Freebies, samples, and events on national holidays and annual celebrations. 30+ National Days have free samples, like coffee, donuts, ice cream, and more!
Mark your calendars! The 22nd annual Free Comic Book Dayis slated for Saturday, May 6, 2023. We can get a free comic book that day at participating locations and this year they'll have even more freebies with color coded labels to distinguish between All Ages, Teen, and Mature comics.
So mark your calendar and pick up a free issue for the … kids at home? Suuuuuure, let's pretend it's not for you and say it's for the little ones.
It's been years since I've read comic books. I even tried drawing my own once. It didn't have many super heroes, but starred a kid who refused to eat his vegetables, couldn't talk to girls, and looked ridiculous in his baggy jeans. I guess it wasn't so much a comic book as a journal. No wonder Marvel never took me seriously.
To make matters worse, I harshly learned on a recent date that comic books aren't an appropriate answer to “what have I read lately?” Suffice to say, there wasn't a second date.
On May 14, you can get a free plant from Lowe's in honor of Mother's Day! However, you must register for this ahead of time and registration begins on April 30! I'll schedule a reminder for this at the end of the month.
After registering and selecting your store, they'll email you redemption code to bring into your local Lowe's store to pick up your free plant for Mom.
On Monday, March 20, Dairy Queen is holding their annual First Day of Spring freebie by giving away a free small vanilla cone!
Hiffers can swing by their local non-mall Dairy Queen and pick up a free cone all day long. Don't forget this is also the same day Rita's is giving away free Italian Ice.
Thankfully this freebie isn't like Chick-fil-A's annual dress like a cow day. We'd all look pretty silly with white traffic cones on our heads!
It might seem a little too obvious, but the best way to buy presents for men is to think about their interests and hobbies. For example, if the man enjoys sports, you could buy him tickets to a game or a piece of sports memorabilia. If he is into technology, you could buy him a new gadget or accessory. Another approach is to ask the man's friends or family members for gift ideas, as they may have a better sense of what he would like. Ultimately, the best present is one that is thoughtful and shows that you understand the recipient's interests and preferences.
With that said, here's a collection of the best gifts for men under $25 that will hopefully please one of the men in your life!
Flashlight Gloves
This gift idea might come in handy the next time a guy finds himself working in a dark spot. This is such a unique and functional gift idea for your budget.
Bonsai Starter Kit
This kit has everything needed to start a satisfying new hobby. Guys will love to tend to their very own homegrown bonsai tree.
Motorcycle Bottle Opener
This bottle opener is a show piece too. Anyone who likes motorcycles will rev their engines for this under $10 gift.
Smart Light Switch
A smart light switch makes for a great gift that will be appreciated and enjoyed, and it is under $25.
Carhartt Lunch Box
This rugged and durable lunch box is sure to get lots of use. It keeps the contents cool and looks tough in the process.
Toilet Light
This gift will get some giggles and a lot of use too. It makes a late night trip to the bathroom easier on the eyes!
Beard Bib
Give the gift of mess free shaving with this handy beard bib. It attaches to the mirror for a mess free shave.
If you're bored on Saturday, September 17, 2022 and live near one of the thousands of participating museums, then you should take advantage of the annual Free Museum Admission Day! This annual free event grants free general admission for two people each to hundreds of museums nationwide.
I can't tell you how many Hiffers have taken advantage of this awesome yearly event. I get so many emails each year of people thanking me for posting this and sharing stories of fun times they had at a museum they otherwise wouldn't have visited.
To get started, go here and click “GET A TICKET.” Then select the museum you want to attend for free and submit your name & email address. You'll then be able to download your ticket immediately and they'll also email you a copy. Check your inbox for an email from [email protected] with a link to your ticket.
You can't download a ticket for more than one museum, so pick wisely! There are no takebacks or edits allowed – however, since they check by email, you can always use another email if you change your mind.
Some museums require a printed ticket while others will allow you to show it via smartphone. To find out which, just look on your ticket.
If you have children and want to know if your child counts as one of the free admissions, check with the specific museums. Basically, if admission to the museum is typically free for children, then the museum will not count your child as your Museum Day guest. But if the museum normally charges admission for children, then your child will count as one of your Museum Day guests. Remember, a single ticket provides general admission for the named ticket holder plus one guest.
It's rather impressive how many museums, zoos, and cultural institutions the Smithsonian has convinced to participate across the country, but don't let me influence your opinion. I get impressed easily. I once saw a dog wearing sun glasses then spent 10 minutes begging for his autograph.
So go! Venture out and soak in the free knowledge, culture, and enlightenment! Let me know how you enjoyed your free experience in the comments.
In lieu of their annual free slurpee day on July 11 only, 7-Eleven is giving away a free small slurpee from 7/1 – 7/11! To get your freebie during this 11 day event, simply download their free 7Rewards app and the promo coupon will appear in your account on Friday, July 1.
To find the coupon, check the “Scan and Save” section of the app once you're logged in. To find a 7-Eleven, drive around aimlessly and navigate only by sticking your head out the window and shouting for directions at stop lights. Seriously, it's fun!
You can also get this offer at your local Speedway or Stripes.
Friday, June 3, 2022 is the next National Doughnut Day. Or National Donut Day, whichever way you swing. It dates back to 1938 and dates forward to delicious, scrumptious free doughnuts and donuts and coffee!
So dig out those extra stretchy pants and skimp on dessert for a few nights because we're about to get some free doughnuts and donuts! As always, you might want to confirm with your local store that they're participating in any promotions. I've listed all the confirmed 2022 offers I could find.
If you spot any I missed, please leave a comment with a link to the offer!
Krispy Kreme – Your pick of any variety donut for free! Their chocolate iced kreme filled have always been a favorite of mine since I was a wee little Goob. (locations)
Dunkin' – Free classic donut of your choice with the purchase of any beverage. (locations)
LaMar's – They say “Experience the Famous Donut for FREE on June 3.” I really hope experience means eat. (locations)
Duck Donuts – Receive a free cinnamon sugar donut with no purchase necessary. (locations)
Tim Hortons – Everybody welcome Tim Hortons to the list! They're officially participating this year for the first time ever. Log into your Tims Rewards account and active the offer in your offer tray. Then add a donut to your order and checkout for free! This offer is available all week long. (locations)
Unconfirmed Freebies
Cumberland Farms – For the second year in a row, many sites and even news stations are reporting you'll get a free doughnut if you buy any sized drink, but I can't find anything from CF confirming this. They've held similar promotions on past National Doughnut Days though, so I'd call ahead if you're interested in this.
If you have a link or press release from Cumberland Farms confirming this freebie, please share in the comments!
Kwik Trip – Get a coupon for a free Cake Donut, Dunker, or Glazer with your Kwik Rewards card. After logging in, go to “Coupons” and click “Add Offer” to save the coupon to your account. (locations)
I was a nerdy, smart kid with my nose perpetually in a book and that trait carried over into adulthood. I'm the guy at the end of the bar more interested in reading my Kindle than socializing with strangers. Yet I've never been offered freebies based on how much I read or how smart I am! Oh, to be a kid again.
There are a lot of other websites with outdated information on freebies for good grades. I only included offers I could verify to some degree, but I strongly encourage you check with your own locations no matter what! Since these restaurants are usually franchises, offers heavily vary by location.
Rewards via Report Cards
Allstate – Full-time students getting good grades qualify for their Smart Student Discount. They don't specify what constitutes “good grades,” nor do they say what the savings will be, so you'll need to ask your personal agent.
Amica – They have a form you can fill out requesting a good grade discount.
Applebee's – While not quite nationwide, they confirmed on Twitter that it's up to your local restaurant as to whether or not they give out freebies for good grades.
Many of the largest Applebee's franchises offer an “A is for Applebee's” reward program, where students 12 and under can get a free meal from the Kid's Menu if they receive an A on their report card. Here is The Rose Group's page, which covers DE, MD, NJ, and Baltimore. Meanwhile here's NRP's page, which serves FL, GA, and TX.
Many other freebie sites erroneously say this is a nationwide deal, but it's a great example of what kind of offer you can expect if your local franchise participates!
Baskin Robbins – They also confirmed on Twitter that giving away free scoops is “at the discretion of each franchise owner.” So call your local creamery!
Chuck E. Cheese – Anybody can print their Super Student Award 🙂 It's a redeemable certificate for 10 free tokens per day, however a food purchase is required.
Coldstone Creamery – They responded to my inquiry with “Hi, our stores are individually owned and operated. For special promotions and offers such as this, please reach out to your local store.”
So it sounds like this might still be active on a regional basis.
Farmer's Insurance – They have a “good student” promo where full-time students in high school or college under the age of 25 may qualify for a discount as long as they have good grades.
Financial Institutions – Hundreds of small banks, credit unions, and even insurance companies offer rewards for good grades as well! I highly suggest checking the website of any smaller institution you're with, as well as asking your local branch. I've seen some small banks offering up to $25 for good grades! Others offered smaller cash rewards, discounts, and other prizes.
I wish these offers had been around when I was a kid. I would have made some serious cash!
Geico – They offer a “good student discount” on insurance that's available when driving aged teens maintain a B average or better.
Jason's Deli – They replaced their old JDPickleCards offer with a new Kids Cash system. Kids under 12 got a free kid's meal at participating locations.
Liberty Mutual – You'll need a GPA of B or better in order to trigger their good student discount.
Nationwide – Students drivers aged 16 – 24 who maintain a B average qualify for a discount on auto insurance. Homeschooled students also qualify if they score in the top 20% of a test's national performance.
Pizza Hut – Pizza Hut used to have a site dedicated to this, but I believe it's since degraded to a “location specific” freebie. I'd definitely call ahead and ask! Hopefully they still recognize the great and classic Pizza Hut good grades deal. Seriously, I can remember getting this freebie in the late 80s!
Each marking period, any child who has 3 A's or the equivalent thereof, will receive one Personal Pan Pizza and a small soft drink or carton of milk by presenting his or her report card to the manager. This offer is good for Elementary and Middle School students. Dine-in only. Students must be present and the original report card must be presented.
Progressive – Save an additional 10% in most states just by maintaining a B average or better.
State Farm – Their “Good Student Discount” lets you save up to 25% if your teen driver gets good grades. These savings may last until your teen turns 25. Homeschoolers may also qualify with other options, such as submitting evidence they've taken certain national standardized tests administered within the past 12 months and ranked in the upper 20%.
Unconfirmed or Regional Offers & Freebies
Other sites report the following companies give freebies for good grades, but I've been unable to verify these claims on a nationwide basis. I've reached out to the following companies on Twitter, so please feel free to also message them and help get an answer 🙂
In the meantime, before trying to redeem any of these below, I'd make sure you call ahead first.
Bob Evans – As of 2019, the Star Student program “is not a program that is currently active at our restaurants.”
Burger King – Free hamburger or ice cream cone for scoring 100% on a test. This sounds crazy regional, so I would contact your local BK to see if they're participating.
Cheryl's Cookies – Their Cookies for A's program is for K-8th grade students, but I can't find any information regarding 2022.
A very popular program at Cheryl's is the Cheryl's Cookies for A's. Students present their report cards at retail locations and receive a free cookie per A, for up to 3 A's they have earned.
Chick-fil-A – Free 8 pack of nuggets if you have all A's and B's on a report card.
Sonic – As of 2022, they say “promotions vary by drive-in, we recommend contacting your local SONIC directly for the most up-to-date information. Thank you!”
The Melting Pot – The Boca Raton, FL location offers a free three or four course meal for straight A's! Others might have similar deals
Next up in our summer freebies series is a “OH DEAR GOD, JUST GET OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR A WHILE!” offer for all those stressed out parents 🙂 You can grab free kids roller skating passes good at a variety of locations in 36 states.
Once you locate a nearby rink, click their name to see dates, times, and age limits for their free skating. Register an account, then download the MyHownd app on your smartphone. This will be the app that lets you claim your kids free passes each week. Your first set of passes will be available in the MyHownd app on Monday morning following your free registration.
You will receive 2 Kids Skate Free passes per child, per week. These passes are only valid for one week and will automatically expire, but they're replaced with two new valid passes every Monday!
Some locations have a $4 signup fee to register. While not free, these passes don't expire until the end of the year, so you make your money back pretty fast.
Eagle-eyed Hiffers (holy crap, how did you get an EAGLE'S EYE?!) know that my current offspring count sits equal to the number of home runs I've hit for the Seattle Mariners this season. That said, growing up with tons of siblings, I have an inkling for what it's like with bored, moping children around the house. For you see, I myself get bored. A lot. And if your kids are anything like me, it must be insufferable to be around them when they have nothing to do. Plus it's hot outside. we need some cheap, air-conditioned entertainment!
As such, here's a huge list of all the free & cheap kids summer movie events! Almost every theater chain has a dedicated page advertising their summer deals, plus a helpful list of participating locations. So be sure to make sure your local spot is holding a deal before heading out.
I've included both nationwide and smaller, regional chains so as many Hiffers can take advantage of these deals as possible. I'm sure there are more, so please leave a comment if you find any I missed.
Confirmed Kids Movies Deals for 2022
Alamo Drafthouse – Their summer Kids Camp shows children's classics with tickets at $5, depending on location. Kids earn stickers for your Alamo Kids Club Prize Book and 100% of proceeds go to local nonprofits. You can even buy your tickets online, making this super easy and relaxing!
Cinemark Century Theaters – Their Summer Movie Clubhouse is 8 weeks of $1.50 movies for kids every Wednesday from June 15 – August 3. They're also offering $1 off deals on kids; snack packs, large popcorns & large drinks during Summer Movie Clubhouse showtimes.
Cineplex – Saturday mornings, from May 28 – June 25, willl feature Cineplex Family Favourites at 11am. Watch a family favorite film each week for only $2.99 per ticket.
Classic Cinemas – Running June 8 – August 10, take part in the Wednesday Morning Movie Series. Ticket prices are just $2 on Wednesday mornings, with all movies rated G or PG. Showtimes begin at 10:00am, but doors open at 9:00am where you can arrive early to meet some of your favorite characters and join in on the fun games & activities.
Georgia Theatre Company – Join them for the Summer Kid Show Series at 10:00am every Tuesday and Thursday in June and July. They've got $2 admission, $2 drinks, and $2 popcorn.
GQT Movies – They're offering free family movies every Wednesday & Thursday at 10am from June 1 – August 4! Movies change each week and all seats are first come, first serve.
Harkins Theater – Each week from June 16 through July 29, see a family favorite movie for only $1 per film! As an added bonus, My Harkins Awards Members will get 50% off a Kids Combo Monday through Friday before 6PM.
Marcus Theaters – Join them June 5 thru September 1 while they feature a favorite family flick for just $3. Special sized popcorn and fountain drinks are $3 as well.
Marquee Cinemas – Each week they offer family-friendly flicks, usually at 9:30 am on Tuesday or Wednesday, with regional sales and discounts. Click on your local theater to see a full schedule and offers.
Megaplex Theatres – Each location starts at a different time, on a date between May 27 – June 7, and they'll show 10 popular family films over the course of 10 weeks. Individual tickets are $1.50 or you can buy a 10-week pass for only $10, making each movie only $1! This years schedule has movies on Mon-Wed at 10am with sensory friendly shows at 10:30am.
Metropolitan Theaters – Get $2 admission to movies at 10am Tuesday and Thursday, starting June 7 – Aug. 11.
Phoenix Theatres – Absolutely free select 10am showings of kid movies every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday through June, July, and into August. Doors open at 9am and all ages are welcome. There's also a “special kiddie meal” available, but I'm not sure what's included in that.
Regal Cinemas – All summer long, watch select G or PG family movies for just $2 a ticket! Show dates are Tuesdays & Wednesdays and run from May 31 through September 6.
This deal is also offered at participating United Artists and Edwards Theaters.
Studio Movie Grill – Their Summer Children's Series is every weekday at noon from May 30 until Sept. 3. Tickets are $6 and include a small popcorn and small drink.
Showcase Cinemas – Their Bookworm Wednesdays allow kids to bring in a book report (6 and under don't need this) in exchange for free admission. Tickets must be reserved in advance online and seating is limited
The best I ever got for a book report was the promise of no more book reports.
Previous Summer Movies Deals Unconfirmed for 2022
AMC Theaters – They have a $5 Fan Faves, where tickets cost $5+tax, but nothing is currently listed there. They've announced their 2022 kids movies, but I can't find any special deals around them as of May 2022.
Bow Tie Cinemas – Select locations are showing free kids movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am from June 25 to Aug. 21.
Paragon Theaters – Scroll down to find their Free Kids Movies promotion. In 2019 they offered free admission for 10am movies on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Seats are limited to first come, first serve.
Ultra Star Cinemas – Finally, see a different movie every week at 9:30am for just $1. New movies are rotated each week.
So there you have it. Like I said earlier, please leave a comment if you know of any programs I missed.
I think we all remember reading about pretzel's invention by Italian monks in 610 AD. Trust me, it was big news.
But did you know April 26 is National Pretzel Day? You didn't? LIAR! Of course you did, I just told you. Geez, pay attention.
As in years past, a variety of stores are giving out free pretzels on Tuesday, April 26, 2023 with no purchase necessary!
2023 Free Pretzel Offers
None confirmed yet. These offers usually show up about one month prior to National Pretzel Day, so check back in early April to see what's free this year!
2022 Offers
Auntie Anne's – Free Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel available to Pretzel Perks members. This is their free rewards program that will also trigger their annual free birthday pretzel!
Pretzelmaker – When I asked if they're doing anything in 2022, Pretzelmaker told me “Could be 👀🥨❤️” which is Corporate Speak for “yes, but we haven't announced what the freebie is yet.” In previous years, they offered a free salted or unsalted pretzel.
The annual free National Pancake Day at IHOP will return on March 1, 2022! Stop in between 7am-4pm and get a free stack of buttermilk pancakes!
Veteran Hiffers will recognize this recurring yearly offer, but here's how it works if you're new to the game.
Join IHOP's free MyHOP rewards system before February 28.
Go to a participating IHOP on March 1.
Eat one free short stack of pancakes.
That about sums it up. You can search by zip code on their site to make sure your local IHOP is participating before heading out.
In lieu of payment, they'll ask you to make a donation to one of three children's charities: Children's Miracle Network, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It's not required, but it's a nice thing to do. Besides, we're all nice people here, aren't we?
This freebie also triggers the IHOP free birthday pancakes offer AND you'll get a free pancakes coupon emailed to you just for joining today! I feel like Oprah screaming “you get pancakes, they get pancakes, everybody gets pancakes!”
