Freebies for Christmas

Despite that fact that it is not even quite Halloween yet, I've been thinking about Christmas. For several years now I have occasionally gone to "freebie" sites and signed up to be sent free samples of various items. This year, I decided to do this again, but with Christmas in mind.

While I do not recommend giving people on your gift list ONLY random free samples, I think they can be a fun way to add some fun extras to a gift, or to help fill a gift bag or stocking.

 Pictured: freebies I have received in the last month or so.

• Lindt chocolate truffes- got a coupon for a free bag by liking their facebook page during promotion. 
• Harley-Davidson sticker (free by mail. I have some Harley lovers in my family). 
• Ponds wipes samples and blue make-up bag of cosmetics samples (free by mail from Target during promo). Aero Shot energy gel sample (free by mail). 
• Eucerin lotion sample (free by mail).  
• Solar grasshopper (not actually free, but less than $1 on Amazon and thinking a kid in my family would love it.) 
• Not pictured: free mini-candle from Bed Bath and Beyond (got coupon online and picked up in-store).

I've signed up for another dozen or so that I'm expecting in the mail soon, plus I am keeping my eyes peeled for more to sign up for.

These are the sites I check regularly that tip me off to these freebies (I use Google Reader for most of my blog reading, so I'm not actually going to each of these everyday, they just come up in my feed. Easiest way to do it in my opinion.)  Not all of these are exclusively freebies, but I have found them all to be useful for this purpose.

Absurdly Cool Freebie Finder
 Freebie Shark
FreeSamples.org
FrugalFritzie (Actually more of a coupon blog, but does post good freebies sometimes)
HeyIt'sFree!
JustFreeStuff
Living Richly on a Budget (Again not exclusively freebies, but does include sometimes.)
MommySavers (Not exclusively freebies, but does include good ones sometimes.)
Who Said Nothing In Life is Free (Not all freebies, but good.)

Are any of you freebie collectors? What are you favorite sites? Please share in the comments!

Frugal blog round-up

It could be winter talking, but I've been feeling pretty low-energy lately, and when that happens, I want to shop! I've been pretty good, but I did buy a dress and boots online last week (I really didn't need them.)  They were delivered yesterday... and neither fit! Ha! Laughing at myself now- that's what I get for spending money on a dress and boots I couldn't try on. So, planning to either return or sell them- we'll see which will get me more of my money back.

ANYWAY... that is neither here nor there. The point, here, people, is that when I feel my "frugal vigor" slipping, it always helps me to read some really good frugal blogs I follow. And of course, it is always helpful to revisit the book that inspired it all, The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. (pictured) I follow dozens (perhaps... hundreds?) of blogs on various frugal topics: personal finance, DIY projects, couponing, cooking and so forth. (Full disclosure: None of these blogs know I'm "promoting" them, so no worries, they didn't buy my love!)

Here are a few of my very most favorite frugal blogs, in no particular order:


Give Me Back My Five Bucks: "A quest for financial independence through the eyes of a 20-something Candian blogger" by Krystal. I love that she posts her actual weekly spending totals!

Budget Bytes: "On a mission to save money and eat well!" by Beth.  Really great healthy and tasty recipes here, and she posts very detailed accounts of what each ingredient costs.

Get Rich Slowly: "Personal Finance That Makes Cents" Give them a pass on the dorky subtitle- I have learned a lot of valuable information from this blog, and it's fun to read, too.

Mr. Money Moustache: "Financial Freedom Through Badassity" I LOVE THIS BLOG. Love the quirky attitude, and even more, I love that this man retired before he was 40 and he tells us how he did it.

Tip Junkie: "15,000+ tutorials on Crafts, DIY Decor, Food, Holidays, Gifts, Parties, Printables and more!" by Laurie.  This site was like Pinterest before there was Pinterest. She's got it separated by category, and I find a zillion great projects on here.

I'll keep the rest of my favorites for next time. What are you favorite "frugal blogs"?