How to get something for nothing online

By Michelle Johnson, Globe Correspondent, 05/06/99

Attention coupon clippers, penny pinchers, and work-at-home types on a budget: You can get free stuff on line. Here's a sample:

Free net access

Forget the ticking meter or monthly fee to hook into the Web. Now you can log on through NetZero at www.netzero.com.

How it works: Download the NetZero software, run setup, select an access number, and create a new account. NetZero is now your Internet Service Provider. Sorry, Mac users - you know the routine: Mac version to come. Currently available for Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 users only.

The catch: You have to tolerate advertising that's beamed to you via a small window on your computer desktop that runs as long as you're connected to the Net. Mildly irritating, but not as irritating as a monthly bill.

Tip:To avoid long-distance phone charges, click the nationwide access numbers link first to see whether there's a dial-up number in your area code. You'll find a fairly decent list of numbers for Massachusetts. Gardening el3

You could spend $50 to $60 on software to help you plan your garden. Or you could go to www.garden.com and click on the link that says Design a Garden.

Under the Garden Planner link is a program that lets you build a garden plan on line. You can try your hand as a guest, but to have your designs saved automatically, you'll have to sign in. Yes, that's free, too.

How it works:The Garden Planner appears in your browser as a grid, marked in 1-foot increments. You add images of plants to the grid by pointing and clicking. You can move the plants around, and delete ones you decide you don't like. Click the template tab for no-brainer, already-designed plans such as Cottage Garden North, or mix and match your own garden scheme. Designs can be saved for later viewing. Works with Netscape, IE, and AOL browsers 3.0 or higher.

The catch: The program isn't as full-featured as off-the-shelf gardening software, but if you just want a quick sketch, it's handy. And, of course, the garden.com folks are hoping you'll hit the order garden button to buy your plant stuff from them, but you're not required to do that to use the program.

Tip:Click Plant Finder Options at the top of the planner screen to set options such as your climate zone, soil composition, or preferred flower colors. Free samples el3 Get that stuff you normally pick up in the travel bin at the drugstore for free. Aspirin, antacid, shampoo, and vitamins are all on the list of free samples at www.thefreesite.com/freesamples.htm.

How it works:The page has links to free sample offers at the manufacturers' home pages. Generally, you'll have to fill out a form and answer a few snoopy questions for the marketing department.

The catch: Most items are limited to one per household, and it may take as long as six weeks for your freebie to arrive.

Freebies of the day

Visit Yahoo's Internet Life Magazine Web site, www.zdnet.com/yil/content/depts/freebies/freebies.html, for a freebie, bargain, and contest link of the day.

How it works:If you're too lazy to search for freebies on your own, stop here for a daily fix. One recent day, the freebie link pointed to a computer monitor screen cleaner kit, the bargain of the day was $20 off a pair of Eddie Bauer hiking shoes, and the prize for that day's contest was an all-expense-paid trip to the Kentucky Derby in the year 2000.

The catch: None, really. Just a limited number of offers each day.

Tip:Wait till the end of the week and peruse a week's worth of freebies.

Coupon killer

Here's a twist on the usual supermarket coupon clip-and-save routine: Get paid to shop.

How it works: Type in your ZIP code at www.valuepage.com. This brings up a list of participating supermarkets in your area. Select the one where you shop and click the ValuePage button to print out a form that gets scanned at the supermarket checkout. A special coupon printer at the checkout issues a cash-like coupon called Web Bucks. Web Bucks can be used on just about anything you want to buy on your next visit to the supermarket. (Items like tobacco and alcohol not included.)

The catch: I found a rather short list of supermarkets for my ZIP code (some I'd never heard of), but, lucky for me, the place where I shop most frequently was among the choices.

Tip: Give the form to the cashier before your order is totaled. He may be baffled. Just show him the instructions for cashiers at the top of the form.

Home office

Are those zippy little blue high-capacity disks that you use for backups putting a major dent in your wallet? Back up your files for free on line at www.freedrive.com.

How it works: Fill out a short form to create a user name and password. After logging in, you're taken to your drive page, where you can upload and download your files. Store up to 20 MB of your stuff for free. Additional storage available for a fee.

The catch: A weekly e-mail will add to the spam in your e-mailbox. And yep, as with most ''free'' sites, you'll be plied with banner ads.

Tip: Make sure you have JavaScript enabled in your browser to log in.

Michelle Johnson, an Internet consultant, is a former editor for the Globe. Her e-mail address is [email protected].