FREE Stuff!

FREE Stuff!

We are in the middle of a pandemic and a borderline recession with a 9.1% inflation rate over the last 12 months!  If there were ever a time to learn how to stretch your dollars and get some “FREE Stuff,” that time is now!

There is a saying, “If it’s FREE, it’s for me.”  If you believe in this, read on.  Who doesn’t like FREE stuff?  With some research, there are many things you will uncover that are FREE or FREE for a limited time period. 

For example, many states require a “fishing license” to go fishing without incurring a fine.  California allows you to “Fish for FREE” on July 2nd and September 3rd.  Go to www.TakeMeFishing.org to see when there is FREE fishing in your state of residence or if/when you are visiting another state.

Other examples of FREE Stuff are:

  1. FREE Tax Preparation: Yes, we are in the middle of the summer; however, tax time will be here soon enough.  As per John Waggoner of AARP, the AARP Foundation provides FREE in-person and virtual tax assistance available to those age 50 or older.  If your adjusted gross income (AGI) is under $73,000, you can use the IRS’s “FREE File” by going to www.apps.irs.gov/app/freefile to answer a few questions and to see if you qualify.
  2. FREE Trees:  If you are looking to plant large trees, you can organize a “tree giveaway event” and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) will reimburse you for native trees.  Go to www.nwf.com for more information.  You can also obtain FREE trees from some state and local governments, which often work with local tree-planting groups to encourage the cultivation of native trees.  Tree giveaways are common around “Earth Day” and “Arbor Day,” both in April.
  3. FREE Books:  The best place to go for FREE books is your local library.  There are numerous APPS for your IOS or Android phones such as “Libby,” which gives patrons apps to browse your local library’s collection of audio and ebooks on your device.  Other apps include “GoodReads,” where readers can see book reviews (and sometimes score free new book releases). “LibraryThing” is FREE for the first 200 books and “Bookly,” where the first 10 books are FREE, to name a few.
  4. FREE Coffee:  To score FREE coffee, you could join “Peet’s Coffee Rewards” called “Peetniks,” and receive 125 points after your first purchase, which earns you a FREE beverage.  The “Starbucks Rewards Program” allows you to get a FREE coffee on your birthday as well as FREE refills on your brewed coffee or tea.  Both programs are FREE to join.
  5. FREE Movies:  If you don’t want to pay the monthly fees for streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, you can watch FREE movies on www.Crackle.com or www.TubiTv.com. They both have a good menu of movies.  You will have to watch a few ads in between; however, they are FREE, and Netflix will soon have ads as well.
  6. FREE Birthday Stuff:  Who doesn’t like FREE stuff on their birthday?  Chili’s Rewards Program will give you a FREE dessert on your birthday.  Most restaurant chains give FREE gifts to join their rewards programs.  Denny’s gives you a FREE grand slam breakfast on your birthday, then you can hit Sephora for a FREE skincare gift or birthday makeup from their ”Beauty Insiders Club.”
  7. FREE Music:  Websites such as “Soundcloud” will give you FREE MP3 downloads of many artists for 30 days, though not full albums at a time.  “Last.FM” will also let you stream or download music for FREE!
  8. FREE National Parks Entry:  This is my favorite one as our National Parks have been crowded this summer.  The National Park Service (NPS) manages 423 parks across the USA, of which over 100 parks charge entrance fees.  The NPS waives fees five days per year; January 17th (MLK day), April 16th (Start of National Park Week), August 4th (Great American Outdoors Act), September 24th (National Public Lands Day), and November 11th (Veterans Day)!  Veterans, members of the military, and Gold Star Family members can all get a FREE entry pass for national parks.  Those ages 62 and older can buy a “Lifetime Senior Pass” to national parks for only $80 plus a $10 processing fee.  State Parks are FREE in Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.

Now that you have the knowledge of where to find FREEBIES, enjoy the rest of your summer!  If you know of additional FREE stuff opportunities, feel free to share them with me at [email protected]