Foodie "Freebies"

Did you know that you can get coupons for "FREE" fast-food?

Yes, Freebies even exist for the fast-food joints! Quite a few chains offer discounts, or even freebies, if you know what to ask for!  Some require a purchase of some kind of promotional-type item in order to get your freebies, but these are usually minimal. This is especially true when you take into consideration the total value of what you receive.  Sometimes, getting freebies at a fast-food place can be as easy as looking at the store's sign for the upcoming deal. Chick-Fil-A, for example, oftentimes will run a free food item promotion such as "Stop by Tuesday morning for a Free Chicken Biscuit."  Sometimes, you can get freebies by signing up for email updates and joining a fast-food or restaurant's "birthday club."

Here is a list of some local promotions I run across from time to time:

  Domino's- at Fund Raising events, or even outside a Walmart, you might find a stand where you can purchase Domino's Fund Raising cards. These usually benefit a local school and run about $10. The last one I bought had 10 coupons for a Free Medium Pizza on each coupon.

Wendy's- One fund raiser they did last year was to offer a Frosty key chain tag for $1. By showing this tag at participating restaurants, you would receive one FREE Jr. Frosty at every visit.  Also, at Halloween, they usually offer a Treats booklet for $1. This booklet comes with ten vouchers for Free Jr. Frostys.

Chick-Fil-A- This is a plentiful source of freebies. They often put out coupons for FREE Sandwich WYB fries and a drink. They also often post FREE food offers on their signage.  Many locations even offer a family fun night every week with activities and free icecream for children. The BEST deal CFA offers, in my opinion, is the "COWlander" they put out every year. It is a standard 12-month calendar. At the bottom of each month, there is a coupon for FREE food items. One month it is a chicken sandwich, the next month a grilled chicken salad, etc etc. These cost $6. This year, I bought two of them. The value here is amazing, especially since we have playdates at CFA and are there on a regular basis, anyway.

McDonald's- Sometimes they put some FREE food item coupons in the paper. This is a rare thing usually centered around the launch of a new menu item. Also, they often offer treats booklets for $1 each booklet during certain seasons. There are usually Winter Treats, Spring Treats, and Valentine's Treats booklets at a couple of my McD's.  Each booklet comes with about 12 coupons for free food items.  Each coupon features something like a free hamburger, or free small fry, or free milk, or free apple dippers, etc. After you use just one coupon out of these booklets, they pretty much pay for themselves.  Always be sure to check the expiration date, however. Just because your location may take expired treat booklet coupons, and thus they may continue to sell them expired, doesn't mean that other locations will take them.

Papa John's- Frequently, they have online discount codes for freebies like cheesy bread if you take a moment to Google a code for such.  However, Pizza seasoning packets, pepper flakes, and sprinkle cheese are always free upon request.  I usually request about 8 pizza seasoning packets when I order from Papa John's. These make for awesome olive oil and seasoning bread dipping, season up some veggies to grill, or even add jazz to your fave pasta dish when you cook.

Our local cupcake place, Frostings, has BOGO regular cupcakes every day from 1-3. They do not advertise this promotion and you have to know to ask for it to get the deal. Check around at your local places and see if they offer something like that.

Starbucks- Did you know that when you buy specially marked bags of coffee at your local supermarket, etc, you can take that bag (once empty) in to your Starbucks for a free cup of coffee? *Just about every single bag of Starbucks coffee off the grocer's shelves have the small free cup of coffee logo.

**CHECK your restaurant or fast food receipts. Many places now offer free food or drink coupons on them when you do a quick survey on your experience.

Sonic has Happy Hour from 2-4 every day. Their drinks and slushes are half off. If you get two equal valued drinks, that is like BOGO!

Dairy Queen offers a Happy Hour at many locations. You will have to check with your local one for details.

**DID YOU KNOW that many fast food places will let you trade the toy out of the kids' meal in for a dessert? Whataburger offers a cookie or fruitsnack sometimes, and Chick Fil A will let your child get an icecream.

***Library Summer Reading Programs and other Free for Children Community Events are often excellent sources of fast food and restaurant freebies. Every year, my children participate in the library one and rack up tons of great freebie vouchers.  Local companies get to promote literacy and such and raise awareness of their products/food.  Check around for these! Feed your kids' minds and tummies!

Also, many restaurants and eateries offer freebies on your birthday when you sign up your email with them.

More places offer a punch card, frequent customer type program where you earn freebies from being a loyal customer. Subway used to do this. CiCi's Pizza(buffet), Pizza Hut(buffet), McAllister's (free tea club), Smoothie King, and others offer these types of deals.

Freebies and great deals are everywhere. You just have to look around and inquire.  Do you know of any freebies? Let us know!