Christmas is less than three weeks away. Wouldn't it be great to find some free items for your loved ones' stockings?

If you're on a tight budget, here are four ways to get stocking stuffers for free, according to Erin Gifford, a blogger with CouponCravings.com.

Hit the Drugstore: CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid are great places to stock up on free stocking stuffers. Drugstores often have free-afterrebate items available, meaning that if the price is $3.99, you get a $3.99 rebate by mail.

These items include lotion, body wash, deodorant and cosmetics.

Get Free-With-Purchase Stocking Stuffers: If you're planning to buy gifts at Bath & Body Works, for example, don't forget the free-with-purchase coupons.

At the department stores and online on makeup sites, you can often get free gifts with purchase.

Cash in Airline Miles for Gifts: If you have airline miles you don't plan to use, cash them in for dining gift certificates, magazine subscriptions and more.

Go through your airline's Web site or check out sites such as Points.com, which allow you to aggregate your points from various loyalty programs and redeem them for travel or gift cards from popular retailers, including Gap, Target and Starbucks.

RECAP

If you missed The Pinch last week, here are some highlights:

More Free Stuff: If you're searching for additional free gift items for family and friends, a new Web site, FreeInternet.com, can get you on the right track.

It recently launched a new feature called "Local Scene" which lets users enter their zip code and see all the deals and free stuff offered by merchants in their area.

FreeInternet.com features an assortment of free samples, coupons, buy-one-get-one-free offers, promotional deals and free shipping from online and retail merchants nationwide.

Good as New: If you don't have the cash for a new pair of shoes, get your old ones repaired instead.

Shoe-repair shops can fix anything from strappy sandals to Oxfords.

To find a local shoe-repair shop, look in the Yellow Pages under "Shoe Repairing." The Augusta area has seven shops listed: Capps Shoe Service, Double O Sole Shoe Repair, Fox Shoe Service, Hakky Instant Shoe Repair, Kim's Shoe Repair, Terry's Locksmith & Shoe Repair Inc. and Wright Bbq and Shoe Repair.

Quality men's shoes can last for 30 years with resoling and proper care. Women's shoes may not last as long, and most can be resoled only five times, compared to up to 10 for men.

The savings can be huge.

For example, a new pair of Stuart Weitzman women's shoes can set you back $400, but new tips and heels on an old pair run only about $30, according to Betsy Whitmore, a media relations spokeswoman at Angie's List.

Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.