Free book from Crown Publishing.

A free book? Yes, it's true... you can sign up to request a free advance copy of one of three novels:

• Breaking Out of Bedlam by Leslie Larson
• Prima Donna by Megan Chance
• True Confections by Katharine Weber

They all sound pretty fun, actually, but I'm naturally drawn to the first title, which is about an old lady who gets stuck in an old-folks home by her heartless children, and decides to pout herself to death... until hijinks ensue! I could use a good hijink after the holiday stressfest.

Cheerios: Win a free box, or get a $1 off coupon that makes it free.

Cheerios is offering 50,000 free boxes of cereal in their new giveaway promotion thing, and you could be a winner by signing up! Plus, everybody gets email coupons good for $1 off a box of cereal, and my sources tell me that the last time they ran a similar promotion, they simultaneously had a sale where Cheerios were $1, effectively making them free, too.

I like Cheerios, especially the fancy fruity flavors and the frosted strawberry ones, which are particularly nutritious. That's the kind of commitment to a healthy lifestyle that I'm willing to make around this time of year.

New Year's Day: Free small coffee at White Castle.

White Castle is calling this the National Hangover Day promotion... because it's New Year's Day, get it? So you'll be hung over from your New Year's Eve celebration and therefore wanting a free small coffee. Which you can get. With this coupon.

No word on whether the smell of tiny, machine-pressed lukewarm beef patties will help to settle the churning bile in your stomach, but hey, why not give it a try?

Free $35 cleaning supplies coupon book.

Okay, I know a book of cleaning-supply coupons is about as exciting as a gift certificate to the dentist, but freebies are thin on the ground this week and I'm a desperate woman. So sign up here for your coupon book, with $35 in valuable savings. It's a Procter & Gamble offer, so you can be pretty sure it will be for all their products, but if you have some post-holiday, post-guest purging to do, this might be a small incentive.

Free Taco Bell Fresco Taco.

I'm still catching up from being out of town for the holidays, so I may be a little late to the freebie party on this one, but Taco Bell is giving away one million coupons for a free Fresco Taco. I don't know what that is or how it differs from a regular, non-fresco taco, but the lady in the picture looks mildly pleased to be holding one, so there's that.

You can only print the coupon once and you have to do it the first time you click on it, so click wisely after you follow the link.

Amazon: Health 1-year subscription for $5.

Did you miss me, fellow frugalists? I was off celebrating the holidays in thrifty style, but I'm back now, so let's get right to it! Amazon is still blowing out the $5 one-year magazine subscriptions, even though Xmas is over now. The current offer is Health for $5.

Obviously that's not something I'm terribly interested in, given the amount of cookies I've gobbled in the last week, but in case you're feeling a tad remorseful about your holiday eating habits, here's an inexpensive way to pretend to yourself that you're doing something about it.

Free coffee and tea at Peet's on Dec. 24.

If you're still rushing around shopping for gifts on Xmas Eve, you could probably use a break. Peet's would like to offer you some free brewed coffee or tea in their stores, all day long on Dec. 24. No purchase necessary! Though I'm sure if you felt like buying some coffee gifts while you were there, they wouldn't turn you away.

Find a store near you.

Borders: 30% off any item.

I know, I know, there's nothing new or exciting about a 30% off coupon from Borders, but believe me when I say I have been ALL over the Internet today and there are no good freebies to be had. I guess everyone's hunkering down for last-minute Xmas errands or something, but it's dead out there.

Let me know if you find anything great in your own online browsing, because it's been pretty slow here...

Info: Bonus gift cards with gift cards.

HeyItsFree.net has compiled a BIG holiday list of bonus gift cards that you get when purchasing last-minute, emergency gift cards to a bunch of different stores. Be sure to read the explanatory info up at the top that tells you about the terms, because "bonus" cards work a little differently from gift cards and can have more restrictions and expiration dates.

Still, there's a ton of different stores and restaurants on there, so this might be the perfect panic present for that hard-to-buy-for relative or die-hard Applebee's fan.

Krispy Kreme: Buy 1 doz donuts, get 12 free-donut gift tags.

This freebie is a little complicated to explain, but bear with me. When you buy a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts through Dec. 25, you'll get a dozen free gift tags, and the gift tags are actually coupons (good in January) for a free donut. Sooo, it's kind of like getting a free dozen donuts, individually. But of course you're going to share them, right?

Free sausage biscuit from Waffle House.

Nothing says "season's greetings" like a faceful of sausage biscuit, and that is why Waffle House is presenting you with a coupon for a free sausage biscuit this holiday season!

Sadly, we have no Waffle Houses here in Seattle, so I'll just have to imagine there's a piping hot sausage biscuit in my stocking come Xmas morning. Sniff, sniff...

Borders: 30% off one item, through Dec. 21.

I probably don't even need to post this, because I'm sure you all have finished up your holiday shopping long ago, and there's nothing left to do but put up your feet by the fire and enjoy some enhanced cocoa... but I'm feeling crazy, so I'mma put this 30% off one item Borders coupon up anyway.

Who knows, perhaps some tardy elf out there can use it. Not you, of course. But someone.

Amazon: Last-minute $5 magazine sale, new titles!

Fear not, the Amazon $5 magazine subscription sale rolls on, now with a new batch of magazines to choose from. Take a gander at these $5 beauties:

• Sunset
• Health
• Coastal Living
• This Old House
  

Plus these for $10:

• Entertainment Weekly
• In Style
• Essence

It's never too late to give magazines, because they don't start for 6-8 weeks anyway and delays can be blamed on the publisher. Handy holiday hint.

IKEA: The IKEA Sale starts Dec. 18.

The IKEA sale starts today! I know, the very mention of IKEA during the holiday season sends chills down your spine, but speaking as someone who spent pretty much all of last Saturday there, the holidays are an oddly tranquil time to go. Shoppers are all off at more gift-oriented department stores buying presents - not too many people exchange FJELSENLAKK dressers for Xmas. So it was surprisingly uncrowded and low-key, even for the $1 meatball special in the cafeteria.

There are also one-day-only specials starting Dec. 26, but by then there probably will be bloodthirsty bargain-hunting crowds. Still, if you have clumsy New Year's guests, you can't beat 25-cent champagne glasses.

Bath & Body Works: Free lip item with any purchase.

Now that you've gotten all the holiday shopping for others out of the way (I mean... you do, right?), it's time to start spending on yourself! Or, okay, I guess you can get a last-minute gift if you HAVE to. Bath & Body Works is offering a free lip product with any purchase, through Dec. 20. Choose from C.O. Bigelow or Liplicious products - I'm a big fan of the minty C.O. Bigelow glosses myself.

I'm puzzled yet intrigued by this shapeable foaming soap, so maybe that will be my qualifying purchase. Find a store, get your lip stuff!

Seattle: Free wine, chocolate at SAM Shop today.

Truly sophisticated holiday shoppers enjoy artisanal jewelry, sophisticated Euro housewares, and... free wine and chocolate! The Seattle Art Museum will be offering at least one of those tonight, Thursday the 17th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Six local jewelry-makers will hold a trunk show in the museum store, and the store itself will be open till 9:00 pm for holiday shopping. Free wine and chocolate sweetens the deal and impairs your judgment, so watch out.

Actually, museum stores tend to have pretty cool stuff, and I've gotten some good gifts at the SAM store over the years. They have interesting jewelry, nice notecards and stationery, and a decent selection of children's books and educational toys (from what I can tell), so if you're in panic shopping mode, you could do worse than to hit this event tonight.

Borders: 30% off any item.

Apparently the 30% off any item coupon is the clear favorite this year, because that's far and away the coupon that Borders is releasing most frequently. So here's one more, good through Dec. 21, that will get you through any last-minute holiday shopping surprises that may have come up a week before Xmas. Yay!

Use promo code BSL7022B when shopping online.

Free PDF book: Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker.

The Internets is determined to make sure you have enough recipes to feed everyone this holiday season. If you have a slow cooker that's been gathering dust on a shelf, dust it off and download this PDF book of crockpot recipes.

I know what you're thinking - mushy brown meat that falls apart into watery broth - but slow cooking can actually be good, and Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker has lots of party-oriented recipes for appetizers, hot dips, even desserts. I got this book for a slow-cooking friend of mine last year, so I'm personally vouching for it, and it's free, so what do you have to lose?

If you don't have a Kindle, you can still download it using the free Kindle for PC - in fact, according to the comments, it might work better in the PC version. On the right-hand side, under the big "Buy now with 1-click" button, there's a teeny tiny link that says "Available on your PC." So get cookin'!

Info: McDonald's to offer free wi-fi, starting Jan. 2010.

First Borders, then Barnes & Noble, and now McDonald's becomes the latest giant retailer this year to announce free wi-fi at all its locations. Well, to be precise, McDonald's free wi-fi starts in January 2010, replacing the $3-for-2-hours charge that they had had in place.

Evidently McDonald's sees itself as not merely a fast-food chain, but a "destination" where aspiring young authors will come and write their fictionalized memoirs on their netbooks, or something. Judging by the downtown Seattle McD's, they've already got the market cornered on people loitering for hours, but I guess the idea is to get people with fixed addresses in the door.

Info: Thurs., Dec. 17, is Free Shipping Day.

Okay, holiday slackers, this one's for you. Tomorrow, Dec. 17, is Free Shipping Day, in which 700+ online merchants will be offering free shipping AND delivery by Xmas Eve. Some may have minimum purchase restrictions, but according to the site, over half will have just plain free shipping, no minimum order required.

Check the site tomorrow to find out all the details, but you can see a list of participating merchants now and decide where to shop. Retail rewards the lazy, that's all I can say! Back in my day, we exchanged clods of dirt wrapped in old newspaper, and we didn't wait until the last minute, either.

(Courtesy of HeyItsFree.net)

Facebook: Free SBUX playlist on iTunes.

Starbucks has jumped on the free-music-download bandwagon and is offering a 20-song playlist when you become a fan of iTunes on Facebook. I haven't downloaded the actual songs yet, but here's what they say about it:

"Enjoy your free 20 song Starbucks 'Pick of the Week' Sampler from iTunes. This free sampler features music from Sting, Moby, Iron & Wine, Metric and more."

Sounds like there's some potentially good stuff there, and actually I have liked the SBUX compilations I've heard in the past, so I'm willing to give it a listen. I'll update more when I find out exactly what the songs are...

Seattle: Rosebud's Sweet 16 party, free apps, 12/16.

The Rosebud, on Capitol Hill, is turning 16 this year, and they're celebrating tomorrow, Dec. 16, with a Sweet 16 party! That means free appetizers in the bar for you from 4:30 to 8:30, plus a 3-course meal for $16 if you choose.

I hate their website, but the bar is pretty cool and they do a decent brunch, so there's every reason to think that free apps would be delicious there.

Free Olay Quench lotion after rebate.

Well, it's shaping up to be a real rebate week, it turns out. Between the Kraft $10 rebate and the free Alouette Brie and Seattle's Best coffee, you could pretty much stock your holiday party with the free food a-flying around. But you need some you rebates, too. So here's one for Olay Quench body lotion. Buy any size except trial size, fill out the rebate form, and send it off by February 12, 2010, to get yours. Trust me, nothing chaps your hands like wrapping and packaging up presents for weeks on end - you'll need it come January.

UPDATE: I just picked up a thing of Olay Quench and it looks like full-size bottles run from $7.99 to $9.99. That was at a drugstore, so it might be slightly cheaper at Target or something. At ten bucks, it's kind of an investment on your part, so make sure you send in that form quickly and keep a copy for your records!

Cheryl & Co: 6 free cookies, plus $10 gift card.

This feels like one of those "not really free" freebies since shipping is required, but who knows, maybe it's worth it. Cheryl & Co. is offering an introductory freebie: 6 free cookies, plus a $10 gift card, for free - you just pay $6.95 shipping.

In case you're wondering what you can spend that $10 gift card on, there are a handful of things for under $20. The best deal is probably this $15 gift box, but some of the pricier items have free shipping, so there's that. Anyway, only you know if this "freebie" is free enough for you, but I thought I'd put it out there.

Borders: 30% off any item.

Not to freak you out or anything, but I just wanted to quickly note that there are TEN DAYS TILL XMAS. I just finally mailed out my last packages today, sooo... I'm hoping they get where they need to go on time. I hope my mailman sprinkles a little Xmas magic over them.

If you're a bold soul who hasn't yet finished holiday shopping, Borders has a 30% off coupon for any one item. Use promo code BSL7022B to order online. At this point, though, online orders are cutting it pretty close, so you might want to just take that coupon into the old-fashioned bricks-and-mortar store if you want to make sure those stockings are full*.

Seattle: Free crepe, copyediting test.

You know, I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but when I see a typographical disaster like these coupons for free Nutella crepes at Mobatta Crepe Cafe, I'd rather red-pen it than fill it out. Starting with big old X's on that lame clip art.

But enough grinching. If you're near downtown, pop into Mobatta Crepes on 2nd Ave. between Cherry & Columbia, give them one of these filled-out forms, and you'll get a free Nutella crepe! I hear their goal is to give away 50,000, which is a whole lotta Nutella, Mobatta.

(Courtesy of the Seattle Times Freeloader)

Free California Flatbreads at Jamba Juice, Dec. 15.

Jamba Juice is giving away more of their California Flatbreads tomorrow, Dec. 15, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. They have pretty dumb names, such as Tomo Artichoko and MediterraneYUM, and I hope it's not the kind of thing where you have to actually say the dumb name rather than just pointing and going, "That one." Because free isn't free when you have to order with flair.

Amazon: 25 Days of Free MP3s.

I can't keep track of all the free holiday music out there on the Internets this year! Amazon offers a musical advent calendar of sorts - a new, free MP3 every day in December till Xmas. I'm especially fond of Lady Gaga's filthy version of "Christmas Tree" from Dec. 6.

You need the free Amazon MP3 downloader widget, but the nice part is that it will automatically import to iTunes when it's done.

Free PDF book of mason jar gift how-tos.

Well, this year I barely had time to click "Buy Now" on Amazon for my holiday shopping, but assuming I ever have the time to make some down-home hand-crafted gifts of love for my friends and family, I'm going to check out this PDF book of 34 Ideas for Gifts in a Jar.

There's the usual brownies-in-a-jar and cakes-in-a-jar, but also soup mixes, gingerbread and pumpkin bread baked in the jar, honey bath scrub, and edible chocolate bath scrub (!). There's also something called Cranberry Hootycakes, but you might want to stay away from that one. Just a feeling I have.

Denny's: Free Peppermint Pancake Puppies.

Here's a word-association game: if I said "Peppermint Pancake Puppies" to you, which of these would you think of?

a) The hot new toy for tween girls this holiday season.
b) My drag queen name.
c) A cartoon team of anime characters with adorably cute superpowers.
d) A godawful concoction of "deep-fried balls of pancake batter, dusted with sugar, to be dipped in syrup."

The correct answer is D, as in Denny's. They're offering a coupon for a free order of Peppermint Pancake Puppies, good through Mon., Dec. 14. That's tomorrow, so you definitely don't want to delay and miss out on your share of the PPPs.

Old Navy: 30% off any one item.

Old Navy has a coupon for 30% off one single item, good through Dec. 19. I needn't remind you that we're on the home stretch of holiday shopping, but this would be a good way to knock out at least one more gift... assuming your loved ones enjoy bargain-priced clothing staples.

Amazon: Oprah magazine $5 for 1-year subscription.

Amazon featured this sale once before, but just in case you missed it, it's back! $5 for a 1-year subscription to O, the Oprah Magazine. You know, I don't know if you heard, but she's quitting her talk show in 2 years, so you might want to start collecting these monthly compilations of O-wisdom to comfort you once it's off the air. I can't promise these will immediately triple in value as collector's items, but... it only makes sense, right?

Seattle: Free downtown holiday decorations.

If you're around downtown Seattle this holiday season, check out some of the free attractions that local businesses and hotels offer for your amusement. I make a point to visit them and take grainy, blurry pictures each year, but I assure you they're much better in person.

• Teddy Bear Suite and more at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Dec. 1 - Dec. 26 2009. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Over 130 adorable stuffed bears and children's books with a bear theme in a decorated suite (a new theme each year) at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Sometimes they have free cookies and coffee in a meeting room on the mezzanine level. There's also a huge, lavish gingerbread house with a new theme each year, on display in the lobby. Free.
  
• Gingerbread Village at Sheraton Seattle, 1400 6th Avenue. Nov. 23, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010. A collaboration of Seattle Sheraton's culinary team and Seattle's most skilled architectural firms team up for a multi-structure, oversized gingerbread display, plus decorated trees. This year's theme is "A Reel Christmas." Free.
  
• Winter Train and Village at the Seattle Center House. Dec. 1, 2009 - Jan. 1, 2010. 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm or 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm. The Center House at Seattle Center is home to an early 1900s miniature village. Train enthusiasts and miniature lovers will enjoy the snow surrounding the buildings, lights, and depot. You can also pay a few bucks and be the conductor of your own little train through the village. Cost: $2 suggested donation (cash only).

Kraft: $10 rebate when you buy 10 - gulp - cheez items.

Here's a freebie that may be hazardous to your health... unless your family has a tradition of stuffing stockings with Easy Cheese and Chicken in a Biskit. Kraft is offering a $10 rebate when you buy 10 of their participating items between now and January 31, 2010. You don't have to buy them all at once, so you can shop around for the best deals.

Seriously, though, that's a lot of salty flavored crackers and spray cheese. Be safe this holiday season, kids.

Free NYLON winter playlist via iTunes.

NYLON magazine did a pretty good summer playlist earlier this year, so I'm curious to check out their new freebie: a winter music playlist (not to be confused with holiday music!). Download the sampler for free via iTunes and get ready to rock out with your frost out along with Dan Deacon, Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Sufjan Stevens, and a bunch of other bands I'm too square to know about.

Extra credit: NYLON magazine is just $7 for a 1-year subscription at Amazon right now ($10 plus an additional $3 off), if you're looking for a way to thank them for all this music. I just learned that NYLON means "New York/London," though, so you might feel a little judged each month when this hipster look book arrives in your dowdy mailbox.

Borders: 30% off any item.

Man, these Borders coupons are coming faster than I can use them - and that's saying something. Here's another one for 30% off any item. What more can I say? Those "free beverage" coupons have been pointedly absent of late, on the other hand... mine must have gotten lost in the (e)mail.

Seattle: Free snacks at Kathy Casey Food Studio on Dec. 12.

Seattle foodies (and those in need of foodie-gift ideas), head over to Kathy Casey Food Studios in Ballard this Saturday, December 12th, from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. for a free open house. She'll be signing copies of her new book, Sips & Apps, and offering samples of some of the recipes therein. Apparently these include Bacon, Blue Cheese, & Pecan Cocktail Cookies; Lamb "Sliders" on Homemade Rosemary Buns; and Croque Monsieur Puffs.

There will also be plenty of tasty gourmet gifts on offer, so whether you're just feeling nibbly or you need to do some shopping, head over if you're in Ballard this weekend.

(Courtesy of the Seattle Times Freeloader)

Free holiday music from iTunes.

Grinch if you will, but there's no music like holiday music to wrap presents, trim trees, and write out holiday cards to. And now you have no excuse, because iTunes is offering a free holiday playlist for you to download! It has everything from Barry Manilow to Weezer to Stephen Colbert and something called the Mexicani Marimba Band, so really, there's something for all tastes on here. Put that in your stocking and stuff it.

For you traditionalists, there's also a handful of free tracks from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Classy!

International Delight make-up coupon for Facebook fail.

Did you try to cash in on the Facebook coupon promo for International Delight creamer, but were unable to print because of technical difficulties? International Delight is making good with this make-up coupon for a full-size bottle of their flavored coffee creamer. Just fill out your mailing address and they'll send you a coupon by mail within a few weeks (allowing time for the holidays).

Not sure if they'll be double-checking your name against their Facebook fans list, but just in case, you might want to join their fan list anyway to be on the safe side.

$1 card from Burger King with free passive-aggression.

Kinda sorta feeling a pang of guilt over excluding that acquaintance/Facebook friend/coworker you smile at but don't really like from your holiday gift list? Burger King will help you make the empty gesture that means so much this season. For $1, you can send your recipient a paper holiday card with a $1 bill inside. (The bill is intended for them to purchase a cheeseburger or something that's $1 at BK - advertising alert!)

I kind of like "Thinking of you a little bit this holiday season," but there's something satisfying about "Because I care deeply about someone who looks kinda like you," too. Nothing welcomes the holidays like a passive-aggressive slap in the face and a crisp dollar bill!

Old Navy: 60 gifts for $6 and under.

Strapped for cash this holiday season? Or just have a HUGE family to shop for? Old Navy has you covered with 60 gifts for $6 or under. It's mostly basics, although I have to say this little pom-pom tasseled fleece hat is pretty darn cute. Wait... it's for babies? Damn. Why are the things I like always for toddlers? Like they need performance fleece.

Facebook: Free Stacy's pita chips.

Oh man, I love Stacy's pita chips. Actually, I love all pita chips, but they tend to be pretty pricey at $3 or more for a kiiiinda small bag. But a free bag, now we're talking!

Become a Facebook fan of Stacy's and go to the tab to fill out the online form, and they'll send you a coupon for a free bag of pita chips. This offer is good for the first 65,000 fans, so you shouldn't have any trouble... unless I go back and sign up 64,000 more times. Which I may do.

Borders: 30% off any item, in-store or online.

Now through Dec. 14, get 30% off one item, in-store or online, using this coupon. Or shop online with promo code BSL7021A. Like Amazon, they're offering free shipping on orders over $25, though I still prefer Amazon myself... but Borders does have a pretty good selection of beauty-type gifts, blank books, candles, Xmas cards, and so on, all of which are eligible for this discount, so it's nice for non-media gift shopping too. I mean, if you like brick-and-mortar stores.

Burt's Bees Premium Grab Bag - now $20!

Last week or so, I mentioned the Burt's Bees grab bag for $25 + free shipping. Well, the deal has just gotten even sweeter... now they're offering 20% off and free shipping with coupon code BURT20, so it's down to $20. I'll say it again: this would be a lovely gift as is for someone very lucky, or it would be great to split into several smaller gifts or stuff a bunch of stockings with. There are men's and unisex items in there, too, so don't assume it's just girly smelly junk! (Although it mainly is.)

Pinkberry: BOGO frozen yogurt. Brrrr.

I know, I know... the last thing you want right now is a chilly, creamy frozen treat. But if you did, for some reason, need two Pinkberry yogurts, here's a BOGO coupon for you. Sadly, I think we still don't have any Pinkberrys here in Seattle (though there are some knockoffs and rival chains), so I won't have to make the terrible, brain-freezing decision myself.

Seattle: Holidate with the Girls at U-Village.

Now that it's the holidays, you'll be hearing from every charity in the world wanting you to sponsor children, feed lonely hobos on Xmas, and cure diseases. But how many charities give you a discount shopping pass, free cocktails and appetizers, and a bag full of goodies? More cosmos and less address labels, Doctors Without Borders.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 8 and 9, you can attend the U-Village Holidate With the Girls. For $25 you get a reusable shopping pass good for 20% off at the participating stores (there's a list on the page, but it includes Papyrus, Fireworks, Gap, and Barnes & Noble - that's practically your whole holiday shopping list right there!), a drink ticket, snacky appetizers, and a gift bag full of samples, coupons, and full-size products from merchants in the shopping center.

I've been to this a couple of times, and while it's not as lavish an affair as it used to be (though the price tag has gone up), it's still fun, and all event proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House. So if you haven't started your holiday shopping and you'd like an excuse for a charitable shopping date with the girls, sign up!

Free Alouette baby brie with mail-in rebate.

When I think of Alouette, I think of that delicious flavored soft cheese spread that a friend and I used to gobble after school in the higher-metabolism days of my youth. But Alouette evidently also makes Brie wedges, and they want you to try one for free!

Just buy the cheese before Dec. 31, save your receipt and the UPC code, send it in by January 10, 2010, and soar away on a magical wedge of creamy herbed goodness.

BOGO sweaters at Ann Taylor Loft.

Brrrr! Speaking as someone who saw ice on her morning commute, I can tell you that it's definitely time to cozy up with a nice sweater... or two. So this BOGO sweater deal at Ann Taylor Loft will come in quite handy. Buy any regular-priced sweater and get another for equal or lesser value free! Usually I'm a traditional cable V-neck girl, but for sheer cuddly coverage, you can't beat a classic turtleneck.

e.l.f. 27-piece makeup kit FREE with any purchase.

Cosmetics company e.l.f. is offering a free 27-piece makeup kit with any purchase. Use promo code LOYAL at checkout and it will automatically be added. You still have to pay their $7 shipping fee, but many items on their site are just $1, so basically you can get the makeup kit, plus another full-size item, for $8.

They also have some great stocking stuffer kits for $3, which would be quite handy for any Secret Santas or office gifts or "Oh! You got me a present? I... left yours in the car. I'llberightback" moments that we all treasure during the holidays.

Free Splenda, with or without flava.

What could be better than Splenda, the fake sugar? How about Splenda with flava? Apparently they now make the artificial sweetener with both hazelnut and mocha flavorings. "Each packet conveniently contains the perfect touch of sweetness and rich flavor for one cup of coffee," so there you have it!

Okay, I'm curious. What the heck, Splenda, hook a sister up. WITH FLAVA FO' HER JAVA.

Free Estee Lauder lip gloss Dec. 5.

Estee Lauder is giving away a bunch of free lip glosses tomorrow, Dec. 5, at every single Estee Lauder counter nationwide! (Scroll down the page to the header "Come Get Beautiful") Find a location here.

"It’s your day to look and feel beautiful. Visit the Estée Lauder Counter—be sure to bring a friend—and you’ll receive a free Lip Gloss (we’re giving away 130,000 nationwide!)*, plus a free 2-minute hand massage using the body lotion of our #1 fragrance, Beautiful."

It doesn't say that it's a crappy tiny mini-sample, but even if it was, it's free! I don't know about that hand massage, though. Free cosmetics is one thing, but free swine flu — I'll pass.

Borders: 30% off any item.

Yes indeed, it's... a Borders coupon! For 30% off any item! No, this is not the same one as the coupon I posted a few days ago. Yes, they put out a lot of coupons. No, I do not know why. You're welcome.

Free Pillsbury 2010 calendar.

Already despairing of the gauntlet of fatty, sugary holiday binge eating you'll be running from now until January 1? Well, why not start early on shooting your New Year's resolutions in the foot by signing up for this free Pillsbury calendar. Torture yourself with a year's worth of luscious, colorful photographs of home-baked treats - complete with recipes! - as you try to rationalize that the cheesy asparagus hors d'ouevres count as a serving of veggies.

I can hear my Wii Fit screaming from here.

Free hot beverage at 7-11.

7-11 has this coupon running for a free coffee, cappucino, hot chocolate, or tea, but apparently some users have been complaining that the less-than-service-oriented employees of 7-11 have been reluctant or grumpy about honoring it.

If you're dubious about the PDF, you can get your own free drink coupon anytime by going to http://www.the711club.com/ and playing the slightly creepy "hot Brazilian" game there. FYI, I did succeed in taking the guy in the pirate shirt home, so hands off the puffy sleeves, they're mine.

Seattle: Free wine, cheese, 10% off at Husky Deli, Dec. 4.

West Seattleites know and love the Husky Deli, in the West Seattle Junction, for its huge thick sandwiches, fancy gourmet foods and sweets from around the world (where else can you get Kinder Eggs AND butter oil in the same place?), and its delicious ice cream and the milkshakes made thereof.

On Friday, December 4, those of you who don't yet know the delights of Husky Deli (and devoted fans, too) can come to a holiday open house from 5:00 to 9:00 pm (they never update their site, so you'll just have to trust me on this - I got a flyer). Sample wine, cheese, deli meats, and sweet treats from their catering menu as well as various vendors. All purchases made during the open house will get a 10% discount, too! I've got my eye on this sheet of English toffee that comes with a tiny hammer to break it up with. A TINY HAMMER. I could just die.

Free Aveeno tote bag from Martha Stewart.

You can get a free Aveeno tote bag when you fill out this online form here. I know it looks a little shady, but there's a link to it on Martha Stewart's website (scroll down), so I think it's legit. You could use another tote bag in your life, right? Right!

(Courtesy of HeyItsFree)

Southwest holiday fare sale.

Southwest is having a last-minute fare sale for the holidays, with fares as low as $59 one-way. Purchase by December 3, 2009, 11:59 pm PDT, and travel December 17, 2009, through January 3, 2010.

Sorry, Seattleites, there's nothing for us this time around. Alaska Air rules Sea-Tac.

Cosmo, Oprah Magazine, Esquire, Elle, etc., $5 subscriptions.

Man, $5 magazine subscriptions are THE hot ticket this year! At this rate, I expect to be seeing a dozen or so new subscriptions in my mailbox come January. Here's another promotion with a batch of $5 magazines - some we've seen before, like Esquire, Elle, Seventeen, and Woman's Day, but some I think are new, like O for Oprah Magazine or the Food Network magazine. Anyway, there's something for everyone, so go nuts!

Barnes & Noble: Buy a $100 gift card, get a $10 gift card free.

Barnes & Noble is jumping on the bonus-gift-card bandwagon with their own offer: spend $100 in gift cards, get a $10 bonus gift card free. The best part is, the bonus gift card is emailed to you on Dec. 26, so there's no question of having to give it to someone else - you'll just have to use it on yourself. Coincidentally, that will be right when the post-holiday sales fire up, too. Discounted calendars and next year's Xmas cards, anyone?

Amazon: Free Xmas music every day till Dec. 25.

If there's one thing everyone wants more of this holiday season, it's Xmas music! Amazon senses your need and comes to the rescue with 25 days of free music. Every day, a free download; today's is "Snow Angels" by Tori Amos.

Personally, I like "Rockin' Around the Xmas Tree," but I guess it couldn't hurt to shake up my holiday playlist a little.

Seattle: Free snacks, cheap wine at BOKA, Dec. 2.

BOKA, the restaurant inside the Hotel 1000 in downtown Seattle, has a pretty great happy-hour menu: half off their deelish appetizers, or rather, "Urban Bites." But free is even better than cheap, and on Dec. 2, they're offering free snacks and a talk by contemporary art curator Michael Darling, who will speak on Seattle Art Museum's current special exhibition, "Alexander Calder: A Balancing Act."

Wine by the glass will be sold for $3, with proceeds going to Seattle Art Museum. HINT HINT.

SAM in the Studio takes place from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., Dec. 2, at 1000 First Ave., Seattle.

(This tip from the Seattle Times Freeloader!)

Seattle: Buy $25 Goodwill gift card, get $5 bonus card free.

Goodwill shoppers, act now and get a little something extra in your stocking this year. Starting Dec. 1, buy $25 worth of Goodwill gift cards and receive a bonus $5 gift card, while supplies last! Available in-store only.

Also, put it on your calendar: December 26 is Goodwill's After Christmas Blow Out Sale - 50% off ALL color tags (excludes white tags and Outlet stores). That's more fun than standing in the returns line at Old Navy, right?

Borders.com: Free shipping, no minimum, 30% coupon.

Borders is offering free shipping on all online purchases right now with coupon code ISG5234F. That's handy if you just need one or two things, although free shipping tends to be pretty slow. There's also 50% off priority shipping with code PRIORITY, if you need it faster.

And their Cyber Monday special continues: BOGO 60% off. Depending on how you played it, that could average out to about 30% off two items, but personally I'm holding out for the next 40% off coupon. Go on, Borders. Take your time. My disposable income and I can wait.

UPDATE: Here's a 30% off any item coupon, good through December 7.