13 Incredibly Useful and Free Websites

1. Google
You can have your Bing, Ask.com and Yahoo. I'm a one-search-engine woman and an even bigger fan since the recent upgrades to the Google site. Sure I use Google Docs, Google Earth, Google Alert and all the other bells and whistles, but it's the basic model that makes this site number one in my book. Slice and dice your results.

2. Wikipedia
Encyclopedia sets became collectors' items the moment Wikipedia was born. The King Kong of reference sites is a multilingual, free-content encyclopedia project with content provided by largely anonymous volunteers who write without pay.

3. Facebook
The mother of all social network sites, Facebook allows millions to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links, videos and random thoughts while learning more about their friends. The site has created its own lexicon, turning friend into a verb ("Did you really 'friend' her?") Recent privacy problems have angered Facebook fans. A recent survey by Mashable.com showed roughly 30 percent of respondents planned on deserting Facebook for the under-construction Diaspora. This new social network bills itself as "the privacy aware, personally controlled, do-it-all distributed, open-source social network."

4. LinkedIn
Looking for work? Think you might be looking for work in the future? Want to develop a reputation as an expert in your field? There's a website for that. 

5. CarTalk.com
Everything you ever wanted to know about cars and more. This is the home site for NPR's perpetually laughing auto experts. A subsidiary of the equally useful cars.com, Car Talk is a creation of Click, Clack and their many fans. My favorite page is "Mechanic Files," where over 16,000 fans have rated and reviewed mechanics they have loved and hated.  

6. The Economist
The Economist's "Thinking Space" took a slew of Webby 2010 awards. The navigation is less than intuitive, but once you figure it out the music and visuals will haunt you forever.  

7. Mint.com
Simply the best free way to manager your money. Mint is easy to use, comprehensive, secure and smarter than most of us. In five minutes or less on Mint.com, you’ll see where you’re spending your money, understand how your investments are performing and set up realistic budgets.  Mint's secure system allows you to register anonymously and add the log-in information for your online bank, credit union, credit card and investment accounts. Mint will update and analyze your account information, purchases and investment performances each day. 

8. Snopes.com
Wait! Before you forward that email, Facebook that rumor, or Twitter that tale, check Snopes.com and make sure your spreading the truth.

Each month, more than six-million people visit the Internet's last-word resource for verifying or debunking myths, outrageous claims and those e-mail chain letters your BFF continually forwards. Whether it's an urban legend about Bill Gates tracking your emails, a computer-virus warning, or the bizarre report of a hotel guest who found a python in her toilet, chances are Snopes.com has checked it out and rated it as "true," "false" or "undetermined."

9. Hulu
Hulu is programmed by user choices and is rapidly becoming the website of choice for those without a DVR, TIVO, Netflix subscription or a dependable babysitter. The online video service allows you to watch your favorite TV shows, movies and music videos and clips on your own schedule. No software downloads, no fees and no legal problems. The picture quality is superb and the user interface is uncluttered and intuitive.

10. Mashable.com
This prolific blog site posts honest and easy-to-understand reviews, reports and breaking news stories on all things related to social media. Mashable's audience is diverse, including everyone from early adopters to casual users. 

11. JamesCarrey.com
One advantage of the comedian's Twitter breakdown (#BOING) is this visually stunning website. Yes, it's a time suck, but what an inspiration for other site designers and developers.

12. Urban Dictionary
Is cool still cool? How about awesome? UrbanDictionary.com will keep you thoroughly up-to-date on the latest lingo, no easy feat in our ever expanding language. Imagine how stunned your kid will be when you use such hip terms as "intexicated" or "citation needed" when talking or texting them.

13. FreeShipping.org
Hey, you didn't expect me to leave off our own cozy home site. Use FreeShipping.org throughout the year to cut online shopping prices, then check back during the holidays for Free Shipping Day. This one-day event, scheduled this year for Dec. 17, is rapidly becoming an institution akin to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For one day only, participating merchants offer free shipping to customers with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. Can't beat that!

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