We were taught that getting something for nothing is too good to be true, but really you just have to be savvy enough to find the real no-strings-attached, no-cost stuff that's out there. To get free stuff, you have to be willing to hunt, but here are some starting points on the path to some cool giveaways.
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Two friends from Washington state, enthusiastic about saving the planet and building community, started the Buy Nothing Project in 2013. It now has more than 40 million participants in 44 countries. The idea is simple: If you have something to give, offer it to a neighbor. If you’re looking for something, ask for it. The variety is endless, from baby gear and furniture to electronics, books, clothes, bikes, and party supplies. The traditional way to join a local Buy Nothing group had been through Facebook, but now there’s an app.
Related: Here’s Why You Should Join Your Local Buy Nothing Group
Freecycle is older but smaller than Buy Nothing, and the website has a minimalist vibe. But there’s plenty here, and in addition to searching offerings you can post to ask the Freecycle-sphere for what you want. It’s also possible to set up a group with just friends to exchange in a less public way.
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There’s no such thing as an unhappy birthday when you get the giveaway bonanza you deserve. Many companies are happy to give birthday freebies on that special day, though signing up for a rewards program in advance is often required.
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While the Facebook marketplace is primarily a web commerce spot, there are plenty of posts from people who just want to get rid of items quickly. Navigate to the “free stuff” category and search away.
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Libraries in several U.S. cities — including Sacramento, California; New York (at the Brooklyn Public Library); Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Northampton, Massachusetts — allow patrons to borrow everything from guitars to dulcimers to maracas. While coronavirus restrictions have put some programs on hold, no doubt the joy of music will soon be shared freely again.
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Got a home-improvement project with a limited budget? Or don’t feel like buying a $75 orbital finishing sander you may never use again? There are public libraries that permit people to check out tools, such as an awesome one in Oakland, California. There are dozens of specialized tool lending libraries across the country. (While some require a small or pay-what-you-wish membership fee, checking out tools is free.)
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Many of the country’s best museums can be pricey. But do your research and you might discover free admission on certain days or for certain hours. Here’s a list of freebie deals at New York City attractions, for instance.
Common wisdom says you get more out of spending on experiences than material goods. And sites that keep you in-the-know about free events in your city can be a great way to stay busy, happy, and solvent. In New York, the Skint is a great source for free and low-cost happenings. On sites such as the San Antonio Current, filtering event calendars to show only free events is a savvy move.
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Got Netflix? Apple TV+? Disney+? The monthly service fees for streaming services can add up quickly. But there are free alternatives to keep you entertained without paying a dime, including Tubi, Crackle, The Roku Channel, PBS, and Top Documentary Films. If you have a library card, check to see if it comes with a Kanopy subscription, an outstanding free source of quality films and videos.
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Even if you’ve had a diploma for decades, the thirst for knowledge is never satisfied — but doesn’t always come cheap. Free online classes can be a great way to delve into a topic without dipping into savings. A popular free Yale class might even make you happier.
If ebooks are more your thing, there’s no shortage of choices for free paperless literature. You can be sure that blogging bookworms will keep you informed about what’s available for free on Amazon’s Kindle app. Impressively, Google Books offers more than 10 million free titles. Checking out free ebooks or audiobooks from a local library is another savvy choice.
Your next good read might be waiting for you inside one of the world’s 100,000-plus Little Free Libraries. You might have happened upon one of these micro book exchange sites in your area, but there’s a map for that too. The plans to build your own little library are also free.
Who is Craig, anyway? He’s a nerdy billionaire with noble ambitions. But what’s important here is that the site he founded, famous as a resource for finding roommates or buying and selling things, is a terrific way to find a ton of free stuff. Just go to the page for your city, look under the “for sale” section, and click on “free.”
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Brands want your business, and they’re willing to gamble to get you on the hook. If you have the willpower to collect free samples without committing to buying anything, you can tap into a treasure trove. Sites such as Sweet Free Stuff and freesamples.org have the details.
If you’ve always wanted to take music lessons but the cost has held you back, there are no excuses now: YouTube videos with professionals sharing their knowledge don’t cost a penny. One of the most popular channels for free guitar lessons, for instance, is Marty Music. The beginner’s acoustic lesson has more than 8 million views.
Related: Gift Ideas for Music Lovers
If filing taxes on your own seems daunting, you could spend a bundle to hire an accountant or … go the free route. The AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide service looks for tax breaks and deductions. It’s aimed at people older than 50 or with low to moderate incomes, but open to all.
Related: Why You Might Not Need a Tax Pro
New Yorkers have a long tradition of discarding items at the curb or on stoops — the steps leading to the entrances of a residential building — in hopes passersby will find something useful and take it. (In places where this practice isn’t customary, leaving something out with a “free” sign does the trick.) The internet age has upped the chances of discarded items being rescued: Instagram accounts such as @stoopingNYC point “stoopers” to where cool stuff is up for grabs.
Related: 30 Signs You're a New Yorker
You could spend a few dollars at a yard sale, garage sale, or tag sale and leave happy. But if zero dollars is the budget you have in mind, consider that a few items are often set aside in a sale’s free box or free section. A perusal couldn’t hurt.
Don’t bother buying coloring books for your kids or grandkids, just print out Crayola’s free coloring pages. You’ll find hundreds of seasonal, educational, and just-for-fun options.
A picture is worth a thousand words, but how much cash are you willing to shell out for a photo for your website or publication? If zero sounds about right, there are numerous sites offering free stock images. Often memberships or attribution is required.
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The National Parks Service was established Aug. 25, 1916, and every year on the anniversary visitors celebrate with free admission to the country’s 63 national parks. The Parks Service has a handful of other special free days on the calendar, too, and certain groups always get free access — including fourth-graders who sign up for this cool pass.
With enough birthdays behind you, you might have the freedom to score free beverages all the time. Several fast food chains, including Arby’s, Taco Bell, and Whataburger, offer free soft drinks to seniors. Not all locations participate, age requirements vary — and you might have to buy something else to get the free refreshment.
You or someone you know has probably already benefited from this freebie hack: After buying an inexpensive or bulky item with a free-returns policy, you contact customer service at Amazon or Walmart because you want to send it back. But they tell you to just keep it. A Wall Street Journal report confirmed the practice is common.
Related: Store Return Policies for Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy & More
Every (pre-pandemic) July 11 since 2002, the convenience store chain has celebrated its calendar-date namesake by offering up free small Slurpees. The chain got creative with the promotion in 2021, offering its rewards club members the same freebie Slurpee deal anytime in July. In 2022, the free-Slurpee tradition was extended to 7-Eleven's Speedway and Stripes stores.
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Traditionally, Rita’s locations offer a free cup of Italian ice for all on the first day of spring. In recent years, as many as a million customers at the company's 600-plus stores have participated.
A walk in the woods can offer more than just a feeling of serenity. There’s edible treasure out there. Regional guidebooks or local experts can help you learn how to find the spots where herbs and food grow wild.
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Greener is better, and some municipalities are so interested in beautifying neighborhoods and cleaning the air by adding trees that they are giving trees away. It’s worth checking to see if there’s a program in your area. In Seattle, for instance, more than 11,000 free trees have been planted.
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A mashup of the words “free” and “vegan,” the term “freegan” was coined in the ’90s to describe a person who eats only food they get for free. One of the main occupations of freegans is digging for food in trash left out by food establishments such as grocery stores and restaurants. You don’t have to go full-on freegan to take advantage of this strategy. For the freegan-curious, here’s a sample dumpster directory.
