at christmastime, you tell the truth - a post by lacey

Ok, I haven't been completely honest with you guys. I've been keeping a secret from you. I found a pretty awesome Web site several months ago, my territorial instincts kicked in, and I didn't want to let anyone else in on the secret. Maybe it's the Christmas season with all the generosity and cheerfulness going around (not to mention those bell ringers outside the grocery stores), but my conscience is telling me to come clean. I wrestled with it for a few days, and the angel on my right shoulder won.

The Web site is http://absurdlycool.com/.

Now don't all go rushing there at once! Stay here for another minute and let me tell you what it's all about. absurdlycool.com is a site that compiles a daily list of companies that are giving away free samples of their products. What? You aren't impressed? You don't think it's that big of a deal? Great. That leaves more for the rest of us. You can go now...

For those savvy shoppers/freeloaders that are still reading, you're about to get LUCKY! This site is different than most because the freebies are really and truly free! There are usually no surveys or hidden requirements. I've been to several sites that claim to offer free samples, but once you find something you'd really like to try, you practically have to sign your life away. I'm thinking, "You want a pint of my blood for a Tide pen?!" Also, it does not require you to sign up for an account with an annoying username and password. You just visit the site, click on the freebies you're interested in, and you are magically whisked away to the company's Web site. absurdlycool.com describes itself this way, "[we are] an automated free stuff aggregator. It is designed to collect free stuff offers from top freebie sites, while filtering out most scams and referral pyramids." Hey, whatever, sounds good to me.

Since I stumbled upon this site using my friend Google, I have received shampoo bottles, lotions, Kashi products, tampons (sorry to any guys reading this!), cat food, recipe books, stickers for products that I know/care nothing about (I'm a glutton for anything free, even if it is something I will never use. Hello! It's FREE!) popcorn, rice cakes, contact solution, stationery, cereal, and the list goes on and on. There are a few times that I have not been able to locate the free product listed on the company's site once I am directed to it, but I don't let it get me down. I just return the absurdlycool homepage and start with the next link on the list. Sweet, it's for a free sample of multivitamin flakes for your goldfish. I guess I'll be getting a goldfish now.

With all of this shopping for other people this Christmas season, wouldn't it be nice to get yourself a free trucker hat from a company that you've never heard of before?

***Please be aware that you do have to give a mailing address out when you sign up for free products. If it is a well known company like Johnson & Johnson, I personally don't worry about giving out my address, but if the company looks family run, I am a more wary of giving out personal information. If you don't feel comfortable giving out that kind of information, don't do it! I use a fake name when I order freebies. I don't really know that it helps since I then proceed to give out my real mailing address, but it makes me feel better. And I also feel a little bit like a secret agent. A secret agent who orders free samples.***

image via flickr