Twenty-One Cool Products And Services You Can Get For Free

From entertainment and financial advice to health care and technology.

In Pictures: 21 Cool Products And Services You Can Get For Free

The battered economy has taken the stigma out of bargain-hunting. Some might even say that saving a few bucks is in style.
We're not talking about buying nine cups of coffee and getting the 10th free--we're talking about free entertainment, financial advice, health care, technology and more.

Look hard enough and you can find a bevy of 100% discounts, especially online. "Facebook is a great source of freebies right now, as so many brands try to attract fans and establish themselves," says Julia Scott, who runs the popular blog BargainBabe.com.
In Pictures: 21 Cool Products And Services You Can Get For Free

We went freebie fishing and filled the net. Read on for a sampling. For the entire list, click here.
A word of warning, adds Scott: "There are probably more scams out there than there are legit offers, so it is important to be careful." Her advice: When you see a deal that looks too good to be true, always look for customer service e-mail, telephone number and a promised delivery date. Also look for eligibility requirements (by age or residence) or other exclusions; their absence lends a whiff of impropriety.

Among the legitimate goods you can get gratis:
Financial Services: Tax Preparation
Every year the Internal Revenue Service gathers an army of volunteers to dispense free tax advice and preparation services to the elderly, military personnel and their families, and households making below $49,000 a year. (For more, click here.) Another option: E-mail a question to Turbo Tax before the Jan. 31, 2011, and one of its tax experts will call you back with an answer--free. You only get one question, so make it a good one!
Financial Services: Credit Monitoring
The first step to improving your finances is figuring out where you stand. Get free credit reports once a year from AnnualCreditReport.com. For more consistent checkups, keep daily tabs on your status with Credit Karma.