Side Hustle: The Free Shit Edition

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Rising Star
BGOL Patreon Investor
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Man, there’s nothing better than free stuff. Like when you’re walking through a mall’s food court and an employee offers you a bite-sized morsel of bourbon chicken impaled on a toothpick?

But not all free stuff is worth loving.
Only the finest freebies are allowed in this list.


1. Free Ice Cream
We’ll never, ever pass up an opportunity for free ice cream. If we ever do, you should go ahead and start making our funeral arrangements. This is free ice cream we’re talking about!

When you download the Slab Happy Rewards app from Marble Slab Creamery, you’ll get free ice cream just for signing up. After that, you’ll earn points for each dollar you spend, and you can cash them in for $5 off future purchases.

2. Free Scratch-off Tickets
There’s something so satisfying about those gas station scratch-off tickets — scritch scritch scritch scritch — but it’s better to avoid them because, well, that’s not Penny Hoarding.

Instead, try scratching free tickets through an app called Lucktastic. Every day, it releases a new assortment of digital scratch-off tickets. Lucktastic says instant wins range from $1 to $10,000. You can also earn tokens, enter contests and play games.

3. Free Baby Formula
Expecting? Join Enfamil Family Beginnings to get up to $400 in free gifts and a chance to win free baby formula for a year. Your gifts will include things like coupons for baby necessities, free samples of Enfamil formula and other goodies.

4. Free Credit Score
No, really. Hear us out.

If you’ve ever tried to get your credit score, you know most services make you sign up for a trial or charge you an outrageous amount of money. But it’s your credit score! Where do they get the nerve?

Credit Sesame will give it to you for free. And it takes about 90 seconds.

You’ll also see a credit report card, so you can check for errors. Finding and correcting just one could give your credit score a significant boost!

5. Free $10 for Sharing Your Receipts
We know it sounds strange, but Ibotta will pay you cash for taking pictures of your grocery store receipts.

Here’s how it works:

Before heading to the store, search for items on your shopping list within the Ibotta app. When you get home, snap a photo of your receipt and scan the items’ barcodes.

Bam. Cash back.

Ibotta is free to download. Plus, you’ll get a $10 sign-up bonus after uploading your first receipt.



6. Free $36 in Amazon Gift Cards
Yeah, that’s not a typo. If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, you can earn money each month by contributing to research to help companies understand what people are buying online.

Download and connect Shoptracker to your Amazon account. The company will instantly send you a free $3 Visa e-gift card, plus another $3 for every month you submit your info to the app. Use it for a year to earn $36!

7. Free Godiva Chocolate
Free Godiva chocolate — what could be better?

We’re pretty sure free Godiva chocolate is handed out every day in heaven. Probably those chocolate salted-caramel truffles.

Even better: This offer isn’t a one-time deal. Once you sign up, you get free chocolate every month at participating locations, plus birthday chocolate!

8. Free $5 Worth of Stocks
If you want an insanely simple way to save and invest your money, try Acorns. You’ll be amazed by how much money you can set aside without even thinking about it.

This smartphone app connects to your bank account, credit and debit cards to save your digital change. It automatically rounds up your purchases and invests the difference in the stock market. Plus, you’ll get a $5 bonus when you sign up and make your first investment.

9. Free Baby Diapers
Is your family growing? Create a Target baby registry to get over $100 in free baby stuff!

Even better, when your due date is eight weeks away, you’ll get a 15% discount on any items remaining on your registry.

10. Free Baby Shoes
Is there anything cuter than baby shoes?

That’s a firm no.

Little Wanderers, an independent retailer, stocks some adorable footgear — and you can snag a pair for free by using our code PENNY1.

Choose from some fringe boots or a pair of high-top sneaks. There are even some miniature snow boots with fur. So cute!

11. Free Prescription Delivery
Are you running to the pharmacy every month to refill prescriptions? We found a service that could simplify your life — and save you a little money.

Phil is a prescription refill service that delivers your prescription right to your door at no extra cost. It talks to your insurance company to handle payment issues and renew refills, so you don’t have to.

Plus, as a new customer, you’ll get $30 off your first prescription.

12. Free Albums
If you love music, check out the free album listings on Amazon. Simply sort the list by price, “low to high,” and you’ll see all the free options first.

You’ll see music from all genres, so you can find something to enjoy no matter your taste, from Christmas collections to metal albums.

13. Free Coffee
Want to try a bag of some of the best coffee in the country — completely free?

You can get a 2-ounce trial of Blue Bottle’s famous beans for nothing at all.

It’s part of their monthly subscription service, so you’ll need to enter your credit card info, but you’ll get an email before Blue Bottle charges you and sends you more coffee. Just cancel your subscription if you don’t want to keep getting coffee.

14. Free Cup of Coffee
Do you run on Dunkin?

Join the DD Perks program to get a free beverage when you sign up and on your birthday. Plus, you’ll earn points for every purchase and get a free beverage for every 200 points.

15. Free Branding Checklist
If you’re ready to get a freelance or small business off the ground, branding and consulting company Braid wants to help.

Sign up for its email list to get a free copy of its branding checklist to help position yourself as a creative expert.

16. Free “Support the Troops” Sticker
Show your support for the U.S. military with this free “Support the Troops” sticker from “Military Times.” You can choose from a sticker or four window clings.

17. Free Movies
Does your family still watch movies with a DVD player? We hope you’re using Redbox to find cheap rentals!

Plus, if you sign up for Redbox Perks, you’ll get a free rental as a welcome gift, plus a free rental for your birthday.

18. Free Pancakes
Who doesn’t like pancakes? IHOP has pancakes. If you join the chain’s e-club, called Pancake Revolution, you get a free stack of Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity Pancakes. You get the same thing on your birthday, and on each anniversary of signing up.

19. Free Kind Granola Bar
This is #kindawesome.

This free Kind granola bar isn’t necessarily a freebie for you, but a gift you give to someone else for being kind. Get it? You’re doing something kind for someone who did something kind — paying it forward without paying a thing.

20. Free Stevia Sweetener
Have you tried stevia sweetener yet? If not, Splenda is giving away samples of its SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia Sweetener at no cost to you. You’ll get two tasty sweetener packets to give it a try before buying at the store.

21. Free Freezer Labels
Freezer cooking is a great way to eat healthy and save time and money.

But without proper labeling, those containers can quickly become confusing. These free freezer labels might just be the answer.

22. Free Shampoo
If you sign up for Pantene’s email list, the company will mail you free samples of shampoo and other products.

23. Free Beauty Consultation
Try out a free beauty consultation at Aveda, which advertises “free services for hair, skin & spirit.”

This will likely be a 15-minute facial, or makeup or hair session at your local Aveda, where you can get a stylist’s opinion on which products are best for you.

If you buy something there, ask for some free, trial-sized samples as a bonus.

24. Free Dog and Cat Food
No longer content with only feeding humans, Rachael Ray is venturing into dog and cat food these days. Her “Nutrish” brand is gourmet, natural, nutritious pet chow.

You can request a sample of her dog or cat food here.

25. Free Baby Leggings
Head over to BabyLeggings.com and throw a pair in your cart. At checkout, just use the code “PENNY1,” and you’ll only have to pay for shipping.

26. Free Roast Beef Sandwich
Hungry? Arby’s has an email list. If you sign up for it, you’ll get a free Roast Beef Classic with the purchase of a drink. (Arby’s will also send you coupons.)

This is one of the only offers on this list that requires you to buy something to get something else for free. But hey, you’re going to need something to wash down your free roast beef sandwich.

27. Free Samples
Like to try new things?

Sign up to be a “Pincher” with PINCHme, and you’ll get a free box of samples of your choosing every week. In exchange, you’ll share your opinions about the new products you try.

28. Free Access to National Parks
Every year, the National Park Service offers free days when all national parks, monuments and historical sites offer free admission.

In 2018, for example, the free days were scheduled for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the first day of National Park Week, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.

29. Free Baby Diapers
All babies do is sleep, eat and… yeah.

If you’re a parent, you could definitely use some free diapers from The Honest Company. The company will send you a free trial box of diapers and wipes as part of its subscription program.

You’ll just pay $5.95 for shipping, and you can unsubscribe before your first shipment if you don’t want to continue to get the bundle every month.

30. Free Tour Guides
Are you traveling anywhere soon? Someplace where you don’t know much of the history and don’t know your way around?

Check out the free audio guides that are available at iAudioguide.com. You can download hundreds of city audio guides here.

If you’re traveling overseas and you’re looking for an in-person guide instead, try your luck at the Global Greeter Network. It can connect you with volunteers in more than 150 locations who will show you around their home city for free. You’re most likely to find volunteer greeters in Europe and parts of Asia.

31. Sephora Beauty Products
Oooh, Sephora.

Become a “Beauty Insider,” and you’ll have your choice of a free beauty kit from Fresh or Marc Jacobs on your birthday.

32. Free Coffee Mug
Want to be more environmentally friendly with your daily coffee — without shelling out $20 for a travel mug?

Nab a free lightweight travel mug from Au Bon Pain when you subscribe to its eClub!
 
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