Hopefully, we all know by now that free stuff can be great – but isn’t always. After all, we’ve probably all found our homes or cars cluttered with free giveaways from fairs or promotions and ended up throwing most or all of it away.

But free stuff can also be the ultimate bargain – and Kiplinger.com’s annual list of quality giveaways includes just those types. Here’s a look at how some of the highlights can help you & your finances (but check out the complete list for yourself).

Spending Nothing to Improve Your Finances

The Kiplinger.com list has a wide variety of products and services. Here are some of my favorites.

• Free workouts: Any financially conscious person should realize the long-term savings potential of staying healthy. Fewer sick days, fewer doctors’ visits, fewer medical bills – the list goes on. So ditch the gym membership and take advantage of the great outdoors to walk, run, or cycle; visit your library to check out a workout DVD; or check online for free yoga or martial arts classes in your area.
• Free financial advice or help: Between free smart-phone apps, free online investing advice, and even live online chatters ready to dole out wisdom to small business owners, there are a bevy of options available to those looking to make sure they’re on the right financial track. This is especially handy for people recovering from bankruptcy or serious debt who want to keep moving forward.
• Free tech support and virus protection: Kiplinger.com suggests visiting TechGuy.org, 5starsupport.com or your manufacturer’s web site to take advantage of free computer and gadget help for the less tech-savvy among us. Plus, if you don’t feel like shelling out for anti-virus software, the article recommends online varieties you can download for (you guessed it) free!
• Free travel help: Leaving the country? Visit ePassportPhoto.com for free passport photos that use your own digital camera, and visit one of the many web destinations that offer free foreign language lessons. As a bonus, many language lessons mentioned in the article are downloadable as mp3s, so you can listen to them while you’re going about your everyday life.
• Free entertainment: Yes, I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again and add a new twist: your local library is an excellent place to find free entertainment. Books, CDs, DVDs, classes, children’s activities – the list goes on. But now you can even download free ebooks to entertain yourself and your family in the car (or wherever). So if you’re still forking over cash to keep yourself occupied on long car trips or vacations, it’s time to change your tune.

The Kiplinger.com list has 33 exciting items, so take some time to review them and then enjoy all the money you can save by taking advantage of our glorious, freebie-filled world!

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