Free gifts

We once had a holiday to Norway where flights cost 1p plus airport taxes. Other than that I can't think when I've got something free with a purchase.

That was a great freebie, well, almost a freebie, Marydoll!

Callgirl1, you have just reminded me of a television we bought from the electricity board over 30 years ago. We were given another one for 1p. as a special offer. It meant we had one in our bedroom. We couldn't believe our luck, as we were skint!

About 45 years ago we bought a new cooker from the electricity board showroom, and we were given a box of 60 lovely cut glass wine glasses in various sizes, I still have about a dozen of them left. And I`ve had a couple of giftsx from Cotton Traders, a nice travel holdall and a small overnight suitcase. They may not be top quality, but for the small number of times I will use them, they`re well OK.

I have to admit Sribbles I gave the scarf to a friend as part of her 80th birthday gift, because the colour didn’t suit me. She has told me twice what a success it is.

On the whole, I get irritated by these "free" add-ons. They're not free, we're paying for them in the cost of the stuff we buy. A while ago I was offered a free set of saucepans by a mail order clothing company. Huh? I already have a cupboard full of very nice pans, thanks, so why would a tacky set of cheap cookware encourage me to buy a sweater or some pyjamas?
I also received that big scarf from Hotter which NanKate mentions. That was a good quality item but I had no real use for it so my daughter was delighted when I passed it on to her. She works in a very cold environment and it's been very useful there.

When I order from Liz Earle I always receive a few travel size items which are ideal for holidays....

Juts ordered some Clarins on line they always give you a nice lot of quite large samples which means I don't have to buy serum or face oil usually.

White Stuff often give little gifts like a notebook, a bag or a £10 token and at Xmas a tree bauble with chocolate money inside.

Boden used to include lovely free gifts with their parcels, even when I ordered from the clearance section. Multipacks of socks worth over £20, pretty notebooks. They seem to have stopped doing that though.

I once got a bottle of Dior J’adore perfume just for ordering a catalogue I never used.

I bought a box of wine from an Italian company at a very reasonable price, which I was quite happy with.
When it arrived, there was a free dinner set and lot of food goodies included. This also happened the second time I bought a case. I now have a lovely 8 piece dinner set.
..and no I'm not a lush , although others may dispute this.