1. Free coffee

If you struggle to wake up every morning, make sure you pop into your nearest Giraffe Restaurant on a Wednesday to receive a free coffee (or herbal tea). Simply walk in, say hello to the barista, and place your order. This offer is valid until 10.30am every Wednesday until 16 June (takeaway only).

2. Free baby DVD

If you or someone you know is about to have a baby, this Mum’s the Word DVD might come in handy. Simply order your free copy of Bumps & Babies Magazine and you’ll get the DVD thrown into the bargain.

3. Free SIM card

If you need to slash your mobile phone bill, why not sign up for two free SIMs with 3? Keep one of the SIM cards for yourself and give the other to a friend, and you’ll both get free Skype-Skype calls and instant messages. You’ll also receive free texts and free internet access every time you top up – free stuff lasts 90 days.

4. Free gym pass

If you’re trying to get fit for the summer, you can enjoy a free three-day gym pass for LA Fitness if you sign up here. And if you want to find out where your nearest LA Fitness gym is, click here.

5. Free whisky

If you register on the Bell’s Whisky website, you can obtain a printable voucher for a free 25ml ‘dram’ of Bell’s whisky at a participating pub! You can find a list of all pubs taking part in this offer on the website. Note that this is only valid in England and Wales.

6. Free skincare products

Fancy getting your hands on some fancy skincare products? Sign up on the La Roche-Posay website and you’ll be sent some free samples! You’re also likely to be the first to hear about any special offers and promotions.

7. Free eye test

Need to get your eyes tested? Pop into your nearest Tesco Opticians and you can get an eye test for free! To book your appointment, phone 0845 601 3479. You can find your nearest Tesco Opticians using this store locator.

8. Free Christian Dior perfume sample

Fancy getting your hands on a Dior Capture Totale perfume sample? Register here and you’ll receive a printable invitation to take with you to a participating Dior counter or store to pick up your sample.

9. Free film rental trial

If you’re a big movie buff and you’ve heard of Lovefilm, but you’re not sure what the fuss is about, you can register here for a free 14 day film rental trial to find out!

Alternatively, Cinema Paradiso is also offering a free 14 day trial on its website if you sign up here.

10. Free foundation

You can pick up a free sample of L’Oreal Matte Morphose foundation if you simply register on the L’Oreal Paris website.

11. Free business cards

If you want to create your own business cards, but can’t afford to splash out, make sure you check out freepdfcards.com. Here, you can create a PDF business card design, add all your contact information, and then download the printable PDF file.

12. Free days out

If you’re looking for a cheap day out, the National Trust is opening its doors for free on the weekend of 20-21 March. There are 300 different places to explore, so you won’t be short of options! Simply download your Bonus Time voucher on this page of the National Trust website.

13. Free iTunes download

Fancy downloading a new tune for your iPod? Simply go to the Heart FM website and register and you’ll be emailed a free iTunes download code within four working days.

You’ll also be entered into a competition to win a Sharleen Spiteri related prize. (If you don’t know who Sharleen is, she’s the lead singer in the band Texas.)

14. Free driving lesson

If you or someone you know is contemplating learning to drive, The Telegraph has teamed up with The Institute of Advanced Motorists and approved UK driving instructors to offer a free one hour driving lesson or advanced assessment.

To claim, you can call 020 8144 1499 or book online at www.PROdriving.co.uk and click on learner or advanced. Lessons must be booked by 31 July and taken before 31 August.

And if you’d like to book additional lessons, you could receive a discount of up to 15%.

15. Free swim

Fancy a swim for free? Simply buy a 500ml or 750ml bottle of Schweppes Abbey Well water, and you’ll be able to claim a free swim any day between Monday and Friday. Just take the bottle cap along with you to claim. You can find your nearest participating pool here. This offer is valid until February 2011.

To view the original article, please visit 15 things you can get for free

Brought to you  by the lovemoney.com team.

Are you job hunting at the moment? Here’s how to knock spots off the competition…

1. Don’t be late!

2. Research, don’t rote learn

3. Nerves are normal

4. Be pleasant in words and actions

5. Don’t be negative

6. Now is not the time to be quirky

Please read the full article, How to succeed at interviews

Brought to you by the lovemoney.com team.

The secret to getting and keeping a job is:

Getting a job: persistence and patience.

Keeping it: hard work.

That’s it. That is all you need. It’s all about your attitude and effort.

Now let me tell you what doesn’t matter: it doesn’t matter that you don’t know what you’re doing.

Ask lots of questions when you start working. It doesn’t matter how silly the questions sound. It doesn’t matter to the employer, who is glad you’re asking, believe me! If the following week you’ve forgotten the answer, ask the question again. This always happens, because you have a lot to take in when you start a new job.

Please read the full article, how to get and keep a job.

Brought to you by the lovemoney.com team.

Mother’s Day voucher codes  (next week  - 14th March)

For anyone who normally leaves getting a Mother’s Day present till the last minute…Now there’s no excuses because here’s a few of the best voucher codes – take your pick and treat your mum to something extra special this year.

Gifts start from just £2.93 at The Hut but you can save an extra 10% by entering the voucher code MD10 at the checkout. Take a look at the selection here.

New customers can save an impressive £5 on orders of at least £25 at Woolworths with the voucher code ZZ438. There are plenty of fab gift items to pick from, including experience days, flowers, perfume and electrical goods. 

For something sweet you can get 10% off orders at Hotel Chocolat with the voucher code VCSPRING10 –expires 12 March. And for smellies, get 15% off at The Body Shop, exclusively through voucher code website Savoo.co.uk. This is only valid until Sun 7 March so you’ll have to get in quick.

Or, why not treat her to a new frock or some trendy accessories at Oasis where you can knock off 20% with the voucher code 2010GIFT which expires midnight Sat 6 March.

Taken from our Frugal Friday blog

Brought to you by the lovemoney.com team

Fashion & homeware                

• ASDA: Save up to 50% on household electricals, technology, furniture and sports and fitness in the clearance sale
• Barratts: Up to 70% off selected lines.
• Burton: 50% off selected lines.
• Debenhams: Up to 25% off all departments but only until Sat 6 March
• Dorothy Perkins: Up to 50% off selected lines
• Faith: Up to 70% off boots
• Hobbs: Selected items reduced, with as much as 70% off.
• La Redoute: Save 20% on full price items from the Autumn/Winter 2009 and Spring/Summer 2010 collections plus get free P&P when you buy at least 3 items with the code 9715, valid until 8 March
• M&S: Get 50% off fine jewellery
• New Look: Up to 50% off fashion for men, women and children.
• Next: Most sale items for men and women half-price or better. At least 70% off women’s tall and plus sizes.
• Office: Up to 75% off selected items.
• Oasis: Many sales items half-price or better.
• Peacocks: Grab a 20% discount with the code FEB20OFF, valid until Sun 7 March
• Plain Lazy: Save up to 50% and get t-shirts from just £5 & hoodies from £15
• Republic: Two items for £30 on both men’s and women’s fashion.
• TOPMAN: Final clearance is taking place with up to 75% off.
• Topshop: Final clearance with some items better than half-price.
• Urban Outfitters: Up to 85% off men’s and women’s fashions.
• Wallis: Up to 75% off selected lines. Today is your last chance to save 20% on everything (including sale items) online and in-store
• Warehouse: Many lines now £5 and £10.

Please read the whole article from our Frugal Friday blog

Brought to you by the lovemoney.com team

Be careful not to get too carried away at the ‘hole in the wall’, because there are smarter ways to pay for goods…

A problem with cash is that it doesn’t generate a ‘paper trail’, other than the withdrawal receipt from the ATM. Thus, unless you note down all of your purchases as you go, it’s hard to keep a record of your cash spending.

There are other ways to pay for goods other than cash…

1. Cheques

2. Debit cards

3. Credit cards – careful use of credit cards can be highly profitable.

4. Automated payments

Please read the full article, Don’t get too keen at the cash machine! 

Brought to you by the lovemoney.com team.

Whether you’ll be a graduate or finishing GCSE’S it is very important to start learning the value of money and what better way than to get part time job.

However, if you’re a student, keep an eye out at uni for PhD students who need volunteers for psychological experiments anything from having a brain scan to doing simple computer tests.

Or how about passing on your knowledge to younger students or school children, tutoring can be pretty lucrative and pay up to £20 an hour. Check out uktutors.com or Fleet Tutors for more details (discerning Londoners may also want to check out Osborne Cawkwell Educational Consultants).

Please read the full article A foolish guide to getting a fantastic summer job

Brought to you by the lovemoney.com team.

Starting a new job? You will be charged the basic rate of tax if you earn under £40,835 and it is currently set at 20%.

Your employer will usually take Income Tax from your wages throughout the year and send it to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). This is called the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system of collecting tax.

However, if you’re starting your first job and you don’t have a P45, your employer will give you a P46 instead. They’ll also allocate a tax code to you and work out the amount of tax you should be paying. Then, HMRC will process your P46 and, if necessary, change your tax code.

It’s all pretty mundane stuff, but it’s important that you get your P46 handed back to your employer as soon as possible. Until your correct tax code is sorted out, you’ll be placed on a temporary, ‘emergency’ code.

And if you end up paying too much tax while under this temporary code, you’ll have to try and claim a refund from HMRC. Not ideal at a time when every penny counts!

 A helpful beginners guide to tax

 Please read the full article What every graduate should know 

Brought to you by the lovemoney.com team.

DO: Make a weekly budget. It may seem square, but sitting down with a pencil and a calculator at the start of the year and figuring out how much you’re going to get from loans, part time work and parents and then dividing it weekly will at least give you a rough idea of how much you can afford to spend each week.

DON’T: Lend money to other students, or borrow money from other students. You may never see your money again, or you might not be able to pay it back causing unbearable tension.

DO: Pay with cash! It’s much harder to part with the cash in your hand than a piece of plastic.

DON’T: Try and compete with better off students (or more likely reckless spenders).

DO: Get a summer job! Preferably one that relates to your degree/career interests.

DON’T: Assume your student loan will magically appear, keep checking online and follow up with phone calls if necessary.

DO: Make sure you sign a P38(A) form when you get a summer job. As long as you earn under £5,235 you won’t have to pay tax. Claim back any you may have paid erroneously. You will however still have to pay National Insurance at a rate of 11% of any earnings over £100 a week.

DON’T: Keep all your money in one, low rate current account; put a good chunk of your money into a high interest savings account. Not only does it have the potential to make you money, if you can’t physically see it in your current account you’ll be less likely to spend it.

DON’T: Be afraid to ask shops and businesses if they can offer any student discount.

Please read the full article A foolish guide to student finance.

Brought to you by the lovemoney.com team.