Free is a word that always seems to attract attention. I'll admit it, I love getting something for free, but over the years I've become very selective. If I don't need it or won't use it, free is not really a bargain in my book. Think about it, what do people do with things they don't want? They toss them into the garbage. So why would I want to bring free “garbage” home with me?

The sample people in the stores will sometimes give me a funny look when I turn down their offerings. They will often provide extra emphasis to the free part, by saying something like "no really, it's free, you can have it" or "please take it, it's free." When I still refuse they will cast a questioning sideways glance my way. Someone actually turning down something for nothing seems odd to them.

My reaction is exactly the opposite when the offering is something that really appeals to me or that I would actually buy. I'm like a kid in a candy store and that little sample or gift is like a Christmas present. It's funny how small things can still bring some much joy, even after you're all grown-up.

There are gobs of items being given away every minute of every hour of every day on the internet. Simply fill in your information and your mailbox, both online and the one at the end of your driveway, will soon be overflowing with stuff that won't cost you a dime.

My mailbox overflows with free magazine subscriptions to publications such as "Better Homes and Gardens," "Woman’s Day", Ladies Home Journal" and even "Martha Stewart Living". the top sources for complementary subscriptions are Free Biz Mags, Rewards Gold, Value Mags and Mercury Magazines.

For free software visit Give Away of The Day which gives away a different full version of a software program everyday. You never know what you will find. For a big selection of free software visit Cnet and click on the downloads link at the top of the page and begin your search.

My favorite sources for free samples are chat boards where people post their latest finds. Slick Deals, FatWallet, Big Big Forums, Daily Freebies. Start Sampling offers a daily selection of samples.

Tab browsing is the easiest way to view and open the links in this article. Simply right click on a link and select "open a new tab.". This will open the web page in a separate tab while keeping this page open. It's a great way to view multiple sites at once.