It's been said that the best things in life are free -- and we couldn't agree more. That's why we're back with our third annual list of our favorite freebies.
We looked for primo goods and services (no useless junk allowed). And boy, did we find 'em, from financial management and planning help to entertainment and vacation freebies.
We've laid out our list in text format below for easy printing or e-mailing.
Go ahead. Embrace your inner tightwad. And share your own fabulous freebies with others in the comment area below.
1. Free video games
If you're looking for games for the kids -- or an excuse to act like a kid yourself -- head to Kongregate, PopCap Games, Pogo.com and OnlineFlashGames for thousands of free online and downloadable games of all types.
For educational or just-for-fun games suited to young kids, check out PBS Kids, Discovery Kids, NickJr.com and Scholastic.com.
2. Free birthday goodies
A slew of businesses will give you prime freebies on your birthday that almost make getting older worth it. For instance, anyone can get free admission to Disneyland or Disney World in 2009. Join the birthday club at Toys R Us and your child (younger than 10) will get a free toy or gift card every year.
If you sign up in advance to join the club at your favorite eatery, you could score free food on your birthday. For example, you can get a free meal at Famous Dave's BBQ and free ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery and Baskin Robbins. Search the Web for "birthday freebies," then call your local restaurants to ask whether they participate in the deal. For more, see "20 freebies for your birthday."
3. Free shipping
Special delivery! Some retailers still offer free shipping on every order, including Alyssa Basket Designs (special-occasion gifts), Blue Nile (jewelry), Piperlime (shoes), Shopbop.com (clothes) and Zappos.com (shoes).
More from MSN Money and Kiplinger
4. Free software
For most of your computing needs, you can get free software. For word processing and spreadsheets, go to OpenOffice.org. For anti-virus protection, head to AVG. For free basic photo editing, check out Picasa, or for more advanced touch-ups, try Gimp. And to manage your finances, use the free programs at Mint.com or Wesabe.
5. Free stock trades
At Wells Fargo, you get 100 commission-free online trades per year if your cumulative account balance is $25,000 or more (including your Wells Fargo checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, IRAs and brokerage accounts).
Also, Zecco offers 10 free trades per month if you have $25,000 in your brokerage account.
6. Free credit report
By law, you're entitled to one free report once a year from each of the three main credit bureaus. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com to find out what lenders can see about your credit history. See "Raise your credit score to 740" for advice on what to do next.
7. Free TV and movies
Head online to watch free episodes from hundreds of TV shows -- old and current -- as well as free movies. And it's perfectly legal.
At OVGuide you'll find a list of TV and movie sites including Hulu, Veoh and Fancast, as well as individual network Web sites, such as ABC and CBS. (See "R.I.P., cable TV?" for more info on free and cheap home entertainment.)
8. Free ATMs
A buck or two here and there may not seem like a big deal, but if you're frequenting ATMs outside your bank's network, the surcharges can add up quickly.
Get money from an ATM that belongs to a surcharge-free network. Allpoint has about 200 participating institutions and 32,000 ATMs. MoneyPass has 600 members and 8,000 ATMs.
9. Free (and risk-free) interest
Many banks offer free savings accounts, but they won't help your money grow. Instead, use a high-yield online savings account for your short-term savings, such as ING Direct, HSBC Direct or Emigrant Direct. They're FDIC-insured and were recently paying around 1.3%. They have no minimum-balance requirement, so you earn that rate whether you have $1 or $100,000 saved.
And consider the free interest-bearing checking accounts from ING Direct and EverBank. They're also FDIC-insured and were recently paying between 0.25% and 1.96%, depending on the balance in the account. (Most traditional banks' free checking accounts pay you nil.)
10. Airline freebies
Airlines may be scaling back their perks, but some still have freebies for fliers. For instance, Southwest lets you check two bags for free, while most others charge for luggage. JetBlue lets you check one bag free, plus gives you access to free TV, satellite radio and all-you-can-eat snacks. Continental still serves free meals on several routes. And all kids under age 2 can fly free on your lap on any airline.
Don't forget about the free flights you can score by signing up for an airline's frequent-flier program (enrollment is also free). See the program guide at WebFlyer for the lowdown on each airline's rules.
11. Free money for grad school
On average, a year of graduate school costs $28,375 for a master's degree at a public school and $38,665 at a private school. But free money abounds, from grants and scholarships to assistantships and fellowships.
See "How to find free money for college" to learn more.
12. Free rewards
You have to buy groceries and gas anyway, so why not use those purchases to get a little more green in your wallet? Sign up for a rewards credit card and get free money, gift certificates, airline miles or other perks. (Of course, it's free only if you pay the balance in full each month without incurring interest charges.)
When you have to make a purchase online, start at BondRewards to earn another cool freebie: You click on an affiliated online retailer (there are hundreds) to do your shopping as usual, and a percentage of your purchase is given back to you in your BondRewards account. You then redeem your rewards for U.S. savings bonds or cash.
Video: How to get free prescription drugs
13. Free financial advice
Not to toot our own horns (OK, maybe just a little), but Kiplinger.com and MSN Money are treasure-troves of free financial advice. Use tools and calculators to get on the right financial track.
14. Free mobile apps
You spent all that money on a new iPhone. Now download some free apps to help you save money and recoup the cost. For instance, the free Mint.com or Quicken apps help you track your spending and manage your money and investments on the go. ATM Hunter can help you find a surcharge-free machine near wherever you are. And iShop can help you search for the lowest price on an item before you buy.
There are plenty of other useful applications at the iTunes App Store, with free recipes, weather updates, diet help, music, games and more.
15. Free books, movies and music
If you haven't been to the public library lately, dust off your card. It's your ticket to mounds of free books, magazines, CDs and movies.
Many libraries also offer free lectures, book readings and community clubs to residents.
Continued: More fabulous freebies
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