Highlights in this issue:

*** Finally – you can get something for nothing…
*** Busted! Know the facts before you jump in on a “sweet” deal…
*** The top 5 freebie providers out there… and more…

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From the pen of Karin Iten

Dear Investment Academy Reader,

Finally, there’s great news for shopaholics. Plagued with thoughts of how to cut back (but still shop-till-you-drop), a few close friends asked me to help them find a happy medium. The answer will astound you: You can get great goodies – without paying a cent. How? Using “freebies”, of course.

Now, many of you may already find youself reaching for the mouse to scroll down quick – but don’t. I know you’re sceptical. For years, we’ve been plagued with apparent “free” offers only to find it’s only valid in the US or, even worse, there’s a nasty catch. But no longer.

You really can get something for nothing. That’s why today, I’m going to show you how to find the best (most legitimate) deals out there. To make sure you don’t get taken for a ride, here’s where to look for some of the best freebies on the web.

Top 3 freebie myths busted…

Myth 1: There’s no such thing as a free lunch…
According to Lee Seats, a leading “freebie” guru on about.com, while this saying may ring true for most things, you can find free offers and services are easy to register for. You just need to know where to look.

Myth 2: Registering for freebies is the surest way to get spam
Actually, says Seats, “the surest way to get spam is to have an email address at all”. But, it’s true that registering for certain freebies may open you up to more spam than usual. Because of this, never give out your main email address. Instead, set up two junk email accounts (a hotmail, yahoo or gmail account). This way, you can use one address for low risk offers that merely need verification and use the other for offers that present a higher spam risk.

Myth 3: No one ever gives anything useful away for nothing…
Many sceptics wonder why any company would give something with real value away for free. The answer: For marketing purposes. It’s the same as getting a free pen on the side of the road from a real estate agency or a free calendar from you local Spar. On the internet, companies use freebiesused to build up traffic flow to their site and, hopefully, in turn boost sales.

Separating the good from the bad…

One of the best tips I can give you is to determine the legitimacy of a free offer before signing yourself up to it. Here’s how…

***Ask yourself, is this a legitimate company?
*** Check the site for its privacy policy – you need to ensure the company in question treats your personal information with the utmost care.
*** Make sure the offer doesn’t just look good on the surface. It still needs to be attractive once you’ve read the “terms and conditions”.

A look at some of the best freebie sites out there…

1#: Looking for vouchers and discounts for just about anything, try www.amazingvouchers.co.za:
Amazing Vouchers is an online voucher marketing opportunity that allows you to have your cake and eat it too. It offers mind-blowing freebies, great discounts and value added vouchers for anything from beauty products and services to health and fitness to restaurants, accommodation, travel, and even plumbers and electricians.

#2: Set your tongue free:
Phone friends and family around the world for free using Skype. All you need is internet access and Skype’s free software. And when you can't make free Skype-to-Skype calls, you can make local, long distance and international calls to phones and mobiles at great rates too. A call to the UK on Skype, for instance, costs just 25c a minute.

#3: Download your next read here:
Looking for something good to read, but don’t want to spend extra on the expensive books you find in the shops? These websites are perfect for you:

www.free-ebooks.net allows you to browse all its titles according to category – making it easier to sift through the thousands of titles it offers. Or try www.memoware.com. This site has thousands of books to choose from dealing in a whole range of topics.

#4: Get the latest software on the house
Visit www.freewarefiles.com for all your software needs. Whether its games, anti-virus programs or photo enhancement software, this site offers it all.

#5: The soundtrack to your life – gratis
Amazon.com now offers thousands of free music downloads. The catch: You can only download one or two songs from CDs in about 20 categories covering just about all music tastes.

Happy hunting!

Here's to your financial freedom...

Karin Iten
For the Investment Academy

PS: Don’t forget to look for us on twitter to discover what’s got us talking here at the Investment Academy.

* This article was adapted from a MoneyWeek feature