Taxact tax software offers free federal filing -- it's completely free, there is not an e-filing fee like so many others. However, they do charge a fee if you need to file state taxes in addition to your federal income tax return.

Shout-out: http:

Free motorcycle parking is as easy as removing the license plate. Just be sure to not park in a tow away zone. You can even get away with parking on sidewalks with this tip. After speaking with a small sample of city employed (parking ticket writers) meter maids, I found that most of them are reluctant or even scared to look for the VIN number on a motorcycle / scooter because they do not want to be accused of touching (e.g. potentially damaging) the bike. Note: This works in New York as well.

Some phones are web-capable, but if yours is not you can still get a lot of information using text messages. Looking for a nearby store? Trying to get the score for the game? Trying to convert dollars to euros? Let google text you the answers, by sending a message to the number: 466453. For example, to find pizza in your zipcode send "pizza 90210", or the score of a game "score knicks", or for currency conversions "10 dollars in euros".

Shout-out: google.com

Suggested by: Naji

Everyone needs a little privacy sometimes -- for many different reasons. Laservoicemail.com is a Seattle based company that will provide anyone with their own anonymous free voicemail service. This is perfect for secret agenda planning (e.g. surprise parties, secrets, dual personalities, affairs) with absolutely no names attached or strange bills in the mail. Don't get too excited yet, there are two minor issues: (i) you are assigned a Washington state (area-code) number and (ii) when you check your messages, you will be required to listen to a 30-second commercial. However, anyone who calls you will only hear your personalized outgoing message -- the ad is only for the account "owner". What are you waiting for, setup takes just a couple of minutes!

Shout-out: laservoicemail.com

Suggested by: Digital Grampa 2000

Chances are if you're a small-time blogger you don't have the funds to pay licensing fees on your images - or - you use thumbnail images. Most websites either don't use images or they use images they find on the net and hope no one harasses them. Picapp.com has created an advertising based applet that helps you get around paying the fees for images and our friends at Digital Inspiration have a demo for you; check out the link below. Note: Picapp is completely free but the site is currently in private beta - use the following credentials (from Digital Inspiration) to gain access. Username: Press@picapp.com Password: 3475vh

Shout-out: labnol.org

Suggested by: Pedro

Think reward points never add up? Just open the Citi Diamond Preferred credit card and get 6,000 points. Next, refer your friends and family (limit of 5) and get up to 25,000 additional points. That's 31,000 points without spending much money and you're well on your way to get some cool stuff (free)!

Suggested by: chongerelli

Did you know that you can get free VIP tours to many of the D.C. attractions? That's right, you can skip the lines and get reserved VIP tours of: The White House, The Capital, The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, The FBI, The United States Supreme Court, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, United States Department of State, Library of Congress, National Archives, Mount Vernon, The Old Executive Office building, and even The Treasury. Just go to your House of Representative's or Senator's home page, which can be searched here:House -or- Senate. Once you find your Congress Person, put your tax dollars to work by asking for the tour(s) you want. Note: It's best to plan early and make requests well in advance (try to avoid the peak summer months).

Suggested by: Tim

For Excel workbook or worksheet passwords, you can use Excel Password Remover 2008 to crack the code. The freeware is very well designed and integrates right into the existing Excel menu. Note: This free download will not work for file protection passwords or VBA passwords. Use Excel Key for file protection cracks and VBA Keyfor VBA password hacks. Now that you're in, the work can begin!

Shout-out: straxx.com

Suggested by: Keith M

Complete your 2007 federal taxes for FREE! Why pay for expensive tax software like Turbotax when you can download an excel file? Go to this website, download the excel spreadsheet, fill out the form(s), print and send to the IRS. Glenn's form is accurate and just as easy as standalone tax software - 10 years running. It goes one step further to link you to states that have free online electronic filing.

Spread the wealth and submit your tax loopholes here.

Shout-out: home.mchsi.com

Suggested by: Tim

Guys, remember trading baseball cards when you were younger? Girls, remember trading stickers in grade school? Now that you're older, it doesn't mean you have to stop sharing / trading with your friends. Chances are your friends have cds you want but haven't bought and vice versa. So why not trade or swap your cd collections? Once you load the songs you want, you can give their cds back and trade with another friend. Just another simple example of how to think outside of the box.

Suggested by: Diana M

When ordering your side at Panera Bread - apple, bread or chips - ask for the apple. Then when you pick up your meal, act surprised and say, "Oops! I actually wanted bread (or chips)." Boom you'll get both because they aren't allowed to take the apple back for health reasons. Happy Munching!

Suggested by: John Nelson

If you have a valid college email address, you can download all the music you want absolutely free! It's legal if you sign up for an account at www.ruckus.com. Keep all the music you want on your computer or simply sync it to an mp3 player. (Note: since it's a free service & music is copyright protected you can't burn it onto CDs). Happy listening!

Suggested by: Nicole

If you live in a major city (sometimes non-major), go to
www.wildaboutmovies.com and check for upcoming screenings. Once you find one, print out a pass that admits two and arrive at least an hour early. Enjoy the Show!


Suggested by: Julie

Maybe you've heard the trick about getting cheap haircuts at a beauty school. The thing about that is, it still costs money and often times they do a bad job. Instead, go directly to a salon and sign up to be a hair model. Sometimes they don't let you decide what they're doing to your hair, but often they will. You can get a cut and color absolutely free, with an experienced stylist watching the newbie the whole time and, in many cases, doing half the haircut themselves. Look on craigslist.com in your area and search "hair model" under the "community" section. (note: This is more common in major cities).

Suggested by: Julie

If you live in Illinois near a Pizza-Ria you can get a slice of pizza for free! Go to their website, enter your email address and they will email you a "buy one get one free" coupon. There isn't a limit on how many you can use; however, the coupon expires ten days after it is sent to you. Print multiple copies and sign up with every email address you have -- now load up on free pizza for you and your friends!

Shout-out: pizza-ria.com

A little known fact is that with every Sephora gift card purchased you'll receive a fabulous compact mirror - FREE! Next time you're shopping, buy a $10+ gift card to pay for your items and get your free mirror.

Most rental car companies charge a daily fee to have a second driver -- fees can range from a couple of dollars per day up to $25/day. What they don't tell you is that spouses and domestic partners are often exempt. Most of the major car rental companies will waive the fee for a spouse or significant other if you can prove you live together (i.e. same address on your IDs). Another solution is to join the car rental company's rewards program; extra fees such as these are automatically waived.

Trying to search for new music but tired of listening to 30-second clips? Want to listen to your music from any computer? Look no further! Check out deezer.com to legally access a plethora of full length songs and/or backup your existing mp3s (unlimited storage). Search for new artists, create your own playlists, and access your music from any computer... all for free!

Hint: To listen to songs that are greyed-out, right-click and select play song.

--www.deezer.com

Suggested by: Nicole T

If you're a student, we're sure you're familiar with bibliographies - yes, those dreaded citations you have to painstakingly format over and over again for your research papers. Well, now you don't have to. EasyBib.com is the Web's most popular automatic bibliography composer - just type in your source information and it will automatically format and alphabetize your bibliography. When you're finished, it exports your list to Microsoft Word so you can easily paste it into your paper.  Better still, it's free!

You still have to spend the time writing your paper, but now you don't have to spend much time citing it. Check out EasyBib.com!

Did you know that you can read WSJ articles without paying the annual subscription fee as long as they are "dugg"? Previously there were a couple of complicated hacks, but now it's super easy. You can get free access to the entire Wall Street Journal article when you visit the WSJ web page via digg.  Simply subscribe to the following RSS feed and get ready to read.
Note: Those want more specific WSJ content, can modify the search parameters as discussed on lifehacker.com.

All it takes is a little velcro between your bike and the license plate. When cops attempt to ticket your bike and you have conveniently removed your license plate, very few will go through the trouble of locating the VIN number, which is needed to give you a valid ticket. Try not to park in a space where cars can fit (i.e. park at the very beginning/end of a valid parking zone). Note: This trick is much more effective with out of state plates. Ride safe!

It's as simple as switching the "To:" and "From:" addresses on your letter and dropping it in the nearest mailbox. Put your name and address in the "To:" field and your addressee's in the "From:" field. The mail-carrier will notice that the letter doesn't have a stamp and they will label it RTS (return to sender). Since the letter is addressed to you they will return / deliver it to the addressee. Remember, the USPS isn't that generous / stupid so don't send anything too far (or valuable)... Special delivery!

Welcome to Starbucks, may I please take your order? Yes, I'll have an iced doppio in a venti cup please. Sure, that'll be $x.xx. Now take your iced doppio to the coffee bar and get all the free milk you need to make that iced latte or cappuccino. You just saved $2+ that you can use for tomorrow's coffee break. Can you say twofer?

Even if you have the cash to pay for your big ticket items, don't, get an interest free loan instead. Apply for the stores credit card / promotional deal - make sure to ask the following: (i) is any interest charged before the due date; (ii) are there any prepayment penalties; and (iii) is there any cost for canceling the card once it is paid off in full. If the answers are all "NO", sign on the dotted line. Now, take the money you were about to spend and put it into a cd or high-interest savings account (any legitimate bank can help you with this for free).

The math: Put the $2,500 you were going to spend on your 50 inch plasma in 2-year cd earning 5.25% apy and you will earn $262.50 over the next 24 months. Now you can go watch your tv for two years while you earn money. Note: This will not work if you miss the final payment date because usually companies will charge the interest retroactively.

Shout-out: articles.moneycentral.msn.com

No cell phone, No problem. Go find any nearby pay phone (this is the hardest part) and then dial 1-800-Collect. When prompted for your name say anything you want (ex: Mom, I don't have my phone, please come pick me up). Hopefully your mom is smart enough to not accept a collect call from, "I don't have my phone, please come pick me up." Hang up, you're done.