds of Disney films and cartoons, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (so no X-Men movies at the moment) and the National Geographic documentary channel, including the brilliant The World According to Jeff Goldblum, with the quirky actor investigating everything from trainers to tattoos.

If you like what you see you and want to support Disney while Mickey’s Magical Kingdom is closed during lockdown, it’ll cost you £5.99 per month or £59.99 for the year after the free period. If not, don’t forget to cancel your membership before your seven-day trial is up to avoid being charged.

Sky Cinema will also premiere The Rise of Skywalker today on a channel devoted to the main Star Wars movies. If you sign up with NowTV for a free trial of its Sky Cinema Pass, you can watch Star Wars and a host of other movies for a week. Again, you need to remember to cancel before the cinema pass renews at a cost of £11.99 per month.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

The final option is a somewhat complicated and potentially contentious way of watching the movies. Despite now being a hugely successful franchise, when the first Star Wars movie was made, now renamed Episode IV – A New Hope, its director George Lucas had a relatively small budget and was apparently unhappy with some of the special effects in the final cinema release.

As a result, when the movies were made available on home video, Lucas created a special edition with improved special effects and even a few extra added scenes. In fact, Lucas didn’t stop fiddling with the first three movies, making changes for subsequent DVD releases and controversially changing a laser fight in a bar to make it look like Harrison Ford’s Han Solo character didn’t shoot first (he did, I was there).

Some fans were so annoyed by these revisions that they began to create their own versions with all the additions removed, with the holy grail being Harmy’s Despecialized Edition of the original trilogy, painstakingly re-created from laser discs and VHS tapes by an obsessive fan from Czechia.

Lucasfilm, who made all the Star Wars film, have seemingly turned a blind eye to these fan versions, but in theory you can only watch them if you already own the official movies on DVD or Blu-ray.

However, actually getting hold of the fan versions can be a bit of a hassle, so real obsessives should check out www.originaltrilogy.com for info on where to access them, the key requirements being that you get a file share from another fan and no money should exchange hands.

Whatever else you have planned for today, lockdown is as good an excuse as any to stay safe, stay home and enjoy Star Wars Day. May The Force Be With You.

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