I saw this post over on slickdeals and I thought I would share.  There are a number of items, fans, hdmi cables, computer cases, psu, that are free after rebate.  You still have to pay shipping on all the items I checked, so that ends up being a couple of bucks for the fans, and $10 for the computer cases.  Not truly free, but still some pretty good deals.

 

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/95162/newegg-free-after-rebate-select-items-from-hdmi-cables-case-fan-computer-cases-pc-games-accessories-more

 

Update: It looks like they combine shipping for some items, so I was able to get 3 of the 80 mm fans and a flash drive shipped for $2.99 total... 

Thanks for the heads up, just picked up some stuff for my new iPad... practically free!

Reminder to everyone to get yer rebates in. They are due this week.  Nothing grinds my gears like missing the mail in deadline.

 

After having to deal with all the piddly rebates on case fans that don't even fit my case, i needed a 60 not an 80, I will be thinking twice about buying this "free" stuff.  Not to mention the issues when trying to spend those little credit cards...

 

flips

Not to mention the issues when trying to spend those little credit cards...

 

My go to places to spend those rebate credit cards are restaurants and paying for gas. Splitting a bill across multiple credit cards is a common occurrence at restaurants so it isn't a hassle for them. And at gas stations they usually won't work at the pump, so you just have to walk in and say give me <exact amount> on pump x. Whatever the amount I paid before the rebate is a sunk cost, so in my mind it's like getting free food and gas. 

I use them to buy Amazon gift certificates which I give away as b-day presents or just spend them on new tech for myself.

Those are good suggestions.  After I posted I did some searching and someone suggested to pay part of their cable bill.  I tried it on my Sprint account and it was pretty painless.  You can say just pay a portion of your bill and then you just punch in the numbers and you have a $20 credit on next month's bill.

 

Definitely not as sexy as your suggestions, but I don't need to leave the house for this solution. 

 

flips

I paid my phone bill with one. it insures to have access to the full rebate.

The amazon gift certificates work well too, it's a few more steps.

It was far easier to pay the phone bill partially

 

Those are good suggestions.  After I posted I did some searching and someone suggested to pay part of their cable bill.  I tried it on my Sprint account and it was pretty painless.  You can say just pay a portion of your bill and then you just punch in the numbers and you have a $20 credit on next month's bill.

 

Definitely not as sexy as your suggestions, but I don't need to leave the house for this solution. 

 

flips

 

 

Another things you can do, and what I usually do for the big gift cards, like over $50 bucks, is use my Square reader and app on my iPhone to just charge the full amount of the gift card and then just transfer the money to my bank account. Square takes a 2.75% processing fee but that isn't too bad.