Free Is Good

You might be surprised at the amount of free stuff that’s available—and it’s not just junk. How about free TV shows and movies you can watch on your computer? Many of your favorites are available at www.hulu.com. You can choose from contemporary shows like The Colbert Report to classics like the Mary Tyler Moore Show, or choose from more than 160 full-length movies.

Does your phone company charge you to call Information? Dial 1-800-FREE-411. In exchange for listening to a brief commercial, you get the phone number you’re looking for gratis. Your bank may offer free checking, but ING, an online bank, goes one better: its Electric Orange account not only offers free checking, but also pays interest as high as 3.5%, depending on your balance. Going out for a family meal? Kids can eat free at Lone Star Steakhouse restaurants on Tuesday nights. Check out kidsmealdeals.com for other eateries that offer free meals to children.

If you’re tired of paying ATM fees, you can get cash free at any one of the 32,000 ATMs that are part of the Allpoint network. The catch is that your bank or credit union must be a member of Allpoint. To find out if your bank is a member, or to find an Allpoint ATM, go to www.allpointnetwork.com. And for details on these and even more freebies, visit Kiplinger.com.