Life Hacks

50 Easy Ways to Get Tons of Free Stuff

Elizabeth
July 27, 2021

If you’re hustling this summer as you try to earn extra money, you’ll likely want to find other ways to save on expenses in order to truly amp up your emergency fund or savings account. The easiest way to increase your savings? Spend less, or at least find ways to get stuff for free.

From free movie apps and apps where you can read books for free snagging free travel coupons and clothing, we’ve rounded up a list of 50 super easy ways to get free stuff. Get ready for super summer savings because you’re about to learn how to spend way less for the things you love.

How to Get Free Movies & Books'

Books

1. Sign Up for Redbox

When you sign up for Redbox you will receive email alerts. And, while these are usually a bit annoying and intrusive, these specific email alerts often contain offers for free movie rentals.

2. Download OverDrive

OverDrive is an app that acts as a local library but is totally online. You can “check out” thousands of free videos, eBooks, and audiobooks. While you’re limited to only six items at a time, you’ll find that there’s enough variety to last you a while.

3. Use the Hoopla Streaming Service

Hoopla is one of the best free movie apps. It’s similar to OverDrive in that you can “check out” certain movies, audiobooks, and even comic books.

4. Read Magazines with RBdigital

If you love National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, or even celebrity mags such as People, you can view them all for free on RBdigital. You’ll be able to read the articles inside by checking the magazines out and viewing them on your smartphone or tablet.

5. Take Advantage of Free Trials

It’s kind of a shady way to watch movies and TV shows for free, but if you just want to watch one or two titles, sign up for a free trial. Most platforms offer 7 to 14-day free trials, but with Amazon Prime, you can access Prime Video for up to 30 days for free.

6. Stream via Crackle

Crackle is another one of the best free movie apps. It’s like a normal streaming library mixed with cable television. This means that you have to watch commercials occasionally to view a movie or show. But, it’s free, so it’s well worth it.

7. Download Audiobooks via Loyal Books

Loyal Books is a great place to search for free audiobooks. They offer nearly 10,000 free downloaded audiobooks that you can listen to from your phone or tablet.

8. Search for Free Kindle eBooks

Did you know that authors often list their books for free on Kindle? You’ll have to search on Amazon to find the free titles, but there are actually quite a few free titles you can download.

9. Visit Your Local Library

If all else fails and you can’t find the free movie or book you’re looking for, visit your local library. It’s the ultimate spot for free resources, including books, DVDs, and sometimes even free arts and cultural activities.

How to Get Free Food

Food

10. Sign Up for PINCHme

PINCHme will deliver free samples to you each month in return for a review. You simply set your profile preferences (in this case, set your preferences so that they send you food products) and review them when they arrive. It’s easy!

11. Eat on National “Free” Holidays

From National Ice Cream Day to National Taco Day, numerous restaurants offer deals on free food when it’s a national holiday. 

12. Join Emailing Lists

Sign up for your favorite restaurant’s mailing list to receive email alerts when they’re offering great deals. Depending on the restaurant, you might find that they offer free wood on a weekly basis, at least if you stop in to buy something else.

13. Visit Restaurants on Your Birthday

You can get a lot of free things on your birthday, but especially food. Starbucks, Denny’s, and even Baskin Robbins all hand out free food or drinks when it’s your special day.

14. Taste Samples In-Store

Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and Kroger are fantastic places to load up on free food samples. If you head into one of these stores on the weekend, you’ll likely find that you can end up eating a whole meal if you tour enough stores.

How to Get Free Hotels

Hotel

15. Sign Up for the Marriott Rewards Credit Card

The easiest way to snag hotel rooms for free is to sign up for the hotel chain’s rewards card or credit cards. When you sign up for the Marriott Rewards credit card, you’ll get a night for free upon approval, plus eventual other perks. 

16. Sign Up for a Hyatt Card

Get two free nights at a Hyatt hotel if you spend more than $1,000 in the first three months of opening the card.

How to Get Free Clothes

Clothes

17. Host a Swap Meet

Want free clothes? Invite others over and swap clothes with each other. It’s the easiest way to get new, gently used clothes without having to browse the internet or visit a store.

18. Refer Friends to ThredUP

ThredUP is a great place to sell your old clothes and make extra money off of them. But, they also have a unique rewards program that allows you to earn points and eventually get free clothes if you refer friends.

19. Visit Free Clothing Closets

Do a quick Google search of “free clothing closest” in your area and you’ll likely find quite a few. Visit to get free clothes and be sure to bring some of your old clothes to drop off in return for others to enjoy.

20. Browse the Free Section of Craigslist

Craigslist is a fantastic place to find cheap items. However, their free section is often full of great deals, too. From clothing to diapers and sometimes even furniture, you can find a lot here.

21. Become a Free Product Tester

Product testing programs are a lot more common than you might think. Adidas, New Balance, Saucony, and numerous other shoe brands all offer free testing programs where you can get free shoes in exchange for honest reviews.

How to Get Free Medical Services

Medical Service

22. Visit a Dental School

Search for dental assistant schools in your area to receive free teeth cleanings and other dental services.

23. Browse Free Government Preventative Therapies

If you check out HealthCare.gov, you’ll notice that the government offers free preventative care for those who need it and have certain insurance policies.

24. Sign Up for Sam’s Plus

If you sign up for Sam’s Club’s rewards program “Sam’s Plus,” you can receive certain prescriptions for free.

25. Check Out My Free Product Samples

Similar to PINCHme, My Free Product Samples offers free product samples in exchange for reviews and other feedback. Oftentimes, this can include vitamins, supplements, and even prescription medication.

How to Get Free Education

Education

26. Sign Up for Free Workshops

Home Depot, Apple, and Michael’s all frequently offer free workshops. This means that you can get free training on various things if you simply contact your favorite stores and ask.

27. Take Classes on edX

edX is easily one of the best places to learn for free. Courses are offered from top universities all over the world such as Berkeley, Harvard, and the University of Melbourne. If you’d like a certificate for the course, you can pay for an upgrade.

28. Audit Yale Classes for Free Online

Did you know that you don’t have to be a student at Yale to take their courses? Sure, you won’t get any sort of credit for them, nor will you receive a degree, but it’s a fantastic free way to learn.

29. Check out Khan Academy

For children and adult learners alike, Khan Academy is a great free learning resource. This is a great resource for young learners who need more reinforcement when preparing for the SAT or taking AP classes.

30. Watch YouTube Videos

You can pretty much learn anything on YouTube! While it’s not as trusted a source as the other free learning resources on this list, it’s still a great place for DIY tutorials and more.

How to Get Free Business Tools

Business

31. Check out SCORE

If you’re a small business owner in need fo a mentor, just check out SCORE. You can find retired business owners and other professionals who are willing to mentor or tutor you for free in various business-related areas.

32. Get a Free Mini-MBA

Through Master Class Management you can receive a mini-MBA for free. While it’s not a normal degree, the course covers everything you’d need to know to effectively manage your own business.

33. Look at SBA Resources

The government’s Small Business Administration page has numerous free resources for small businesses to take advantage of.

34. Use WordPress

Need to make a blog for your business? Use WordPress! It’s a great open-source platform that you can use to create and optimize your own business blog.

35. Create a Site for Free in Wix

Want to sell things online or simply set up a basic business website? Wix is easily one of the best platforms for free website creation.

36. Use Free Stock Photos

When it comes time to post on social media or update your website, don’t pay for a professional photographer. Instead, take advantage of free stock photos you can download from platforms such as Pexels, Pixabay, or Unsplash.

How to Get Free Entertainment

Entertainment

37. Find Out Which Museums Are Free

Most museums are actually free at least a few days of the week. Google the museum you want to visit and then add on “free hours” and you’re likely to find out what dates and times they offer free admission.

38. Visit Free National Parks

The National Parks Service has free days a few times a year. Check out the website to see which parks are free on which days. Some, however, are always free, like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

39. Ask Google About Local Free Events

Ask Google about free local events! From free concerts and art shows to free cultural events, there’s always something going on in your local area that Google will know about.

40. Browse Facebook Events

Head over to Facebook Events to see what’s going on in your local area. They organize the events by date so you can plan ahead if you need to, too.

41. Volunteer at an Event

The best way to get free entry to a concert or event? Volunteer! Volunteer to sell merch at a concert or to be an usher at a local orchestra. You’ll have to work a bit, but you can attend the show for free.

How to Get Free Stuff in General

42. Browse Your Local Classifieds

Online classifieds in your local newspaper should still have a free section. From free clothing and furniture to free toys and school supplies, somebody is definitely offering up something for free.

43. Sign Up for Newsletters

Always opt-in for newsletters when you visit a new online store. They’ll send you information that might get a bit annoying, but they also always send you deals and discounts that can lead to free goods.

44. Sign Up for Rewards Programs

If your local grocery store offers it, it’s always a good idea to sign up for their rewards programs if they’re free. You’ll usually receive some sort of discount every time you shop with them, but occasionally (like on your birthday), they’ll also give you access to freebies.

45. Leverage Your Influence

If you have a large social media following, you can leverage your influence to get free things. From clothing and accessories to food and supplements, if you reach out to smaller brands, they’ll likely send you a free product in exchange for a post.

46. Use a Rewards Credit Card

Look for the best rewards credit card for your lifestyle and sign up to reap the rewards. From travel to cashback, you can earn free perks and basically free money if you know how to use the card right.

47. Let Students Practice On You

Want a free haircut? Go to a beauty school. Need a makeover? Most beauty schools will have their students practice on you for free.

48. Use Free Tax Filing Services

Did you know that you can get free tax filing services? Yep, MyFreeTaxUSA is a free tax filing service you can use as long as you only need to file a simple federal tax return.

49. Download Free Things Off Amazon

eBooks, songs, and other things can be found for free on Amazon. Free music albums and eBooks are pretty popular, but you can also get free shipping and free access to Prime Video if you sign up for an Amazon Prime trial.

50. Volunteer

Want to travel the world? Volunteer with the Peace Corps or another international organization. If you’d rather stay closer to home, volunteer for a local marathon or charity event to get a free t-shirt or entry access.

BONUS: Earn Free Cash with Cheese

Want free cash? You can sign up for a debit card and bank account that will help you make the most of your money.

By signing up for our Cheese Debit Card, you’re able to access and unlock savings in the form of cashback and a special savings bonus. When you tack that onto the fact that the card comes with no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and great interest rates, it’s as good as free money.

Our Cashback Program has gone live now! Check it out and save more money all year round!