Hotel rooms. Groceries. Movie tickets. When it comes to saving money on the things you want and need, you can’t beat getting them for free. What you may not realize is that there are ways to score almost anything without paying.
Here are 11 things you can do to get free stuff.
How to get free stuff online or in person
1. Check online community marketplaces
Craigslist, Nextdoor and Facebook groups are great resources for free goods and services. You can find advertisem*nts for a wide variety of things people want to give away, such as furniture, appliances, moving boxes and plants.
2. Sample products
Look for free samples at stores. You can graze on food at Costco and other wholesale clubs or ask for beauty and fragrance samples at department stores like Nordstrom and Macy’s.
Can’t find samples in person? Request them online. You can get samples by mail from manufacturers like McCormick and Unilever, sometimes in exchange for testing or reviewing products.
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3. Enroll in loyalty programs
Sign up for rewards programs at your favorite businesses. Many restaurants, theaters and retailers give members special perks for their birthdays or based on how much they spend. You could get free food, shipping, gift cards, merchandise, movie tickets and other freebies.
» MORE: 45 places to get birthday freebies and discounts
4. Use your library card
Libraries provide plenty of free educational and entertainment resources besides books. With a valid library card, you could get access to movies, music, games, audiobooks, classes, museums and more. Check with your library for details.
5. Take online surveys
You can earn gift cards, money and sweepstakes entries by answering questions on sites like Swagbucks and MyPoints. Taking surveys is usually easy work, but time-consuming — and the payout can be low. See our survey site reviews to learn more.
6. Cash in on credit card rewards
Have a rewards credit card? You can redeem points, miles or cash back for things like hotel stays, flights and gift cards. Some cards come with additional perks such as free checked bags, travel insurance and access to airport lounges. Explore what types of rewards you can get with your card.
7. Download an app for freebies
Cash-back and rewards apps can hook you up with free stuff. With Shopkick, you earn points for visiting certain stores, scanning product bar codes or making purchases. You can redeem points for gift cards to places like Target and Starbucks. An app like Upside, which offers cash back on gas, restaurants and groceries, is another way to earn perks on a necessary purchase.
» MORE: 5 ways to get free clothes
8. Use coupons
Coupons aren’t just for discounts; They can also help you score freebies. Many stores and brands issue free items, buy one, get one free or free gift with purchase offers. You can get coupons from places like online databases, store apps and the Sunday newspaper. Make sure to read the terms, conditions and store policies.
9. Indulge in national food holidays
If you use social media, you’ve probably noticed that there’s a “holiday” to honor almost every food item. Find local restaurants or chains that participate and you could get free food or drink. For example, Krispy Kreme treated customers to a free doughnut on National Doughnut Day in June.
» MORE: Comprehensive guide to frugal living
10. Sign up for a free trial
Subscription boxes and services are popular, but they can be expensive. You can get free TV, music streaming, audiobooks, snacks, meals, coffee and more by signing up for trial periods. For example, Crunch Fitness offers a free one-day gym pass, and Hulu is free for one month when you sign up for certain plans. Mark your calendar for the dates free trials end so you can cancel and avoid surprise charges.
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11. Enter sweepstakes
Contests give you opportunities to win all sorts of cool prizes. Radio stations reward lucky callers with concert tickets. HGTV does a dream home giveaway. Vacations, merchandise and gift cards may also be at stake. Even if the odds of winning are low, it’s usually easy to enter.
Sometimes, you’ll get entries for leaving a product review on a website or tagging a brand in an Instagram post. Keep your eyes peeled for sweepstakes from your favorite companies. Read the rules carefully, and never enter a contest that asks for sensitive information like your credit card or Social Security numbers.
Interested in finding more ways to get a great deal on the stuff you want? Check out NerdWallet's online shopping guide.
