How to Find Someone for Free

Finding an old school friend can pose a challenge when the person either moved or lost touch with everyone. You have to be careful how you locate your friend because you probably don't want to spend a fortune. And bear in mind you may be searching for someone who doesn't want to be found. So before spending money to find an old friend, try the following free options.

Instructions

1. Ask a family member or mutual friend if he knows where your friend is living. Your friend could be as close as a phone call away. If you find out what town your friend is in, you can get a phone number by calling 411 for that area.

2. Log on to your MySpace profile and click on the search title at the top of the page. Type in your friend's full name and current ZIP code to narrow the search. View your friend's profile if her name comes up in the search. If her name doesn't appear, she doesn't have a MySpace account, or she may have changed her name.

3. Create a profile on Facebook and type your friend's name in the search bar. Narrow the search by what school you both attended. His name could pop up in the search.

4. Find your school information on Classmates by clicking on the state and the city name. Select your school name and check the member listing to see if your friend appears on the list. Choose her name to read her profile.

5. Search the White Pages website for information about your friend. Put his name and ZIP code in the search box. Read through the list of people with the same name until you think you've found him. Click on his name; the next page indicates his address, telephone number and driving directions to his house.

6. Contact your friend by picking up the phone and calling her. Keep the first conversation casual before making any solid plans with her. If she's not interested in restarting your friendship, find a way to positively end the conversation.

Tips & Warnings

• You might want to contact your friend through a networking site before calling her. Trust your instincts because only you know what is right.

• Avoid contacting your friend if your search indicates he's fallen on hard times because he might exploit your generosity in the name of friendship. If that's the case, throw out his telephone number immediately.

• Don't give up searching for your friend; your luck could change with a stroke of the keyboard. Stay positive and you'll find a way to contact her. Timing is everything.