I don’t know about you but I’m still having a hard time adjusting to the time change. I’ve been waking up about 45 minutes later than I should which means I’ve only really adjusted by 15 minutes. Yet somehow I still feel sleepy! If you’re like me, maybe these freebies will wake you up!

Free Starbucks Pastry: On the morning of March 23rd head to Starbucks for a free pastry with the purchase of a hand-crafted beverage. Just make sure to bring this coupon in with you.

Free Irish Cheese: Here’s another great coupon for you to print. This one will get you free Irish cheese from Earth Fare with any purchase. It expires on March 23.

Free Oatmeal: Get a free sample of Better Oats oatmeal. They want you to try theirs against the brand you’re currently eating. When you share your experience in a video or email they’ll donate fives meals to help feed hungry families in the US.

Free Ben & Jerry’s: March 23 is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s. Head to your nearest store between noon and 8pm for your free cone!

Free Dog Food: Give your pooch a fabulous freebie. Sign up for a free sample of Rachel Ray Nutrish dog food through Walmart.com.

Can you believe March is almost half over? Before letting another day rush by, stop and score yourself some freebies. There are lots of great ones available… check them out!

Free Pinkberry: If only I lived near a Pinkberry. But those of you that do can snag this awesome freebie. Get a free Mango Pinkberry with toppings from 5-9 tonight. You’ll also have a chance to win prizes by answering trivia questions.

Free Laundry Detergent Sample: Become a fan of Vaska on Facebook and you’ll have access to a link for requesting a free sample of their all-natural liquid detergent. Allow a few weeks for delivery.

Free Purex: Want more free detergent? Try the Purex 3-in-1 Free Sample Offer. You’ll get two free sheets which is all you need to wash and dry two loads of laundry for free. It also works with HE washers and dryers.

Free Baby Formula: Get a free sample of Enfamil baby formula when you visit Enfamil.com. Ask your doctor which variety is best for you and print out your certificate for a free sample.

Free Music: Urban Outfitters is handing out 25 free songs. It’s the Live in Austin 2010 free download album.

Have you ever looked at the clock, realized it was time for dinner only to discover you had no idea what to make? Does this happen to you regularly? You may want to consider meal planning. Here are some of the benefits:

* No rushing to the store for a few ingredients, something that takes time and money.
* No last-minute fast food stops instead of making meals at home.
* More time to focus on other things rather than wondering what’s for dinner every night.
* Meals can be made around what’s on sale that week at the grocery store.

There are certainly a lot of benefits of meal planning. For those who feel like they don’t have time to do it– just try. You’ll probably discover that you’ll actually spend less time planning meals once a week rather than worrying about dinner every night.

Thankfully there are free resources available that will make meal planning easy. The amazing blog 5dollardinners.com just released these free printable menu planners. Check out this monthly menu planner and the weekly menu planner. These resources will help you get organized. Set aside an hour or so one day a week for meal planning. I typically do my meal planning on Sunday although I’m constantly looking at recipes in magazines and online for meals I’d like to make. Choose meals that you already have the majority of ingredients for. This will cut down on your grocery bill. You may also want to review the sales flyer for your favorite grocery store. Check out what type of meat is on sale and work that into a couple of meals. You will be amazed at how much meal planning impacts your food budget.

I have a birthday coming up, so this article immediately caught my eye. I’m always on the lookout for free or discounted stuff! The article on Yahoo! Finance provided a list of restaurants and other places to get freebies on your special day.

Denny’s

For kids 10 and under they can get a birthday card for a free kid’s meal and sundae. They must be enrolled in the Denny’s Birthday Club and accompanied by an adult who pays for a regular entree.

Red Robin

Get a free birthday burger and gift when you sign up for the restaurant’s eClub. You have to fill out a survey when you sign up. There is no age limit.

Firehouse Subs

Go and grab your favorite sandwich when you add yourself to the Firehouse Subs mailing list. You’ll get a certificate for a free sub during your birthday month.

Black Angus

If you’re in the mood for a great steak, a free steak dinner awaits you. You can redeem it two weeks before and up to two weeks after  your birthday at any U.S. Black Angus or Cattle Company Steakhouse restaurants.

Coldstone Creamery/Baskin Robbins

As the weather warms up I’m definitely in the mood for some ice cream. Get the “sweetest birthday possible” from Coldstone Creamery by just creating an account on the company’s website and get a free sweet treat. Baskin Robbins also offers a free 2.5 ounce scoop of ice cream and discounts on ice cream cakes. You also have to create an account on their website.

Bob Evans

Boys and girls can get a free kid’s meal on their birthday. Parents have to sign up for the birthday club. You can get mac and cheese, chicken strips and mini cheeseburgers and some other yummy dishes. It’s for kids under 12.

Taco Time

Get a kid’s meal that includes a taco, burrito or quesadilla plus fries, a small drink and Crustos or a toy. This is also for kids 12 and under.

Olan Mills

Track your child’s growth with professional studio pictures on their birthdays. Get photos of your babies up to age 3 with one 8 by 10, one 5 by 7 and four wallet sized photos. All for free! You can also get 20 percent off additional portraits.

Toys “R” Us

Have a celebration with your kids on their birthday at this major retailer. Your child can get a balloon, crown, gift and a birthday announcement to the store. This offer is for kids 10 and younger.

This weekend I ended up a two new shirts, a new purse, a new dress and a cute pair of Jessica Simpson heels. Sounds like a went on a shopping spree, right? Actually it was all free thanks to a clothing swap! A friend of mine organized the event as a way to clean out her own closets while getting a few “new” things in her own wardrobe at the same time. It’s a great way to update your clothing assortment while not spending any money. And the stuff I got was great– the J. Crew dress still had tags attached and the shoes had never been worn. If this sounds good to you, here are a few tips for organizing a clothes swap.

Clean Out Your Closets

You need to have plenty of “merchandise” to share. Clean out your closets and drawers. You may even want to go through your accessories like purses, jewelry and shoes. Collect it all and wash anything that needs it.

Invite Others

Send out a free invite via Facebook. Tell your friends to clean out their closets, too and bring everything to your place for a clothes swap. You may want to ask them to bring some snacks or drinks, so that it’s a festive night of fun.

Offer Hanging Space

My friend cleared off her dining room table so we could pile on clothes that were up for grabs. She also installed temporary hanging racks in her doorways so it was easier to look through items. Have a separate space set aside for accessories and shoes.

Set Out a Mirror

Make sure there’s a mirror nearby for checking out clothing selections. Have a place prepared so that guests can try items on if needed.

Have a Plan for Extras

Offer to take clothing that wasn’t chosen to the Goodwill or another charity drop-off. That way guests don’t have to worry about lugging their leftovers back home.

Spring is coming… can you feel it? For those of you still covered in a blanket of snow, perhaps these freebies will cheer you up!

Free Vitamin Water: Become a fan of Vitamin Water on Facebook and you’ll have a shot at a free bottle of Vitamin Water Connect. You must be one of the first 100,000 people to request your freebie.

Free Crest White Strips: Want a whiter smile for spring? Sign up for a free sample of Crest 3D White Strips. They’ll remove stains that brushing and rinsing can’t.

Free Olay Total Effects Body Wash: It’s always good to try out a new product before investing in a full-size bottle of it. Check out this free sample of Olay Total Effects Body Wash.

Free Romance Book: Get a free advance copy of Romancing Miss Bronte by Juliet Gael from Random House. They’re only handing out free books while supplies last so you better sign up quickly!

Free Kindle Titles: Have a Kindle? You can get lots of free reading materials. Deal Seeking Mom has a big list of new free books you can score.

Free Granola and Coffee: Start your morning off with free coffee and free granola thanks to Earth Fare. Just take in this printable coupon and you’ll score your two freebies with any purchase.

It’s the last Friday of February. Spring is around the corner so why not celebrate the arrival of new life and warmer weather with some freebies? We’ve even got some freebies that will help you with spring cleaning!

Free Swiffer Starter Kit: Have a business? Register as a Proctor and Gamble Professional and you can receive a free Swiffer Starter Kit. It should arrive within six to eight weeks.

Free Pizza and Mozzarella: There’s a new freebie at Earth Fare. Just print off this coupon and you’ll receive free pizza dough and mozzarella with any purchase.

Free True Lemon Sample: Like adding a little flavor to your water? Try out the new True Lemon, True Lime or True Orange from Citrus Made Simple for free. Just register for your free sample.

Free Tide: Get a freebie to help you with some spring cleaning. Sign up for this free sample of Tide with Febreeze from Wal-Mart. You’ll also get a $1 off coupon if you decide to purchase the product. Plus you’ll get access to other free samples including free diapers and exclusive pet food coupons.

Free samples have been showing up in my mailbox all week. That’s just one of the perks when you take advantage of the great stuff we list here on Free Stuff Friday! Here are some new ones to look forward to:

Free Pretzel: I told you about this one last week, but now the day is almost here. It’s Free Pretzel Day at Auntie Anne’s on Saturday, February 20. They’re handing out free original or cinnamon sugar pretzels. You can even sign up to receive a text wake-up call.

Free Lever 2000 Sample: Are you a member of Costco? If so, take advantage of this free sample of Lever 2000. Just fill out a short form and your freebie will be on its way. You must include your membership id number.

Free Seattle’s Best Coffee: Have a Borders near you? Take this printable coupon into Borders by February 21 and you’ll receive a free small brewed coffee.

Free Photo Book: Hot Prints has been offering free photo books for a while, but now they have a new style. It’s a full-page photo book and you can get one free every month. This freebie even includes free shipping.

Free Nestle Sample: Nestle is offering a free sample of Abuelita. Your chocolate drink mix should arrive within three to six weeks and you’ll also have access to a $.75 off coupon.

Valentine’s Day is Sunday, but I’m going to start showing you some love right now! Here’s a list of sweet freebies that I know you’ll love.

Free BareMinerals Makeup: Take in this printed coupon to the Sephora counter at your local JC Penney store and receive a free 10-day supply of BareMinerals Foundation. This offer is good while supplies last.

Free Photo Collage: This freebie is good for today only! Create a photo collage at Walgreens.com and enter code “VDAY” to make it free. Make sure you opt to pick it up in the store in order to avoid shipping costs.

Free Love Music: Need a new soundtrack for Valentine’s Day? Download some free romantic songs from Love.Cartier.com.

Free Glossing Cream: Head to Walmart.com and sign up for a free sample of Frederic Fekkai’s Glossing Cream. Try it if you’re looking for a product that hydrates, sleeks and shines.

Free Pretzel: This one’s not until next week, but now you have plenty of time to plan ahead. It’s Free Pretzel Day at Auntie Anne’s on Saturday, February 20. They’re handing out free original or cinnamon sugar pretzels. You can even sign up to receive a text wake-up call.

Valentine’s Day is coming up quick. Need some ideas for giving your Valentine some love without spending much money? Here are some great Valentine’s Day freebies and deals:

Free Family Christian Greeting Card: Head to Family Christian with this printable coupon and you’ll get a free Dayspring greeting card up to $2.50. There are also some other great deals during their $5 sale.

Free Bowling Valentine’s: These free printable Valentine’s cards are great for giving and keeping. That’s because each one is a coupon valid for a free game of bowling. They are valid from Valentine’s Day through the end of February.

Free Card at Publix: If you live near a Publix grocery store you may be able to score a free Hallmark Expressions card. In this week’s ad there is a coupon for $.99 off a card and some cards are just $.99 making it free. You can also print the coupon off at Publix.com by looking up your weekly ad and clicking the coupons tab.

Free Chuck E. Cheese Printable Valentine’s: Does your little one need some quick Valentines to hand out at school? Print off these Chuck E. Cheese cards. They come with a coupon for five free tokens with a food purchase. That should get you a game or two of ski ball!

Free Earth Fare Chocolate with Purchase: Earth Fare just released this printable coupon for free organic chocolates with any floral purchase. It’s good until February 16.

Free CVS Photo Card: Make a Valentine photo card at CVS this week for $1 and you’ll get $1 back in Extra Care Bucks. This deal expires on Saturday the 13th.

Free Cards with Doughnuts: Head to Krispee Kreme and when you buy a dozen donuts you’ll get 12 free Valentine’s cards. Each card includes a coupon good for a free doughnut making this a pretty good deal!

Photo courtesy of Sister72

Super Bowl weekend has arrived! Whether you love watching the big game or just the commercials, hopefully you have plans to enjoy a fun time with friends or family. Just in case the Super Bowl isn’t enough to get you excited for the weekend, here are some freebies that might do the job!

Free Kind Snack: Head to Starbucks today for a free sample of the KIND bar. This is happening at 7,000 Starbucks locations today only. You’ll get to try one of two new flavors.

Free Tim McGraw Song: Join the Outback Steakhouse rewards program and right away you’ll earn 250 points just for joining. That’s enough to download a live version of Tim McGraw’s song “Real Good Man.” Plus you’ll have access to a free appetizer coupon when you buy two entrees and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a trip to Australia to see Tim McGraw perform live.

Free Dozen Eggs: Be one of the first 30,000 people to request a coupon for free eggs today from America’s Egg Farmers. You’ll get a free dozen eggs with the purchase of a dozen eggs. You must be a fan of Incredible Edible Egg on Facebook.

Free Beauty Products: The first 500 people to sign up at noon EST today and tomorrow will receive free beauty products from Allure Magazine. Today they’re giving away Caress body wash and tomorrow it’s Lierac Paris Micro-Abrasion Stimulating Smoothing Cream.

Free Nick Chavez Product: Join Nick’s Red Carpet Club and you’ll receive lots of stuff including your choice of a free sample. Choose between seven Nick Chavez products like Rock Star Amp Hair Gel and Angel Wings Ultra-Light Styling Paste.

Free Chuck E. Cheese Tokens: This is a double freebie. Not only can you get free printable Valentine’s, but each card comes with a coupon for five free tokens with a purchase at Chuck E. Cheese.

The awesome people over at C28.com offered to give our readers a chance to win one of two Christian t-shirts. We plugged the numbers into Random.org and winner was chosen. Congratulations to #13:

Erika Says:
January 27th, 2010 at 12:55 am

This is actually the first time I have seen your blog.I would love the woman’s shirt for one of my daughters who is going to be a missionary after she finishes college.

Erika, I know your daughter will love her t-shirt! I’m actually wearing the same one today and I love it! Thanks again to everyone who participated and don’t forget to stop by C28.com and do a little shopping for Valentine’s Day!

When you start requesting free stuff mail time gets exciting. It’s no longer forgotten. I often peek out the window, looking for the mailman. Here are some more freebies to have sent your way so that your bills won’t be such a bore.

Free Candy: Have you enjoyed a Reese’s, York, Almond Joy or Hershey’s Special Dark candy bar lately? If so, keep the wrapper and exchange it for free candy! It’s called the Wrapper Exchange Program and when you swap your empty package you’ll get a free bag of Pieces in return. Just follow the rules, fill out the form and send in your wrapper to get your treat.

Free Avery Label Pads: Box Tops for Education is offering up a free sample of Avery Label Pads. They are self-adhesive labels, stacked in a pad and ready to help you get organized. Just fill out an online form to request yours.

Free Potty Training Kit: Working to get a little one out of diapers? This freebie may help. Request your free Potty Training Kit from Pampers and you’ll get a sample of Easy Ups Trainers, coupons, stickers and a progress chart.

Free Kashi Sample: Choose between three Kashi products and you’ll get a free special treat in your mailbox. Their goal is to help you stay on track with your 2010 resolutions.

Free Passport Cover: This deal comes from the Freebie Blogger who discovered that when you sign up to receive emails from BCBGMaxAzaria you’ll get a free passport holder. You’ll have to print out an email and take it to your local store to get your freebie. So you may not want to sign up if you don’t have a store near you.

Free Burger and Fries: Mark your calendar for February 1 for this freebie. The first 500,000 people to sign up for the new Denny’s Rewards program online will receive a FREE burger and fries. You’ll be able to get your freebie March 1st through March 7th, 2010.

Ten days ago I set out on a challenge to not spend any money for two weeks. I was doing great up until this morning. A cold I was fighting off turned nasty and I sent my husband to the drug store for some meds. I thought we could do it without spending money since I had $10.50 in CVS Extra Care Bucks, but when my husband got to CVS it was closed. He had to get to work and couldn’t wait for it to open just so he could use the ECB’s. So instead he went to Walgreens and spent $10.12 on a box of nasal decongestant.

If it hadn’t been for my pesky illness I think we could have made it all the way. And of course we’ll continue to try to not spend anything until our challenge ends at midnight on Friday. We even managed to have a great “frate” on Friday. It’s a term I made up that combines “free” and “date.” We made the rounds with coupons in hand and scored lots of free stuff.

First we hit up Bi-Lo with two coupons for free soda that I got from completing a survey on my last Bi-Lo experience. I told you about this deal in last week’s edition of Free Stuff Friday. Then we checked out the Redbox up the street. I used coupon code “BREAKROOM” to rent My Sister’s Keeper for free. But since we really weren’t in the mood for a sad movie we drove to the nearby Blockbuster Express and used coupon code “GV9TA4″ to get Duplicity with Julia Roberts for free. Finally we paid Taco Bell a visit and got two free Fresco tacos thanks to these printable coupons. It was fun to see what all we could get without paying a penny and even though being sick forced us to spend money, I think buying medicine is a good reason.

Are you blogger with a love for books? Christian publishing house Thomas Nelson has a new way to get free books. Just head to BookSneeze.com and sign up to be a book reviewer. You must have a blog in order to be eligible so that you can post your review.

All you have to do to become a review blogger and get free Christian books is request a title on their list of available books. Once you receive your book you must post the review on your bog along with a couple of links to the book’s Thomas Nelson product page and a link to a page that will let your readers preview the book.

Also, to comply with new rules from the Federal Trade Commission you have to be open about receiving a complimentary copy of the book. All you need to do is let your readers know that you got a free book for writing your review.

According to the website, top reviewers have received about 30 new titles absolutely free. So if you’re looking for a way to beef up your library and get your hands on some free books you may want to check this out.

Whether you’re looking to save money or you just like to see what you can score for free, this is your day. There are a bunch of great items on this week’s Free Stuff Friday list! If you take advantage of the freebies listed here than you probably get lots of great stuff showing up in your mailbox. Here’s a look at some of the free stuff I received in the mail this week:

Let me know what you received free in the mail and here are some more items you can score.

Free Valentine’s Card: Have you heard of the Five Love Languages? It’s a bestselling book by author Dr. Gary Chapman. If you know your spouse’s love language, send them a Valentine’s card that will really speak to them. Just head to FiveLoveCards.com to pick your freebie.

Free Photo Desk Calendar: Head to Walgreens.com to design your free photo desk calendar. According to Hip2Save, just put in coupon code “FREE4U” at checkout to take $9.99 off your total. You may still have to pay for shipping as it doesn’t look like you’ll have the option of just picking it up in the store.

Free Energy Drink Sample: Need a pick-me-up? Just fill out this online form and you’ll receive a sample of Spark energy drink.

Free 2-Liter of Soda: Have you shopped at Bi-Lo lately? Pull out your receipt and head to this site for a short survey. When you complete the survey you’ll be able to print out a coupon good for one free 2-liter of Southern Home soda.

Free Oreos: On Sunday January 24, the Donalds and the Mannings will face off in an Oreo challenge. Whoever can twist, lick and dunk a Golden Double Stuf Oreo the fastest wins. And if the Mannings win Oreo will give out 150,000 free packages of Oreos. But you have to become a fan of Oreo on Facebook to get this freebie. They’ll hand them out starting on Monday January 25 at 3pmEST so get ready!

I’m excited to announce a giveaway here at Out of Debt Christian. If you’re looking for a great Valentine’s gift or if you just want a new t-shirt for yourself, enter to win a t-shirt from C28.com. C28 Christian t-shirts are well-made, feature cool designs and help you display your Christian faith in a creative way. The company says it’s a ministry first and a store second, a commitment it proves by preaching the Gospel, encouraging prayer and supporting ministries.

Because Valentine’s Day is approaching, you have the chance to win your choice of two t-shirts. You can either win this men’s t-shirt featuring the words “A heart without love is a life without meaning.”

Or you can win this women’s t-shirt that says “Love will keep us alive. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” I received this t-shirt from C28.com and was very pleased with the fit– it’s modern, lightweight and well-made.

In order to win one of these t-shirts in time for Valentine’s Day, show us some love! Leave us a comment for one entry. To be entered a second time, subscribe to our feed and leave us a comment telling us you did that. For a third entry, tweet about this giveaway and leave us a comment telling us what you tweeted. A winner will be selected randomly through random.org on Wednesday, February 3. Thanks for playing!

We just adopted a new dog. His name is Milo and he’s a bit crazy. He sleeps in weird positions, likes to eat cabbage and loves his collection of toys. Our other dog, Bruno, is diabetic and requires special dog food that doesn’t go on sale. But with Milo, I’ve been searching for good dog food at a great price. I’ve found lots of high value dog food coupons and even opportunities for free dog food. If you’ve got a dog, check out these sources for free and cheap food.

A Month of Free Dog Food from Pedigree: If you adopted a dog at any time throughout 2009 you are eligible for a free month’s supply of dog food from Pedigree. Just fill out this form and send it in along with proof of your adoption. You must submit your request by February of 2010 in order to get your free dog food.

Science Diet 3-Bag Challenge: When we adopted Milo the shelter gave us a free bag of Science Diet to take home with us. Then I found the Science Diet 3-Bag Challenge. I entered the UPC code and some other information off the free bag of food I got from the shelter and I was able to print off a $5 off coupon for Science Diet. I hit my browser’s “back” button and was able to print a second one. When you take this challenge you can enter the UPC information off three bags of food and continue to get $5 off coupons. The coupons are good on bags that are 3.5lb or larger. You can find this food for less than $10 which means the coupons will make it half price.

Free Sample of Rachel Ray Nutrish: Head to RachelRay.com to get a free sample of her Nutrish dog food. You can also opt to print off a coupon worth $3.50 or just wait for your free sample to come in the mail.

$10 Eukanuba Coupon: Sign up to receive a $10 coupon off Eukanuba dog food. Just click the link to take you to the $10 off coupon. This should enable you to get cheap and possibly free Eukanuba dog food. Your coupon will be mailed to you after you sign up.

Free Health Food for Pets: You can get a free sample of Flint River Ranch oven baked premium health food for pets by signing up. You don’t need to enter your credit card information when requesting your free sample.

I told you earlier this week about my 14-day no spending challenge. It kicks off tomorrow and I’m hoping for success! So even though I won’t be spending any money I’ll still be taking advantage of some of the great freebies that are available right now, including these:

Free Hand Sanitizer: Just in time for the mid-winter germ fest, get yourself a free sample of hand sanitizer from Gold Bond. It feels like lotion which means it kills germs without drying out your hands.

Free Photo Mouse Pad: This is a great freebie if you need a Valentine’s gift or have a birthday gift coming up. Get a free photo mousepad from ArtsCow when you become a fan of them on Facebook. Shipping is included so you’ll pay absolutely nothing!

Free Ink Pen: Uni-ball is giving away thousands of free ink pens, but you have to act fast. Every day starting at 12:00 PM CST the giveaway starts and you have to be one of the first 10,000 to get yours.

Free Blueberries: Get a free 16oz. bag of frozen blueberries at Earthfare when you take this coupon along and make any purchase.

Free Taco: I told you last week about the one million free Fresco tacos Taco Bell is giving away. Well even if you’ve already snagged yours you can print out another coupon for a second freebie. Taco Bell reset the coupons so you have another chance. And if you’ve never tried it, check it out!

Free Coffee: Sign up for the Taster’s Choice challenge and they’ll send you six sticks of their coffee to sample. You’ll get one of each flavor to try. Your freebie should arrive within six weeks.

Families spend $2,835 per year on recreation. Real Simple recently had an article about saving money in many areas including entertainment.

When it comes to electronics, you can save some money by purchasing refurbished iPods and computers from Apple. Click on “store” and find pre-owned stuff that have the same warranty as the new ones.

Another idea is to surf the Internet for cheap tickets for concerts, shows and sports events. Check out Zebra Tickets. This site puts together prices from major ticket retailers to find you the best deal, according to Real Simple. Zebra Tickets can also alert you when tickets dip to a lower amount you can afford.

Now is a great time to take a ski trip as the winter weather continues to hit the U.S. hard. Liftopia is a great site that offers an average 33 percent discount at more than 120 ski resorts.

Many of us love to watch movies, but have you thought about swapping? Sites such as Title Trader and Swap Tree allow you to exchange DVDs, CDs and even books with other people. Good Reads is also available to help you get reading updates from friends. Then you can ask them to borrow those books when they are finished.

If you aren’t able to afford heading out to have some fun, consider having a family game night. And when the kids get restless send them to a city park. They often offer free lessons for different sports. Also, keep an eye out for free local events downtown or discounts on admissions to the zoo or other parks.

Are you familiar with Dave Ramsey’s envelope system? It’s a basic way of budgeting that will help you live below your means. You start each month with a written budget and put cash in various envelopes based on how much you’ve allocated. For instance, you might have a “groceries” envelope and inside you would have the cash you’ve set aside for your grocery budget. When you buy groceries you pull out that envelope and use the cash that’s inside. When the money is gone, it’s gone– no more spending.

If you’re thinking about instituting the envelope system at your home, here is another incentive to do it. Kelleigh from Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs is offering up free templates and a tutorial for making your own envelope system using scrapbook paper you may already have around the house. Simply print out Kelleigh’s templates and follow her instructions so that you can create a beautiful and organized envelope system like she did:

If you’d rather buy an envelope system that is ready to go you can pick one up through Dave Ramsey’s site for $19.95. Crown Financial Ministries also sells a Cash Organizer with 12 tear-resistant envelopes inside an expanding file. It’s on sale right now for $15. Of course, you could also use plain old envelopes you’ve got stashed in your desk, or even envelopes from bills you receive that are paid online. It doesn’t matter what you use as long as you stick with the plan.

Along with welcoming in a New Year we’re also welcoming the arrival of lots of new freebies. So if you’ve made it your New Year’s resolution to save money, this list should help you with that goal.

Free Fresco Taco: Snag a free Fresco Taco from Taco Bell when you print out this coupon. Once you print the coupon you’ll have seven days to get your free taco. One million coupons will be given away– after that they’re gone!

Free Olympic Journal: Next month the winter Olympics kick off in Vancouver. Get your hands on a free souvenir at Vancouver2010.com. Fill out the form to reserve your free journal. They’ll send you the information in a few weeks, but reserve your copy now

Free Everlast Bar: Print out this coupon and head to your local GNC store to try a free Everlast bar. It’s less than 200 calories and packed with 14 grams of protein and four grams of fiber.

Free Workout Music: Here’s yet another freebie to help you get in shape for the New Year. Download a free Biggest Loser and Subway workout mix.

Free Emergen-C Sample: Want to feel more energized and alert? Get your hands on a free sample of the Erergen-C Fizzy Drink Mix by filling out an order form. And if you like it they’ll also send you a 25% off coupon to use on your next purchase.

Free Gourmet Caramel Apple: This freebie definitely won’t help you if your goal is to lose weight, but we all need a sweet treat now and then. Sign up for a free sample of Ivan Mog’s gourmet caramel apples. You’ll be able to choose from 11 different flavors and according to the site the sample is half of an apple. All four to six weeks for delivery.

Merry Christmas!! We hope you are having a fabulous holiday with your friends and family. But just because this is a day to take time to enjoy one another, it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy some freebies. Here are a few freebies– just think of it as my gift to you!

Free Gift Tags: You may have some gifts to wrap still– or maybe you ran out of gift tags and you don’t feel like finding a store that’s open on Christmas to buy more. Either way, enjoy these lovely free downloadable gift tags from EatDrinkChic.com. Keep in mind they are for personal use only.

Free Sausage Biscuit: Tired of cooking? Head to Waffle House– they’re open 24 hours every day– even on Christmas and New Year’s! Take this coupon to get a free sausage biscuit.

Free Bagel Poppers: Now through December 29 take this printable coupon to Einstein Brothers Bagels for free Bagel Poppers when you purchase a drink.

Free Aveda Products: Perhaps the holidays have you feeling a little stressed? Take this coupon into your local Aveda store and receive a free three-piece sample pack of Smooth Infusion shampoo, conditioner and style-prep smoother while supplies last.

So you’re nearly out of time and all out of money, but you still need a Christmas gift? Here are some last minute and free Christmas gifts.

Gift Certificate: No, we’re not talking about a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant. We’re talking about a certificate for something more heartfelt. Perhaps a weekly foot rub? Or a certificate for free baby-sitting? Think about what the recipient would really value that money can’t buy. And if you need a hand with gift certificate design, use these free templates from Regiftable.com.

Handmade Ornaments: Have some scraps of fabric like felt laying around? TwigandThistle.com has some great ideas for turning what you may already have around the house into a beautiful Christmas gift. Plus they are easy to make!

Heartfelt Letter: Letter writing is becoming a lost art. Take some time to write a letter from the heart to your loved ones. Chances are they’ll cherish it for years to come– long after a store bought gift would have lost its excitement.

Virtual Flowers: Create a virtual bouquet of flowers at Flowers2mail.com. It’s a free service (and fun to use!) so that you can deliver a personalized bunch of flowers to your loved one’s inbox.

Free Restaurant Gift Certificate: We’ve told you about Feed It Forward before, but it makes a great last minute and free gift, too. Just head to the website by the end of Christmas day to pass on your free restaurant gift certificates.

Gift cards make great last-minute gifts. They’re easy to buy, easy to wrap and easy to mail. Right now lots of retailers are offering perks when you buy gift cards from them. That way you can give to others and get a little something for yourself, too.

Little Caesar’s Pizza: Get a free $5 gift card when you buy a $25 gift card at Little Caesar’s Pizza. This is a limited time offer and must be done in the store.

Chik-Fil-A: Buy a $20 gift card at any Chik-Fil-A location and receive a free cow calendar full of great money-saving coupons, including some for free items.

Applebee’s: Get a free $10 gift card when you buy $50 in gift cards at Applebee’s. The offer is only available in-store, not online and for a limited time.

TGI Friday’s: Purchase $25 worth of TGI Friday’s gift cards in-restaurant and you’ll receive a $5 Bonus Bites card for free. The Bonus Bites card comes with some conditions including that it must be used between January 1, 2010 and February 28, 2010.

PF Chang’s: Now through December 31, purchase $50 in PF Chang’s gift cards and you’ll receive a $10 gift card for free. You can order these online but in order to qualify for the free $10 gift card you must purchase one $50 gift card. At the restaurant you will be able to buy smaller increments.

LL Bean: Make a minimum of a $25 purchase at LL Bean between now and December 24 and you’ll receive a free $10 gift card valid on your next purchase. The card expires February 16, 2010.

Denny’s: Buy a $25 gift card for Denny’s and you’ll receive a free $5 gift card. These can be purchased online.

Outback: Buy $100 worth of gift cards at Outback and you’ll get a $20 bonus card plus a free music download from country group Sugarland. The bonus card must be used between January 1, 2010 and February 10, 2010. Only one bonus card can be used per table and the card must be used at one time. It will not carry an unused balance.

Red Robin: Purchase $25 in gift cards at Red Robin and you’ll receive $5 in Bonus Bucks. Or if you buy $500 worth of gift cards you’ll get a 20% discount.

Uno Chicago Grill: Purchase a $25 gift card online and you’ll receive a $5 bonus card for Uno Chicago Grill. The bonus card must be used by the end of March 2010.

Christmas is in a week! Are you ready? Take some time from your over-packed schedule to take advantage of this week’s freebies. Enjoy!

Free Digital Disney Books: Sign up and get seven free digital copies of Disney books. Find books that fit your child’s reading level. Read to them or get help from interactive recordings.

Free Music: Grab some free downloads from Jim Brickman. You’ll get five free holiday remixes.

Free Photo Mug and Prints: Are you a member of Snapfish yet? Join now and get loads of freebies including a free photo mug, a free set of 5X7 photo cards and 50 free 4×6 prints.

More Free Christmas Music: Don’t forget to continue to take advantage of the free Christmas downloads that Amazon.com is offering. There are lots of Christian Christmas tunes like Oh Come Emmanuel and Joy to the World.

Free Coffee: Take this coupon into your local 7-Eleven location for a free hot coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate or tea.

Free Bloomin’ Onion: Become a fan of Outback Steakhouse on Facebook and receive a free Bloomin’ Onion with the purchase of an entree.

Free Photo Flip Book: Head to Snapfish.com to make a free photo flip book. Use coupon code GMAFREE at checkout. Shipping isn’t included.

Christmas is around the corner. Whether you’ve got your shopping in the bag or you have yet to attack your list, chances are these freebies will come in handy. Enjoy!

Free Ebook: Need some additional ideas for low cost gifts? Download this free ebook filled with 34 ideas for gifts in a mason jar. Get lots of ideas for craft projects and food recipes.

$15 at the Limited: Print off this coupon for $15 off your next purchase of $15 or more at The Limited. Check out the sale rack or the accessories table to find items that would be free.

$5 Hallmark Coupon: Now through Christmas Eve you can save $5 on your $5 purchase with this coupon. That will make lots of items free or nearly free. Right now they have Christmas wrapping paper on sale. When you buy one at $4.99 you can get a second roll for just $.99 making this a great deal on wrapping paper.

Free Tank Top: Get a free tank top from Victoria’s Secret with any purchase when you join the Pink Nation. Signing up is free and easy and you’ll also get a coupon that takes $10 off any $50 purchase.

Free Poinsettia: Earth Fare is offering up a free Poinsettia plant with any purchase. This printable coupon expires on December 15.

Free Bloomin’ Onion: Feeling hungry? Become a fan of Outback on Facebook and you’ll get a coupon for a free Bloomin’ Onion with any entree purchase.

Free Photo Book: Become a fan of SnapFish on Facebook and you’ll get a coupon code for a free 4X6 flip book. This would make a great stocking stuffer!

Disney is hoping to inspire one million people to volunteer in their communities. Kick start the new year by giving back to your community. Starting Jan. 1, 2010 if you volunteer a day of service, you get a free ticket to Walt Disney World or Disneyland.

To get started visit Disney Parks online. First, search and sign up to volunteer with a participating organization at the beginning of the year. Second, give of your time and volunteer and then receive a voucher to redeem your Disney ticket.

Disney is working with HandsOn Network, part of the Points of Light Institute. Points of Light is the largest volunteer network in the U.S. There are more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers which are community hubs for people to get connected  and get involved. Volunteering opportunities are available in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada and include many impact areas such as children and youth, religion, animals, hurricane relief and other areas that need assistance. HandsOn facilitates about 30,000 projects a month and includes more than 70,000 nonprofit, faith, education and community-based organizations. According to the agency’s website, it delivered more than 30 million hours of service last year.

Volunteer activities suggested by HandsOn Network: Visit seniors and play games with them, donate items to homeless shelters, clean up a park, participate in a local charity walk or help sort items at a local food bank.

And don’t forget you can also get a free ticket for your birthday!

It’s the season of giving! And although that sometimes can mean spending money when you don’t have a lot of extra here is a way to give big without spending a dime. This year Restaurant.com is giving everyone an opportunity to Feed It Forward. They’re giving away up to $30 million in free restaurant gift certificates over 30 days during the holidays. The cool part is– they’re letting you do the giving.

Go ahead and treat your friends, family or neighbors to free food at a nearby restaurant of their choice. You can give the free certificates to 30 different people every day until Christmas. All you have to know is their email address. Simply plug in that information and Feed It Forward will deliver the message that they’ve received a free $10 Restaurant.com gift certificate.

You can either do this through the Feed It Forward website or by using the Facebook app. With the Facebook app you’ll be able to give the gifts right to your Facebook friends. So go ahead and start giving. And who knows– maybe they’ll return the favor!

Welcome to the Black Friday edition of Free Stuff Friday! Since we’re officially in the holiday shopping season, scoring free stuff is even more important for those looking to save money. There are lots of great freebies so enjoy!

Free Pumpkin Pie: Didn’t get enough pie on Thanksgiving? Take this printable coupon to Bob Evans for some free pumpkin pie on November 27-29. No purchase necessary!

Free Food from Whataburger: Sign up to receive emails from Whataburger and they’ll send you coupons for free food during the 12 Days of Whataburger. Beginning December 1, you’ll get coupons for things like free shakes, free fries and free burgers.

Free Pizza: Get a free grab ‘n go pizza from EarthFare today only. Take this printable coupon with you to get a free pizza with any purchase.

Free Soda: Take this printable coupon to Target on Black Friday or Saturday, November 28 to get a free soda while you shop.

Free Calendar: Sign up to receive newsletters from Betty Crocker and they’ll send you a free 2010 calendar.

Free Music: Get $3 in free MP3 downloads from Amazon.com now through November 30. You’ll to choose any songs you like when you follow the instructions here.

Free Christmas Music: Want more free Christmas music? Download these great tunes by Brian Setzer for free.

It’s the last Friday before Thanksgiving. That means we are very close to the official beginning of the rush and bustle of the holiday season. Take some time to take advantage of this week’s great freebies because what’s more relaxing then that?

Free Christmas Cards: Head to Shutterfly.com and use coupon code 3FREECARDS to get three free greeting cards. Design the cards with photos of your family.

$15 of Free Stuff at Chadwick’s: There’s a great coupon code circulating for women’s clothing store Chadwick’s, according to Mom Saves Money. Use coupon code CH15OFF to take $15 off a $15 purchase. You will have to pay at least $4.99 for shipping, but there are lots of items you could get for free.

Free Philosophy Body Wash: Become a fan of Philosophy on Facebook and fill out a form to receive a free sample of Philosophy The Gingerbread Man foaming shower gel and bubble bath. Your free sample will arrive in two to three weeks.

Free Shrimp: Now through Sunday get one pound of free shrimp from EarthFare when you bring in this coupon and make a purchase. The shrimp is normally $12.99 a pound so this is a great freebie, but it’s only available while supplies last.

Free Steaz Tea: Take this coupon into Target and get a free 16 ounce Steaz organic tea.

Free Books: Get free books from Crown Publishing with their Read It Forward program. The idea is that once you’ve read the book you’ll pass it on to someone else so they can enjoy it.

Whether you like it or not, starting early with your Christmas gift planning can save you a lot of money. There are some great (and free!) gift ideas on today’s Free Stuff Friday list. So start thinking about who you’ll need to get gifts for this year because maybe this list has the answer!

Free Photo Book: Get a free 7X9 photo book from Shutterfly from now until November 16. Use coupon code MYBOOK at checkout to take advantage of this offer. It looks like you will still have to pay for shipping.

Free Song Download: Get a free song download from a country music award nominee. Choose between hundreds of hits from performers like Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood. Click here for complete instructions and be sure to use code CMAAWARD.

Free $10 Gift Card: Gather up all that change you have around the house and take it to a Coinstar machine. From now until December 6 if you turn in $40 worth of change they’ll give you an extra $10 gift card to a retailer of your choice. You pay no fees.

Free Portrait at Picture People: Take this printable coupon into Picture People this week for a free 8×10 or 10×13 portrait. You won’t pay a sitting fee and you’ll get 25% off the rest of your purchase. Plus if you bring in a new unwrapped toy you’ll get two free portraits.

Free Cranberries: Live near an Earth Fare? Take in this coupon to get one pound of free organic cranberries. The coupon expires November 17.

Free Aveda Hand and Body Wash: Take this email into your local Aveda store or salon and get a free sample of the Rosemary Mint Hand and Body Wash. It will make a great stocking stuffer!

Our veterans have given so much to us, so this Veterans Day there are plenty of businesses giving back to them. Here are a few of the good deals and freebies available for veterans on November 11, 2009.

Free Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: Veterans and active duty military can head to any Krispy Kreme location on November 11 for a free doughnut of any variety.

Free Outback Steakhouse: This Veterans Day, all veterans and active duty military will receive a free Bloomin’ onion and drink from Outback Steakhouse with proof of their military service.

Free Golden Corral: Golden Corral will be holding a free “Thank You” dinner on Monday November 16. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, then you are welcome to attend Military Appreciation Monday dinner.

Home Depot and Lowe’s Discounts: Members of the military will receive 10% off purchases at Home Depot and Lowe’s. The Home Depot discount runs from November 6 to November 12 while the Lowe’s discount runs from November 6 through the 11.

Free Admission to Parks: Veterans and military members will receive free admission on Veterans Day. to national parks, refuges and other interior lands according to the Department of the Interior.

Free Admission to Knott’s Berry Farm: Active and retired military along with one guest can get free admission at Knott’s Berry Farm for the entire month of November. They can also purchase up to six additional tickets for just $15 a piece.

Free Admission and Parade at Colonial Williamsburg: There will be a parade and a public ceremony honoring veterans at Colonial Williamsburg. Veterans and their dependents can also enjoy free admission November 6-11.

Free Applebee’s for Veterans: On November 11, veterans will be honored for their service with free food from Applebee’s. Veterans who show proof that they are a veteran or active duty will be able to choose between one of six free meals.

Free Cane for Veterans: Veterans can head to Sam’s Club on November 11 to pick up a free Hugo folding cane worth $29.99. You do not have to be a member of Sam’s Club to take advantage of this deal, but you may be required to show proof of your military service.

It’s already November which means it’s now the season for eating more than we should and spending more than we should. Today’s Free Stuff Friday can definitely help with the second one. Here are some freebies to help you spend less.

Free Christmas Music: Head to Amazon.com to download this free Classical Christmas Album. It features songs like “The Nutcracker Suite” and “The Messiah.”

Free Fruit Bar: There’s a coupon for a free Sun-Rype FruitSource Bar at GNC.com. It looks like you can use the coupon in the store until the end of the year.

Free Diapers: There are two free diaper samples to take advantage of right now. Get a free sample of Pampers Extra Protection courtesy of Walmart. You can also get a free sample of Kirkland Diapers from Costco.

Free Sears Photo Montage: Just in time for the holidays, take your family to Sears for a free Classic Montage, worth $29.99. Plus you’ll pay no sitting fee which is another $14.99 savings. This could make a great gift for family or friends.

Free Applebee’s for Veterans: On November 11, veterans will be honored for their service with free food from Applebee’s. Veterans who show proof that they are a veteran or active duty will be able to choose between one of six free meals.

Free Cane for Veterans: Veterans can head to Sam’s Club on November 11 to pick up a free Hugo folding cane worth $29.99. You do not have to be a member of Sam’s Club to take advantage of this deal, but you may be required to show proof of your military service.

It’s Halloween weekend which means your neighborhood will likely be crawling with lots of little princesses and super heroes looking for a stash of candy to lug home. Even if you’re giving out loads of chocolate you can still get a few treats of your own with these fabulous freebies.

Free Black Jack Taco: Once the trick-or-treaters have gone home head to Taco Bell for a free Black Jack Taco. The deal runs from 6pm to midnight on October 31.

Free Crafts: Head to Michael’s craft store on Halloween from 10am until noon for a free tick-or-treat pail, free coloring activities and free make-it take-it Halloween frame. Kids will also get a free balloon and candy. What a treat!

Free Apples: If you live near an Earth Fare grocery store print off this coupon to get a free three pound bag of organic honey crisp apples. You could even use them at your Halloween party this weekend if you want to bob for apples.

Free Soda: Head to your local Kum & Go gas station with this coupon to get a free Coke Zero or Cherry Coke. The coupon is for the 20 ounce size.

Free Toy: Those of you with little ones are probably taking them out for a little trick-or-treating on Saturday, but before you do you may want to hit your local Sears store. They’re giving free Mattel toys in their toy shop to kids in costume.

Free Burrito: Someone needs to help me with this one because I love Chipotle. They’re handing out free burritos to people on Halloween from 6pm until close. But here’s the catch: you have to be dressed like a burrito, bowl or taco. How would you dress up like a burrito?

Happy Friday everyone! The temperatures may be dropping outside by there are plenty of deals heating up! Keep warm this weekend with free hot chocolate and get your pantry stocked with free food! There are lots of great freebies this Friday– enjoy!

Free Pantry Make-over: Earth Fare wants to give you a free pantry make-over. Trade in peanut butter with hydrogenated oil, soda with high fructose corn syrup, and other unhealthy products for Earth Fare Brand replacements. The products you trade in don’t have to be new– they can have just a tablespoon left and Earth Fare will give you a completely free and healthy replacement. Just be sure to print off this coupon and take it with you.

Free Hot Chocolate and a Cookie: Tomorrow only head to Barnes and Noble for a free small cookie and a kids-size hot chocolate in the cafe. Make sure you print off enough coupons for everyone in your family.

Free Makeup: Take this coupon to the Sephora counter at your local JC Penney store for a free makeup sample of your choice. You’ll choose between Lorac’s Tantalizer Baked Bronzer or a Mini Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick.

Free Chicken: Head to KFC on Monday for a free piece of grilled chicken. About 5,000 restaurants will be handing out the chicken and they promise there won’t be any rain checks like when they gave out free food last spring.

Free Music: Urban Outfitters is offering up 25 free music downloads. Fill your iPod with some new tunes without paying a dime.

I recently came across Worldwide Classroom – a ministry of the Covenant Theological Seminary – that provides free access to Biblically-based theological training materials. Whether you are a ministry leader or just want to further your walk with Christ, this ministry wants to help those who may not be able to attend seminary.

The website lists many of its courses that you can listen to. Lectures are in MP3 format and study guides are available by PDF files. The more than 20 courses are from Covenant Seminary’s master’s degree programs.

Courses include:

Ancient and Medieval Church History, Apologetics and Outreach, Biblical Theology, Calvin’s Institutes, Christ-Centered Preaching, Christian Ethics and Worship, God and His Word, Old Testament and New Testament History, Life and Teachings of Jesus, Youth Ministry and many others.

The St.Louis, MO-based seminary’s mission is to help faculty, students, pastors, church leaders and others around the world. Features of the program include the ability to track your progress through the courses, transcripts and study guides, access to a database of sermons and devotionals and electronic acknowledgement of completion of your study plan (non-degree granting.) A “My Classroom” page helps you to keep track of your courses and suggested study plans are available.

I know the pastor at my church didn’t have any formal Seminary training. For those of you who want to get stronger in your faith and/or work in ministry, this sounds like a great opportunity.

Check out Worldwideedu on Twitter and on Facebook.

I’ve been battling a massive cold this week. So on this Friday I’m feeling thankful for the fact that I finally feel a little better and for these awesome freebies on Free Stuff Friday! Enjoy!

Free Joyce Meyer 2010 Calendar: Get prepared for the new year with a free calendar from Joyce Meyer Ministries. The offer for this free inspirational wall calendar ends on October 19, so hurry! Just note the fine print that says if you sign up for a free calendar you are agreeing to receive periodic ministry email updates. Thanks Mom Saves Money!

Free Victoria’s Secret Panty: Login or sign up to be part of the Pink Nation and you’ll have access to a printable coupon for free Victoria’s Secret panties. The coupon is good until November 9th.

Ten Free Country Music Downloads: Thanks to People Magazine for this great freebie– as long as you’re a country music fan. It’s ten free songs from artists like Bucky Covington and Terri Clark. Just use the code provided by People Magazine to snag your freebies from the iTunes store.

Free Shutterfly Photo Book: Add the Family Tree App onto your Facebook page for an opportunity to get a free 8X8 photo book from Shutterfly. Just refresh the app page until a Shutterfly ad appears with the free photo book offer.

I have to admit that I am just so excited to have found all of these websites in magazines that I regularly read. I’m always looking for more resources when it comes to saving money. Here is the second list of sites from Woman’s Day magazine.

Lynda: If you need some extra training in programs such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Office and the basics on photography or web design, this is a great place to start. The Online Training Library helps you keep your skills current and starts at $25 per month. Last month, they announced a partnership with Microsoft to be a training partner for Office 2008.

BigHugeLabs: Are you interested in photography? This site helps you do fun stuff with your photos, such as create posters, photo collages, special effects, jigsaw puzzles and magazine covers.

Dafont: Let’s say you’re working on a project and need to download a cool font quickly. There are more than 9,000 fonts to choose from and it’s free!

Fix It Club: Sometimes I get in a jam and wish I knew how to fix something around the house. Well, look no further. The Fix It Club offers free repair help for things from appliances to electronics and apparel to exercise equipment.

Budget Simple: Budgeting your money can be tricky and this website it designed to help for free. Budget Simple offers software to keep track of monthly spending and current income and expenses.

Annual Credit Report: This credit report is free and it’s available once a year. The site works with three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. Reviewing your credit regularly is important and this helps you do it at no cost.

Dinky Town: Looking for financial calculators? You can calculate just about anything, such as mortgages, loans, automobiles, retirements, personal finances, credit card uses and savings.

Bloomberg: Need more financial calculators? Bloomberg.com helps you figure out how to pay off your car loan, convert currency, check out your investments and mortgage.

Discover America: This is the official travel and tourism website of the U.S. It can help you find great deals to just about anywhere and offers information about each state. It can also put you in touch with a travel specialist to help you book the trip.

Mouse Savers: If you love Disney World, this is the place to go for savings on everything Disney. You can get park and cruise discounts, save on shows, hotels and even books, movies and music.

As we enter the second year of The Great Credit Crisis, loans continue to be tough to come by and lenders are aggressively slashing credit lines and raising rates on existing borrowers who exhibit just a mere whiff of financial trouble. This makes actively managing your credit profile more important than ever. Just as you get your annual physical from the doctor (you do get your annual physical, right?), you need to make a credit check-up part of your yearly routine as well to make sure that you have access to the credit you may need and at the lowest possible rates.

We’ve discussed previously that if you are about to apply for a mortgage or loan why it makes sense to purchase access to your credit reports and scores, but for the rest of us there are some tremendously useful free resources that can help you stay on top of your credit health.

First, everyone should start with a visit to AnnualCreditReport.com which is where you can obtain truly free copies of your credit reports once every twelve months. These reports are notoriously fraught with errors and inaccuracies that can prove to be very costly, so scour them for mistakes that could damage your credit.

Next, head over to Quizzle where you can obtain a free estimate of your credit score. As you may know, there are a variety of credit (or FICO) score calculations, so the number you see here may not match the numbers that lenders are using to evaluate your credit. However, Quizzle recently updated its estimation methods to more closely track the scores used by many lenders and I found that it was within a few points of my “official” credit score. Plus, an estimate is likely good enough for your annual check-up, so you can save the $16 that FICO charges to show you its calculation of your score.

With this information in hand, check out the very useful Credit Report Card from Credit.com. It breaks down the different components of your credit score, assigns you a letter grade to each and provides specific recommendations on what you can do to improve your standing for each facet of your score.

Finally, to see how valuable your annual credit check-up can be, try out this very illuminating credit cost calculator from credit repair firm Lexington Law: