Ah, the mailbox as piata, spilling out free candy bars, cold meds, shampoo and toothpaste samples, bandages, fish-oil capsules and other gratis goodies.

Who doesn't love a freebie?

What we don't love are the spam and scams that accompany some online offers. Fortunately, a number of sites filter out the dross.

"I weed through things and help them find the good stuff," says Heather Hernandez, who writes a blog called Freebies 4 Mom.

Stuff like pet food, heartburn and allergy medicine, chai tea, protein bars, feminine-hygiene products, caramel apple dip, T-shirts, movie tickets, ethernet cables, soy butter, breakfast cereal, disinfectant wipes, candy bars, fabric softener, vitamins, coffee, lipstick, energy drinks, movie rentals and disposable contact lenses.

You can even get a free condom by mail -- or, if you decide not to, you can sign up for free diaper and formula samples.

Where do freebies come from?

Why would companies give away thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of products for nothing? Because they hope you'll pay for the next one.

"Companies are looking to put their products in potential consumers' hands. They wouldn't do it if it didn't work," says Brandt Held, a co-founder of MySavings.com.

This gives you the opportunity to try a product without a cash commitment. Ever plunk down $8.99 for a laundry detergent that made your whole family itch or buy a new shampoo that made your hair as flat and oily as a latke?

A steady stream of freebies makes it fun to go to the mailbox, especially if all you've seen there lately are bills you're having trouble paying.

In fact, the recession seems to have created a run on freebies sites. The hosts I interviewed have noticed not just an increase in hits but a change in feedback. Readers write of layoffs, salary cuts, tightened budgets. For them freebies are "not a luxury," according to Chris Hill, the CEO of CheapToday.com.

"People are depending on some of this stuff," says Hill, whose site has a section called "Free Today."

Wendi Caetta, aka The Freebie Blogger, once heard mostly from at-home mothers. "Now I'm getting e-mails from people who've been laid off from their job, or their spouse has been laid off, or both. They're trying to get groceries for four people for $30 a week."

Generally, but not always, the samples are trial size: single diapers, teeny little toothpaste tubes or a week's worth of vitamins. Small toiletries are great for travel or for stocking stuffers. They're also great for military care packages and are a welcome donation to homeless shelters.

But as noted above, samples really do help when times are tight. A three-quarter-ounce tube of Colgate comes in handy when you're out of toothpaste and payday is five days off. And if you're having trouble meeting basic needs, a free protein bar and free coffee sample could be breakfast.

Incidentally, free stuff can also be found on nonfreebie Web pages. Shopping sites such as CouponMom.com and Hot Coupon World and deal-seeking sites like FatWallet.com all have sections devoted to gratis goodies.

When is a freebie not a freebie?

Be wary of any offer that touts a "free" trial but requires a credit card payment for shipping and handling.

You'll likely get ripped off, according to Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs.com -- either you'll start getting products or services you didn't order or you'll be billed even if you cancel.

That is, if you can get through to customer service. Some companies don't answer the phone. Or they'll put you on hold for ages. Or they'll insist that you did order the item you're disputing.

"There are always strings attached" to such offers, Huffman says. Consumers need to use common sense: If something is free, why are they being asked to pay anything at all?

You're safest when:

• You get a sample product directly through a manufacturer's home page (which is where the links on most reputable freebies sites redirect you).


• The offer is found at an established retailer, such as the "In Stores Now" section of Walmart.com.


• The offer is shared by fellow consumers in community forums at sites such as FatWallet.com or MySavings.com.

Another common scam is the gift card or the game system that's yours absolutely free when you sign up for trials of magazine subscriptions, book clubs, nutritional supplements and the like.

One ad I saw, for a $250 grocery card, stated there was no risk because most of the offers could be canceled if you were not satisfied. However, the fine-print disclaimer noted that you had to complete at least six offers -- and that if you canceled more than two within 30 days you would not receive the grocery card.

And in the meantime? "I will guarantee that your e-mail will be shared with many other marketers," says Stephanie Nelson of CouponMom.com.

Beware a "free" offer that:

• Requires you to sign up for or buy something, even on a "trial" basis.


• Is not affiliated with the company associated with the prize (check the fine print).


• Asks for credit card, bank account or PayPal information. It's supposed to be free, remember?

Freebies -- for real

The moral of the story: Ignore any come-on that seems too good to be true, and stick with places that don't ask for access to your money. Do a search for "freebie sites" and you'll be amazed at how many such places exist.

Look for pages that are easy to navigate. Some are cluttered with ads or are poorly designed. Others are much easier on the eyes. Some even separate freebies into categories like "health and beauty," "pets" and "family."

Find a site that matches your personality. Some are almost like clubs, with forums in which readers share advice, trade coupons and even post baby pictures. FatWallet.com is edgy, whereas Freebies 4 Mom is a place for mothers to get a little nurturing. The Absurdly Cool Freebie Finder, an "automated free stuff aggregator," delivers the goods without the community.

Other tips:

• Set up a new e-mail account. Some sites sell information -- and even if they don't, they may send regular updates.


• Pick your spots. If your time is limited, spend it signing up for stuff you use every day -- laundry soap and toothpaste versus nonessentials such as stickers or scented candles.


• Check early, check often. The best freebies get snapped up quickly. Don't wait until 11 p.m. to check your favorite sites -- unless, of course, the blogger is known to work late. See if there's a Facebook or Twitter account, which helps you beat the "while supplies last" clause, suggests Laura Pagles of FatWallet.com.


• If you caved: So in a weak moment you gave a credit card number, and now you're being billed for your "free" item. Don't waste your time calling the scammers, advises Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs.com. "Call your credit card company and tell them it's an unauthorized charge."

Save money today

Don't call an exterminator: "Ugh . . . ANTS in my pantry!" wailed a Florida reader of the Smart Spending message board. Other readers offered low-cost (and mostly nontoxic) solutions.

On the frugal edge: "Most extreme savings tips" is a message board thread that won't die. It's been around for two years and has more than half a million views. Some of them are gross, some merely extreme, and some could save you a lot of money.

Pages of savings: Some message board readers found ways to get cheaper magazine and newspaper subscriptions. Others found ways to do without them entirely. Read how at "...and I don't even miss them!"