Free samples are all the rage among frugal people, judging by the number of blogs and websites that publish endless lists of these sorts of offers. While I do love to save money, and I love free things as much as the next person, I really cannot get on board with free samples as a effective way of saving money. Here’s why.
1. Most free samples give you a miniscule amount of product.
Think of how small a portion of cereal in a sample container is. If you’re very fortunate, you might get 1/2 cup of cereal in each sample. The number of sample containers you’d have to obtain in order to get the equivalent of a box of cereal (which can be had for a a couple of dollars, or less if you’re a really good shopper) would be enormous.
Finding and filling out enough free sample forms to reach that enormous number would require a lot of time and effort, which leads me to my next objection.
2. Filling out free sample forms is not an efficient use of your time.
If you look at this sort of thing as entertainment, that’s one thing, but if you’re trying to save money on your groceries, there are many, many other things you could choose to do that would save you more per hour.
For example, instead of signing up for a dozen free snack samples (which would net you a really small amount of food), you could spend a few minutes doing the prep required to make a batch of granola bars.
Or instead of requesting a bunch of cereal samples, you could spend five minutes making a pot of oatmeal, which will feed your family much more effectively than cereal samples will.
Planning a menu would be another good use of your time. If you’re constantly tempted to go the take-out/fast food route, having a menu plan in hand could save you hundreds of dollars a month. No free samples will net you that much in savings.
3. Free samples have a a really bad packaging/product ratio.
Not only does each sample come individually wrapped, a lot of times the samples themselves come encased in more packaging.
Some samples are for things that would be individually wrapped anyways, but most samples have a much higher proportion of packaging than their full-size counterparts do. Even worse, it tends to be unrecyclable packaging.
The oatmeal example I mentioned above would not only be a good use of your time, it would produce very little trash. A large cardboard container of oatmeal is recyclable and compostable, and even if it wasn’t, it would still produce less waste per serving than a free sample of breakfast food.
In sum, if you truly do want to try a product in order to determine if you want to buy it (this is, after all, the purpose of a sample), then I’d encourage you to go ahead and sign up. But do yourself a favor and look into other more efficient ways to spend your time if you’re serious about saving money.
What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Tell me! 
Dashawn Rhine says
I loved your blog post.Really thank you! Will continue reading…
Lindsay says
The only things I really agree with here is the packaging. I LOVE free stuff! I get tons and honestly use it. The cereal and granola bars make for prefect breakfasts for me. Add a piece of fruit and it’s only about a $.50 meal. I also love the shampoo/toothpaste samples for travel. (I fly a lot!) And I’ve gotten tons of ‘full sized’ things: bags of sun chips, boxes of ice cream sandwiches, packs of gum, 20 oz sodas. Plus, I’m pretty sure I’ll never have to buy tampons again. It doesn’t even take up that much of my time. Maybe 20 minutes a week. And I just take it out of my ‘computer time.’
Alison says
One great thing about samples is the stock up factor… someone else mentioned tampons… I’ll probably never have to buy another box of tampons (which are expensive!) because of my stockpile of samples. But even if I do have to, I have lots of coupons that came with them, which should equal free or close to free products when combined with a sale
crunchycon says
I don’t request near as many as I used to – only products I want to try and I do appreciate the coupons that come with. I like to give the free cat food samples to my mother. Until recently, I travelled a fair amount for business, so it was a good way to get travel sizes for travel.
Janknitz says
Another reason not to fill out all those forms for free samples is that you get on every mailing list and then some. Not only does the company from which you requested the sample send you junk mail (e or snail) but also every company they sell your name to. More waste!
When I do request something online I use an email addy reserved on for such requests, but you can’t do that for your mailing address where you receive the samples.
My local drug store sells sample sizes of many hygiene and grooming products that are nice for traveling or for trying something before you buy the big size. These are usually under $1.00. I buy tiny bottles of the shampoo and handlotion I always use for trips–I can always refill these from my regular supply. I also like the little mini-deoderants for trips.
We save the other odd free samples that come our way (leg razors in the newspaper last week), dental supplies (tiny tubes of toothpaste, floss, and toothbrushes) for travel. There is an entire drawer in our bathroom for our various dental samples–great for when one of our kids’ friends forgets to bring a toothbrush for a sleepover. At home we use electric toothbrushes, but when we go on a trip we each grab a brand new sample toothbrush for the duration.
Franci says
Here in New Zealand, free samples are a lot harder to get hold of, and then you can only get one sample per household. The things I’ve gotten recently are things that I’d normally use anyway (eg tampons), or things I wouldn’t buy but would enjoy (eg specialty coffee), or simply things I’m curious about (like a new cereal I got recently). I too appreciate the coupons that come along with samples as we hardly get coupons here for ANYTHING (no coupons in our Sunday papers!). I only ever sign up for them online – I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a paper form for free samples. It hardly takes any of my time, because my browser remembers most of my details and the promotions are few and far in between anyway so I feel like I get a little perk when I get a free sample in the mail.
My husband, on the other hand, shakes his head and thinks it’s funny that I get so excited about my ‘little presents’ in the mail. I’m sure he’d more agree with you!
Kalee says
When I was in college I signed up for a ton of them, they were a good way to get sample sizes of products for either when I was traveling or as an emergency back up in case i ran out of something (like detergent). I still sign up for travel sizes of products I already use. Or if it’s a sample of a new type of cereal from say, Kashi, who we already eat a lot of. But otherwise I agree, trying to sign up for a lot creates a bunch of junk mail, and takes up too much time!
anne says
I started out signing up for lots of free samples, but have slowed down. It does take a lot of time. (something I’m short of) I like that you pointed out all the packaging that comes along with the free samples. Sending just the coupon would be great too!
Angela says
Kristen- Thanks for pointing out the downside of all that packaging. As a nonconsumer, sometimes (though not always) “free” is too expensive.
I do like samples of shampoo or lotions to use for travel, and get just a few at a time at Origins or Body Shop, both of which recycle all their containers.
WilliamB says
It depends. Doing it online means no stamp or envelope, so that’s a plus. Many products come with coupons, a potential plus. It’s a good way to try something you might like for free, another plus.
The bath products seem to come mostly in little plastic packets, a big minus. Many of the samples are of things I would never use or don’t want, a minus. Some are for over processed foods of types I don’t like, a minus.
I hadn’t thought about getting samples to donate to shelters, but there’s still the problem of the plastic packets that are too small and very annoying to use. I stash hotel bottles for guests and donation instead.
The Kashi was a good deal, wasn’t it? Bear Naked has a similar offer on their website. And Bear Naked has a plastic bag recycling program! You get points redeemable for gear, for bags sent back, more points for larger bags.
Sabrina says
I love samples of beauty products. Since we travel so much, they come in really handy.
I also request free samples of stuff for the coupons. I got a sample of Kashi cereal in the mail. It came with a coupon for a free box of the cereal and several $1.50 off coupons. That was definitely worth it. When I requested a sample of Fiber One, it came with cereal and a granola bar (which Her Majesty actually eats) and a sheet full of coupons.
leon says
I so agree with you. Now, most of the sites also want you to buy something from one of their sponsors, so NO MORE FREE SAMPLES FOR ME!!!!
Heather says
I request samples all the time, then rarely ever use them. Maybe your post will finally get me to stop wasting my own time and effort, not to mention the packaging!
Lauren F says
The sample packs often come with coupons though. It is too bad you can’t just request the coupon alone.
Kristen says
I hadn’t thought about the coupon thing…good point. I wish companies would offer an option just to get the coupon, though, as that would be a much less wasteful proposition.
I use so few coupons these days, though, what with shopping at Aldi and all (that might be another post…”Why I don’t use very many coupons”!).
Jessie says
I’m not a big couponer/free sampler at all!
that said, my boyfriend as Noooo problems asking for free stuff. Particularly at liquor stores (we have quite a few hats/Tshirts with alcohol logos on them).
Frugal Dreamer says
I have tried the whole free sample thing, but I found it frustrating! In Canada they are so far and few. When you do sign up for them, it takes weeks and sometimes months before they arrive. Ugh. By the time they do arrive, I have bought the product already!
Kathleen says
I choose not to get free samples. While I don’t mind trying a new product or having a small serving of a cereal or other item I may not otherwise try on my own it’s really the flooded mailbox that deters me. You would not believe how much junk mail we get already, and every completed application form puts you on a new mailing list. I’ve started to bring all our mail in through the kitchen and stand over the recycle bin as I sort through it.
We also don’t use coupons because most of the coupons just don’t fit our lifestyle. Most of our food is made from scratch and we only buy non-food items on big sale or at discount stores.
Coupons and free samples may fit other’s lifestyles, just not ours.
Rachel says
I don’t usually sign up for samples either. It just isn’t worth my time. I am a part of Pssst though. They send you the full-size product plus several coupons as well.
Frugal Doogal says
I avoid samples because of the packaging – too much plastic. Also most new products aren’t that interesting to me.
Tammy Brackett says
I request free samples and donate the items to charity, women’s shelters, etc. I also use samples for travel and to keep packed in my emergency bag (a bag I keep in case of evacuation,etc). I like free samples and even recycle the packaging into mailers.
Mellisa says
I sign up for a lot of free samples…sometimes you are right and there is not really a lot to try…but the main reason I do it is not for the portion that comes in the sample…but for the coupon that comes with it…I got a sample of Kashi Cereal last week — not enough for even a bowl of cereal…but it did have a $2.00 off any Kashi Cereal….which got me a box of Kashi Go Lean Crunch for .36 cents!!
jen b says
As a “couponer”, I usually sign up for free samples of items that I want to try or that I already use because of the coupons that come with the samples. For example, I know we like Honey Nut Cheerios, but I would sign up to receive a free sample because it would come with 1-2 coupons that are usually better than the ones found in the paper.
Faith says
I only sign up for samples when I really like the product they are sampling because they often include high coupons which I then use to buy more of the product. For example, Kashi sent me a $2.00 of one box of cereal coupon. And Always sent me a coupon for a free 18 count of pads.
So I only waste the time on it if I know it is something that I will be buying in the future and I am hoping that they include good coupons. Sometimes I am disappointed like with General mills cereal coupon – it was only for $1 of two cereals. Not really a great deal. So if it is something that I would never consider buying then I won’t request the sample.
Julia says
I agree! The less packaging the better. It might be a good way to get travel-sized shampoo, though. I hadn’t really thought about it before, but I hate checking luggage when I fly and small bottles of shampoo are disproportionately expensive. I’ll have to look into that.
Jessie says
I agree. There are so many free samples out there on the internet, you’d be drowning in them if you went out and requested them all. I only sign up for one if I actually want to know what the product is like without wasting a whole package.