Freebie Caution

When you're looking for your own freebies and deals, just a word of caution - make sure you know what you're getting into.

I have several email addresses. One I use for friends and family, one for work and church things, one for the school I teach at (the official teacher email), and two for spam traps. These are the two that I use publicly for signing up for newsletters and samples. It's always a good idea to use a non-personal email for those, especially if you can't easily find an opt-out button or a privacy policy.

And then...watch out for the ones that are just begging for trouble. One example: eSnailer. This is a service that lets you send letters for free - a big draw with postage rates increasing. But, it seems too good to be true - no real ads on the front page, they seem to explain how it's free.

However, there are a lot of red flags. First, you need to give your contact information, and that of the addressee, before seeing the "offers" you need to accept. Second, there is no readily available privacy policy. Reviews posted here and here, among other places, aren't very forgiving.

If you choose to use sites like that, it's perfectly fine - just make sure you're aware of where you may be giving your information!