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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what little freebies you get in life?

138 replies

Funfreethings · 10/07/2025 13:20

So not much in life is free…we all know that.
im moving house soon and i was on the hunt for boxes so i asked in work. The waste management guys told me they would keep some boxes to the side for me. When I went down he had a stack for me already flattened so I could get them in my car and he gave me a big roll of tape to use also. I was so happy, I feel like I’m haemorrhaging money at the moment so even though it was something small it made such a difference for me.
we also have free tea/coffee/milk/water in work! Love that too!
whats your freebie? ☺️

OP posts:
FilthyforFirth · 10/07/2025 21:17

XenoBitch · 10/07/2025 21:09

I know someone who used to work on the trains (not sure of his exact role), but he is now retired but gets free travel.
His hobby is sitting on First Class with the free tea, sarnies and paper, from Wiltshire to London, and back again.

Haha yes I can also sit in first class, quite anmoying when I'm travelling with friends and have to slum it in standard!

BloodandGlitter · 10/07/2025 21:17

Expensive make up especially lip glosses from DD who buys far too much make up she then decides she hates. I have about £300 worth of lip products and I've paid for none of them.

Don't work so no freebies there but like a PP I love perfume free samples and will always request them.

Chat2025 · 10/07/2025 21:14

At work, lunch is included as part of our contract and it’s really nice. That’s a big perk. Also tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

Free drinks/ samples now and again with my Hello Fresh box.

DH works away a lot and often stays in fancy hotels so brings back the tiny shampoo and conditioner etc bottles!

Funfreethings · 10/07/2025 21:11

MasterBeth · 10/07/2025 20:43

Wow! Free water! Got any jobs going?

Well I meant bottled still and sparkling.

OP posts:
ClareBlue · 10/07/2025 21:11

Free gardening gloves from work. For some reason it is in the budget for at least the last 20 years. Why? Nobody knows, we don't do anything that needs gloves but get them every March. Nobody has made any move to stop it. I think Management think it's worth it because we love it disproportionately to the cost.

XenoBitch · 10/07/2025 21:09

FilthyforFirth · 10/07/2025 20:59

I get free train travel through work which is awesome and the reason I'll never leave my job!

I know someone who used to work on the trains (not sure of his exact role), but he is now retired but gets free travel.
His hobby is sitting on First Class with the free tea, sarnies and paper, from Wiltshire to London, and back again.

Doolallyally · 10/07/2025 21:08

I used to work in WHSmiths and when it was time to send back magazines that hadn’t sold, we got to keep all the freebie’s from the front of the magazines. Also loads of books and stationary that would otherwise be binned!

M+S - Huge bags of free food that would otherwise be chucked in the bin.

Crazymadchickenlady · 10/07/2025 21:06

I don't get anything for free at work. I give away my chickens eggs for free to friends and colleagues who are all usually very happy to get them.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 10/07/2025 21:04

Today we got strawberries and cream at work! 😋

TeaAndMuffins · 10/07/2025 21:03

My DH works for a large corporation. They have one day a week in the office, where free cans of soft drinks are provided. On that day he always brings me back a can of diet coke, which I enjoy with my pizza the next evening.

FilthyforFirth · 10/07/2025 20:59

I get free train travel through work which is awesome and the reason I'll never leave my job!

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 10/07/2025 20:54

At work free hot drinks, fruit and sanitary products. Also very, very discounted vets fees.

Free compost from a garden centre where my son works and discounted other things.

Free entry to an attraction for me and my family (within reason) that I used to work in.

PurBal · 10/07/2025 20:48

DragonTrainor · 10/07/2025 13:25

Our office has fruit on Fridays and I always take an apple and banana home for the kids. I can afford fruit but it feels so good to get it for free!

I used to do this but they had a “crack down”.

A (wealthy) family member pay for many of our holidays. UK but 5 continents too.

Dahliasarebeautiful · 10/07/2025 20:45

We get free fruit, biscuits, cans of drink and ice creams/ice lollies at work. Really nice in the heat....

BitOutOfPractice · 10/07/2025 20:44

ruralmural · 10/07/2025 20:31

For free?

Yep. It’s part of virgin active’s rewards scheme. I got a free meal for getting a 12 week streak of 4 times a week visits.

MasterBeth · 10/07/2025 20:43

Funfreethings · 10/07/2025 13:20

So not much in life is free…we all know that.
im moving house soon and i was on the hunt for boxes so i asked in work. The waste management guys told me they would keep some boxes to the side for me. When I went down he had a stack for me already flattened so I could get them in my car and he gave me a big roll of tape to use also. I was so happy, I feel like I’m haemorrhaging money at the moment so even though it was something small it made such a difference for me.
we also have free tea/coffee/milk/water in work! Love that too!
whats your freebie? ☺️

Wow! Free water! Got any jobs going?

TheeNotoriousPIG · 10/07/2025 20:41

I got a puppy! She was one of the results of an accidental mating (involving close relatives) and the puppies were free to good homes only... providing that you knew the person who had the mother, and she thought that you would be a responsible owner.

My dog has brought me a lot of joy in life. She was the world's easiest puppy (I've had others after her, and they were hard work in comparison!), loves to go everywhere with me, and I wish that I had her enthusiasm about going to work. Despite people saying that she would never be a working dog as she lives indoors, she thinks nothing of herding cows and sheep for me at work 😊

When she was very small, a lot of strangers were judgemental, saying that I should "Adopt, not shop", and were scathing about her breed. However, she is a delight and I don't regret her at all, as she is fabulous!

TheNightingalesStarling · 10/07/2025 20:40

Technically its not free as it costs £10...

But due to DHs job, we can sometimes stay overnight in a castle in a popular tourist city. There's only a handful of rooms, its not a hotel! (We also get free access to the castle which itself is a tourist attraction)

BeRedRobin · 10/07/2025 20:40

DH's friend moved to London. We were in the process of moving to our current house. We got a bed, washing machine, dryer, air cond, leather sofas, and fridge from him. All great condition. Saves us a ton of money.

CarpetKnees · 10/07/2025 20:37

Just remembered, I get a free coffee from Greggs every month as I bought my car insurance through Confused.com

ruralmural · 10/07/2025 20:31

BitOutOfPractice · 10/07/2025 13:42

I get a smoothie every week in the gym cafe if I go 4 times a week. It brings me joy.

For free?

Cel77 · 10/07/2025 20:31

I love the " food saving" places. We've got 2 nearby.
I went maybe 5 times last year and always got freebies on top of what I paid for. A lovely box of Ferrero chocolates, toothbrushes for the children, flowers for me. It made me very happy.

Soonenough · 10/07/2025 20:29

Used to work in a brewery. Weekly , a six pack . Monthly , a slab . I don't drink..

alcoholnightmare · 10/07/2025 20:28

I got a free brand new laptop from Argos very recently

DancingNotDrowning · 10/07/2025 20:28

I currently get a lot of corporate swag: Helly Hansen and Patagonia outdoor wear; laptop bags; power banks; charging cables; keep cups; Stanley’s etc.

and I’ve had a lot of cool experiences as part of team building: yacht trips; yoga retreats; wellness activities; Michelin restaurants

Probably the most valuable thing is I work with a bunch of lawyers so always get advice/ documents notarised for free. That’s probably saved me £thousands.