Fabulous freebies for 2013. — iStock

Who said 13 is an unlucky number? Here are 13 free ways to save money in 2013. Sounds like a pretty lucky New Year to me!

1. Become a member of the Freecycle Network. This nonprofit movement consists of more than 5,000 local groups — and some 9 million members — all around the world. It's all about keeping good stuff out of landfills by allowing members to give away items they no longer need as well as search for things they need that someone else might want to jettison. And it's all free, including membership. Prepare to live The Cheap Life in 2013.

2. Looking for a free weekend activity or maybe some fun stops during a family vacation? Consider touring factories and other businesses that offer free tours of their facilities — everything from chocolate and candle factories to breweries and the Spam Museum. Best of all, many offer free samples of their products as part of the tour.

You could WIN $25,000 by taking a short preference survey.

3. Get a library card if you don't already have one. If you have one, vow to use it more often. America's 17,000 public libraries offer free access not only to books (and in many cases e-books as well), but to DVDs, computers and the Internet, and a host of programs and other services. What's more, spending time at your local library allows you to turn down your thermostat at home in the winter — and air conditioning in the summer — and save even more!

4. You say it's your birthday? If you must turn another year older, at least you can take comfort in a wide range of birthday freebies offered by many national and local establishments —and not just a free slice of cake or a scoop of ice cream (although who's complaining?), but in some cases an entire meal or some pretty nifty swag. The Birthday Freebies website helps you find free loot in your area, as well as nationwide.

5. There are a lot of scams on the Internet and elsewhere promising to help you find money that may be due you or a family member … for a fee, of course. But this nonprofit website is legit and free, and has helped countless people — including me! — find "unclaimed funds" they are eligible to collect, including forgotten bank accounts, security deposits, inheritances and a wide range of other assets.

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