Hey, sis, are you looking for some budget-friendly fun this fall? Well, we’ve got you covered. From beauty products to food to entertainment, we’ve rounded up the best of the fall season at the best price — free!
Food & Drink
Free breakfast. Sign up for IHOP’s International Bank of Pancakes and get a free stack of five pancakes after your first purchase, or join Krispy Kreme Rewards for a free doughnut.
Free groceries. Albertsons shoppers get a coupon for $5 off a $25 or more purchase when joining the supermarket’s loyalty program.
Free appetizers. Enjoy free chips and queso when you sign up for Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen eClub, or get a complimentary appetizer when you join the Yard House eClub.
Free beverages. Join Circle K’s loyalty program and get five free coffees or fountain drinks.
Free ice cream. Celebrate the season with pumpkin cheesecake ice cream (or any flavor you like) at Baskin-Robbins. You’ll get a free scoop of your choice when you download the BR app and log in for the first time.
Free cookies. December 4 is National Cookie Day; mark your calendar and look for free cookie promotions and deals from Insomnia Cookies, Great American Cookies and other cookie chains.
Free food samples. Get a free sample of WOWBUTTER Safe-For-School Spread, and browse freeflys.com for additional food samples.
National Fast Food Day deals. November 16 is National Fast-Food Day, so look for freebies from your favorite fast-food chains. Last year’s promotions included offers from Friendly’s, Wendy’s, Domino’s, Popeyes, Taco Bell, 7-Eleven and more.
Free Thanksgiving dinner. Cash-back app Ibotta offers an annual Thanksgiving promo, typically including free turkey breast, corn muffin mix, gravy mix and more. To take advantage of the deal, you’ll need to purchase specific items and then get 100% cash back through the Ibotta app. You can prepare by learning more about last year's Thanksgiving promo and downloading the Ibotta app.
Black Friday food freebies. Fuel up during your Black Friday shopping with complimentary food from restaurants and convenience stores. Many chains, including McAlister’s Deli, Popeyes, Tim Hortons and Wendy’s, typically offer promotions.
Free lunch. Score a free combo meal when you join White Castle’s reward program, Craver Nation, in the White Castle app. Or join MyMcDonald’s Rewards for a free Big Mac plus free french fries every Friday through the end of the year (with a $1 minimum purchase).
Health & Beauty
Vaccination bonuses. Get rewarded for protecting yourself from the flu and COVID-19 this season. CVS, Walgreens and Albertsons each offer a coupon off your next purchase when you get a qualifying vaccination.
Free health and wellness products. Score free samples of your favorite products or discover new ones. Available samples include Tena, Breathe Right strips, Xyzal Allergy and Advil Dual Action. Head to freeflys.com for more available products.
Free COVID-19 tests. With the uptick in COVID-19 cases, the U.S. government is making free at-home COVID-19 tests available to every household.
Free N95 masks. If you or a loved one you care for is immunocompromised and you need help affording high-quality respiratory protection, request a free N95-, KN95- or high-filtration mask from Project N95.
Free skincare samples. Upgrade your skincare routine with new products. Right now, you can score samples of L'Oréal Age Perfect Eye Cream, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Matte Face Moisturizer, Lancome’s Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and L’Oréal Revitalift Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Check out freeflys.com for an up-to-date selection.
Free gym passes. Anytime Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, Crunch, Gold’s Gym, LA Fitness and Planet Fitness offer free trial passes ranging from one to seven days.
Free haircare samples. Treat your tresses to a free set of Mane ‘n Tail samples. Jessicurl, SEEN and Phyto also give out free samples; however, you’ll need to pay for shipping.
Recreation & Entertainment
Free national park admission. Head to your nearest national park on Veterans Day, November 11. The National Park Service is waiving the entrance fee for all visitors as a part of its free entrance days.
Fall Festivals. Find free festivals, hayrides, corn mazes and more fall fun in your area by doing an online search for the terms “free events” along with your town or city.
Home maintenance workshops. Get your home ready for the holidays and colder temperatures with free tutorials from home improvement retailers. Ace Hardware, The Home Depot and Lowe’s all offer online workshops or on-demand videos covering various home maintenance and improvement topics, including seasonal lawn care, holiday decorating and more.
Free audiobooks, e-books and movies. Cozy up with a good e-book or film through your local library. Most provide access to free reading platforms and streaming services such as Hoopla, Kanopy and Libby.
Free museum admission. There are many ways to enjoy museums without spending a dime. All Smithsonian museums and zoos (except Cooper Hewitt) offer free admission. If you’re not close to one, you can still access many Smithsonian Institution events online. For free admission to local museums, head to your local library, as many offer free or discounted passes. Or search online for “free museums” and your town or city. Also, check out Museums for All for museums that provide free admission to SNAP benefit recipients.
Free craft workshops. Michaels and Hobby Lobby offer free webinars and classes covering seasonal crafts and projects, including fall home decor, gift-making and holiday cards.
Free cultural events and performances. Your local library is an excellent source of free entertainment. Check your library’s event page online for upcoming performances, concerts, art exhibits and more. Or attend free events from the comfort of your home with performances from Julliard, Lincoln Center, The Classical Theatre of Harlem and Ailey All Access from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Shopping & Household
Gift card bonuses. As we approach the holiday season, many restaurants and retailers will offer gift card promotions, so look out for deals. For example, on Black Friday last year, Red Lobster issued $50 worth of bonus gift cards to customers who purchased $50 gift cards. Leveraging gift card deals is a great way to maximize your gift-giving or stretch your shopping and dining-out budgets.
Free home improvement. Sign up for Ace Rewards and get a $5 coupon plus an additional $5 for downloading the Ace app and linking your rewards account.
