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SOUTH MILWAUKEE - 'If it's free it's for me!'

It's a saying many of us here in Milwaukee live by. So we challenged one Milwaukee mom to sign up for as many free deals as she could find...all on one simple Web site!

One of the perks: McDonald's ice cream night! Thanks to the site, Angie Leibly received free coupons for McDonald's cones.

The kids like it because it's ice cream!! Angie and her husband Bill like it because it's not costing them a cent!

"I haven't had a sundae at McDonald's in like 10 years, so since it was free, I'll take it," Bill says.

Angie first logged on to the Web site www.heyitsfree.net about 7 weeks ago. Since then, she's received free samples or coupons for more than a dozen items.

"Just basic coupons for grocery shopping, clothes, anything," she explains.

The site has a little something for everyone. Angie likes the convenience.

"I would say all and all it's worth it. I'm on the computer everyday anyway," she reasons.

The kids like it too! Angie's daughter Hailey is a big fan of the Web site. "She has more money, and then we can get more free stuff and more things even if they're not free," Hailey explains matter-of-factly.

The site's Webmaster, Ryan "Goob" Eubanks, is based in Washington D.C. He started the site a few years ago to make things easier for online shoppers.

"I try to aggregate the best freebies altogether on my site, so a user would only have to come to my site, instead of spending hours hunting," Eubanks explains.

Eubanks posts about 5 new items a day. He uses a tongue-in-cheek style that makes finding the deals not only economical, but fun!

"We try to make a joke or story or something about the freebie," Eubanks says.

But it's not all fun and games. Ran Hoth of the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin warns, it's important to be alert whenever signing up for free deals online.

"Free may come with big penalties," Hoth says.

The number one rule: Never give out a credit number. Hoth explains, "If you have a free offer, and they're asking for a card number to pay for shipping and handling, or to use as a protection, that's a definite red flag."

Most manufacturers only ask for basic information like a home or e-mail address. Eubanks suggests opening up a separate e-mail account for 'freebie' e-mail. "Because sometimes you will get spammed, and you don't want that coming into your work or personal e-mail," he says.

Angie says she always reads the fine print. But for her, the risk of a little spam is worth all the money she's saving.

"So until, you know, somebody wants to send us on a trip for free, bring it on! Otherwise, I'm gonna keep signing up for free stuff on the Internet," she laughs.

Even Eubanks admits that not every freebie you sign up for is 100% guaranteed to arrive. He says well, it's free...so chalk it up to bad luck and move on!