Freebies, Freebies, FreebiesA guide to and directory of free stuff

This list and the top freebies in the weekly e-mail is a product of thousands of MoneySaving freebie hunters scouring the UK’s websites to find the best free stuff. They then post them on the Freebies Board of the Discussion Forum. For many the fun is both getting the freebie and the hobby of the hunt.

Well, it'd be nice to think that they're doing it out of kindness or civic duty, but the fact is it's all about promotion. Most freebies are samples of products, given away in the hope that you might go and buy the full-size version, or just to advertise the brand.

One of the most popular freebies ever posted on the site was a razor, worth £4 if you bought it in a shop. Yet the company were more than happy to give hundreds of thousands of them away for free since after a little while they were bound to need new blades, which cost twice as much.

It's tempting, but you really should first ask yourself 'will I use it?'. If not, there's no point signing up; not only would you be keeping the freebie from somebody else (who may really want or need it), it's also bad for the environment to waste something you'll never use just because it's free.

Many of the best freebies are shortlived, usually because they are limited to a certain number. This happens as companies like to create a buzz about a product in a short space of time. Giving away high value freebies (past £7 razors and £15 moisturisers come to mind) is a great way to do this.

When people spot freebies they put them on the forum Freebies Board, and then each week in the Money Tips e-mail the five top freebies are listed. To make sure you don't miss out on these sign up to the weekly Money Tips e-mail.