Hard Times Newsletter

Facebook: Free Tide Pods.

2012-02-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

Pods! They're from Tide! And they're free! Apparently it's a detergent/stain remover/clothes brightener all in one handy little... pod, if you will. Fill out the form on Facebook and get your free sample.

The page was running a bit slow earlier, but it seems to be OK now and they have tons and tons of freebies to give away, so don't panic about that stubborn stain just yet.

Caribou Coffee: BOGO coffee on Feb. 14.

2012-02-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or does there seem to be a lot of coffee offers floating around for V-day? I hope your sweetie likes caffeine, because here's another for BOGO coffee at Caribou Coffee on Feb. 14. At least this one you don't have to print ahead of time — you can just show it on your phone.

Peet's: BOGO coffee through Feb. 20.

2012-02-13T09:03:00.000-08:00

I guess you could consider this a combo V-day and Presidents' Day offer, since it's good now through Feb. 20. Bring this coupon to a participating Peet's for a BOGO beverage. Treat your sweetie OR your president! (Or both, I guess, but then you don't get anything to drink.)

This offer is limited to: California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington.

Feb. 18-20: Free breakfast at IKEA.

2012-02-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

I hope they still have IKEA when I'm retired, because I fully intend to go there and enjoy all their free breakfast promotions and sit in the cafe all day getting free coffee refills. This one is for Presidents' Day Weekend: stop in before 11:00 am and get yourself a free plate of bacon & eggs and some coffee. No coupon required.

This offer is limited to: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. So I guess I'll have to retire to one of those states.

Free sample of John Frieda Smooth Start 'poo, conditioner, serum.

2012-02-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

John Frieda is always generous with the free samples, and their latest offer is no exception: sign up for free samples of their Smooth Start 'poo, conditioner, AND serum. There's a short survey, but it's no biggie and should just take a couple of minutes to go through.

Quiznos: Free cookie on Feb. 14.

2012-02-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

The Valentine's Day freebies are rolling in now! Here's a sweet treat that won't cost you anything. Stop by a participating Quizno's and give them this coupon for a free cookie on Feb. 14 — no purchase required.

Trust me, nothing is more attractive to the object of your affections than showing them that you know how to save.

H&M: 20% off coupon.

2012-02-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

I usually tend to avoid posting percent-off store coupons if they're not actually freebies, but H&M is already so cheap that 20% off any item will pretty much make that item free!

Also, math wasn't my strongest subject in school.

Valid through Feb. 14 if you're looking for a gift for your valentine...

Valentine's Day: BOGO beverages at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

2012-02-08T08:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a V-day deal that not only gets you caffeinated, but makes you look like a thoughtful friend. Stop by the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, and get BOGO beverages - no coupon needed.

One for you, one for your significant other... one for you, one for your coworker... or one for your left hand, one for your right hand. Caffeine does not judge.

Walmart: Free sample of Life Choice energy bars.

2012-02-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

Walmart is usually pretty generous with the free samples, but I haven't seen one in a while. At last! Get your free sample of Life Choice energy bars when you fill out the form. It sounds like a big commitment to call an energy bar a "life choice," but hey, whatever you need to make your to-do list look complete...

Facebook: Free Bath & Body Works travel-size item for you and a friend.

2012-02-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

Here's an easy, free way to send your valentine a calorie-free treat... and get something for yourself, too! Bath & Body Works is offering free travel-size items for you and a friend.

"Like" them on Facebook, create a card, and send a Valentine's day surprise gift to a friend. You and your friend will receive a coupon for a free travel size Signature Collection item (worth $5) via email. Coupon valid from 2/14-2/20.

Facebook: Free sample of Tums Freshers.

2012-02-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

Is your tummy upset at the mere thought of all the steak and lobster, sparkly champagne, and rich chocolate desserts that will be on the table on the 14th? Show your valentine how much you care with this romantic offering: a free sample of Tums Freshers. Just "like" them on Facebook and fill out the form to get yours.

Facebook: Free trial pack of o.b. tampons.

2012-02-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

This freebie offer says it's for a "cute trial pack," and it's hard to argue with that. Look how tiny and cute they are! That little case would probably be good for holding all kinds of stuff in your bag or backpack. Is it wrong to dump out the tampons and use it for holding lip gloss?

V-day: Free Ben & Jerry's Americone Dream on Feb. 14, 5-8 p.m.

2012-02-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

Here's the first of the Valentine's Day freebies! Ben & Jerry's will be giving away free scoops of Stephen Colbert's own flavor, Americone Dream, on Feb. 14 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

You'll want to make sure your local store is participating, of course. You wouldn't want to have to buy your sweetheart a full-priced cone!

Free Yogurtland yogurt and toppings on Feb. 6.

2012-02-01T08:48:00.000-08:00

Hooray! Now here's a holiday I'm really excited about. Yogurtland is celebrating National Frozen Yogurt Day by offering FREE fro-yo and toppings* on Mon., Feb. 6, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. (You can see offer details on the first image in the homepage slideshow, the one with the creepy woman's face covered in spoons.)

Find your local store and get ready to fro your yo**!

*This offer is limited to: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

**The word on the street is that the "commemorative" cup they're using is an 8-oz cup, as opposed to their typical giant tub, but who cares, it's free!

Free Burger King onion rings Feb. 4-5.

2012-01-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

A while back, Burger King was offering free french fries to spread the word about their newer, healthier (less unhealthy?) fries. I'm not sure if this onion rings freebie is along the same lines, but you can get your free "value-sized" onion rings in participating Burger Kings this weekend, Feb. 4-5.

It doesn't look like a coupon or purchase is necessary; the only restriction is that you can't get them during breakfast hours. Not that you'd want onion rings for breakfast anyway... would you?

Facebook: Free sample of Quaker Oatmeal Squares.

2012-01-30T08:54:00.000-08:00

So you don't want to go all the way to IKEA for a free breakfast? OK, you can still start your morning off right with a free sample box of Quaker Oatmeal Squares. Just "like" them on Facebook and fill out the form to sign up.

Now we just need a milk freebie...

Free breakfast on Monday mornings at IKEA.

2012-01-30T08:48:00.000-08:00

Did you know that IKEA offers free breakfast until 11:00 am on Mondays*? My grandma lives pretty near an IKEA. If I were retired, I would go there every Monday just to eat free breakfast and hang out... and maybe do some speed dating.

*This offer is limited to: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka: free mason jar.

2012-01-27T10:09:00.001-08:00

In random-freebie-of-the-day news, here's one for a free mason jar from Firefly sweet tea vodka. They tweeted that anyone who signs up for their Friends of the Fly community will receive a free mason jar.

Of course, you could also go to your local thrift store and get one for a quarter, but maybe this one has a special Firefly logo or something?

Facebook: Free Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex sample.

2012-01-27T10:04:00.000-08:00

Olay is giving away 10,000 free samples of its Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex on Facebook starting today — just "like" them and fill out the form. It's a wrinkle-free Friday!

$2 Restaurant.com certificates.

2012-01-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

I know, that's pretty weak, but it's been a REALLY slow week for freebies and that's the best I could come up with. Get $25-off dining certificates at Restaurant.com using promo code DATE.

As always, be sure to check the fine print for minimum check amount, automatically included gratuity, etc., but it's still a pretty cost-effective way to try out a new restaurant.

Facebook: Free Kraft Mac & Cheese.

2012-01-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't like mac & cheese? Get yourself a coupon for a free box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese when you like them on Facebook and fill out the "Macsurance" form, whatever that is. They're giving freebies away daily through March 4, and you can get up to 3 coupons per household, but you'll have to provide your own ketchup and hot dogs.

Free Keebler 100 Calorie Right Bites white fudge pretzels w/rebate.

2012-01-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

Hmm, interesting. Here's a rebate for 100 Calorie Right Bites Keebler white fudgey pretzels, but apparently you need not only the usual UPC and receipt, but also some sort of special "rebate token" that's found inside the package. I'll be on the lookout for one of these in the store. Has anyone else seen this before? It's new to me...

"To receive your rebate on 100 Calorie Right Bites Keebler White Fudge Dipped Pretzels send one token from specially marked packages, original cash register receipt with purchase price circled, and completed rebate form. Maximum rebate of $4.00. Must be purchased by 08/31/12. Must be postmarked by 09/14/12. One rebate per household."

Free Schick Hydro Silk razor.

2012-01-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't like to be an insider? Schick is apparently launching a HUGE new women's razor, and wants you to be one of the first to try it (and tell your friends about it). Get a free Schick Hydro Silk razor when you sign up online.

I tend to drop and break my razors a lot because I'm pretty much still asleep in the shower, so I'll be curious to see if this Hydro Silk can withstand my zombie-like fumbling...

BOGO Land O Lakes Buttery Taste Spread (with rebate).

2012-01-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

Mmmm, fresh buttery taste spread! That sounds... not a lot like butter. But at least you can get two packages for the price of one! Send in the rebate form and they'll mail you a coupon for a free package.

Buy one package Land O Lakes Fresh Buttery Taste Spread. Mail in request for rebate offer with cash register receipt. Receive a coupon by mail for a Free Land O Lakes Fresh Butter Taste Spread w/ Olive Oil. Maximum value of $2.99. Purchase must be made by 02/29/12 and request must be postmarked by 03/31/12.

Starbucks: Free coffee sampling, thank-you gift Jan. 12-14.

2012-01-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

This Thurs.–Sat., Jan. 12–14, drop by your local Starbucks for a coffee taste test and vote. Try out their brews, vote for your favorite, and get some sort of free mystery gift!

"Starbucks invites you to join in some fun with their in store coffee sampling of 'Taste the Starbucks roast Spectrum' and receive a special thank you gift for your best roast vote. Try the latest and greatest roasted coffee from Starbucks and cast your vote. Samples of Dark Fair Trade Italian Roast, Blonde Veranda Blend & Medium Pike Roast."

Vote early and vote often!

Facebook: Free Timeline personal business cards.

2012-01-06T09:36:00.000-08:00

Things that exist: Facebook Timeline personalized business cards. Don't believe me? They're giving away 200,000 free sets (5,000 per day), and you can be one of the winners! Read the instructions and send me one if it works.

Free museum admission this weekend with B of A debit/credit card.

2012-01-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

I always forget about this one, but B of A is still quietly running its Museums on Us program, where you can get free admission to selected museums, zoos, botanical gardens, and parks on the first weekend of the month when you show a debit or credit card with a B of A logo.

Seattle's listings include the Seattle Art Museum, which might be a little less crowded for this than on First Thursday. Find a museum near you and make your weekend plans!

Facebook: Free Eucerin Calming Itch-Relief Treatment sample.

2012-01-05T08:58:00.000-08:00

Icky, dry winter skin? I feel your pain. Get your free Eucerin Calming Itch-Relief Treatment sample when you like Eucerin on Facebook and watch a short video. Apparently it takes a few seconds for the video to load, so try not to claw at your raw, peeling skin while you're waiting.

Free cup of Meow Mix Pate Toppers.

2012-01-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

You know how to make smelly cat food more appetizing? Put even smellier moist cat food on top of it. (Then again, that's pretty much what paté is anyway, right?)

If this sounds good to you, sign yourself up for a free cup of Meow Mix Paté Toppers.

IKEA BYOF (Bring Your Own Friends) giveaways, free food, more.

2012-01-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

IKEA is trying out something new next Saturday, Jan. 14. It's called BYOF (Bring Your Own Friends) and they're doing all kinds of free goodies and giveaways when you RSVP on Facebook.

RSVP to get a coupon for a free small breakfast before 11:00 a.m., a free blue tote bag, and BOGO free entree between 11am-4pm. They’re also going to be doing gift card giveaways and more.

Sounds like a full day of IKEA fun!

Facebook: Free Celestial Seasonings Wellness Tea sample.

2012-01-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

Aha, there you have it! My theory is confirmed: freebies like to travel in packs. So here's another free Facebook tea sample, this one for Celestial Seasonings Wellness Tea.

Now can we please have a free coffee one?

Facebook: Free sample of Lipton Green Tea with Superfruit.

2012-01-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

The holidays may be over, but winter is still here, which means we've got several months of hot-beverage weather ahead of us. Settle in with a nice, free cup of Lipton Green Tea with Superfruit when you like them on Facebook.

Freebies seem to come in themed groups, so maybe there's a coffee offer floating around out there today too? Fingers crossed!

Free 7-day pass to 24-hour Fitness.

2011-12-30T08:44:00.000-08:00

Feeling regret over all that holiday bingeing? Turn over a new leaf in 2012 with a free 7-day pass to 24-hour Fitness. It's good for free classes as well as the regular gym, so you can get started on the most-calories-burned-in-one-week world record.

Happy New Year!

Free hash browns at Waffle House.

2011-12-28T09:21:00.000-08:00

If you're finding it hard to wean yourself off all that deliciously fatty holiday fare, you don't have to start just yet! Waffle House has a coupon for a free order of hash browns, good through Jan. 20. That ought to be enough to wreck a resolution or two.

Find a waffle near you.

Peet's: Free coffee and tea all day long on Dec. 24.

2011-12-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

If you're feeling the chill while you're out and about doing holiday errands on Xmas Eve, stop in to your local Peet's for free brewed coffee and tea all day! (See the second paragraph on that page.) Flask optional.

Barnes & Noble: 40% off one gift item.

2011-12-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

I'm not exactly sure what "gift item" means — that could be just about anything at this time of year, as past holidays have taught me. But you can get 40% off one gift item, whatever that is, at Barnes & Noble now through Dec. 24.

6-pack of pom-pom ankle socks? Power drill bits with no drill? What will YOU pick?

Barnes & Noble: 30% off one item.

2011-12-21T08:37:00.000-08:00

Last-minute shoppers, all is not lost! Barnes & Noble has a 30% off one item coupon that's good through Dec. 24. There's a bit of fine print, but it mostly applies to everything, so shop away!

And if your holiday shopping is already done, feel free to breathe a sigh of relief and use this for yourself.

Free samples of Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser and Pore Strips.

2011-12-20T09:12:00.000-08:00

Sign up for some free samples of Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser and Pore Strips. Generally I try to avoid ice on my face, at least in winter, but I guess Biore knows what they're doing. And who doesn't love those delightfully gross pore-junk-extracting nose strips?

Facebook: Free purse-size Essence of Beauty hand cream.

2011-12-20T08:55:00.000-08:00

Awww, you've been so busy and thoughtful this holiday season, running around getting gifts and sending cards and baking cookies for others... why not get something for yourself? Even better, it's free!

Sign up for your free purse-size Essence of Beauty hand cream at CVS, and they'll email you a coupon within a few minutes. Choose from Sunflower, Japanese Garden, or Citrus Coconut scents. Register by Dec. 26 and use your coupon by Dec. 30!

Restaurant.com: $25 certificates just $1!

2011-12-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: This deal is so hot, it broke their server! But don't worry, the discount goes through Dec. 24, so go have a peppermint latte or something and check back in a bit.

Looking for some last-minute stocking stuffers? Restaurant.com dining certificates are a great way to get discounts to restaurants you already know and love, or have just been wanting an excuse to try.

A $25-off certificate (generally off a minimum food purchase of $35) now costs just $1 with promo code JOY. There's usually some fine print, so check before you buy, but when else can you turn $1 into $25 this easily?

Virgin: 20% off flights through Feb. 15 with promo code.

2011-12-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

Planning to travel this winter? You can get a discount code from Virgin America and save 20% off your flight. The first 50,000 to sign up will be emailed a promo code, which you can apply to a flight between now and Feb. 15 (I'm assuming the holidays are blackout dates, even if they weren't already full).

Avoid the holiday travel craziness and go in January when things quiet down — and get cheap.

Groupon: Buy local, get $10 back.

2011-12-19T08:44:00.000-08:00

Groupon has a special holiday promotion running where the first 150,000 who buy a local deal in their area will receive $10 in Groupon Bucks placed in their account on Dec. 31! The Groupon Bucks you receive must be used by March 31, but that shouldn't be too hard to do.

If you're looking for a last-minute gift, buy a local Groupon and you can treat yourself too!

Dec. 16 is Free Shipping Day!

2011-12-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

Otherwise known as Oh Crap It's 9 Days Till Xmas Day, today is Free Shipping Day! Get free shipping from almost 2,600 online merchants. You can use the Free Shipping Day website to browse participating merchants, search for a specific one, and score promo codes for free shipping and discounts.

There's a wide variety of participating stores, so don't panic!

Dec. 16: Free "value" size fries at Burger King.

2011-12-14T09:13:00.000-08:00

I've always thought Burger King had one of the better french-fry recipes in the fast food business... but starting in 2012, they're changing their recipe to be more "natural," whatever that means. However, on Dec. 16, they're giving away free "value" (aka $1 size) french fries, so you can try it for yourself and judge!

"The trend in french fries is toward more 'natural' offerings. That includes fries that are or appear to be made from fresh-cut potatoes and topped with 'artisan' toppings like sea salt."

I guess you just have to be there.

Target: Free $10 gift card with $75 purchase.

2011-12-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

The Target gift card offer is back, in a slightly less appealing form... this time you'll have to spend $75 in order to get the free $10 gift card. Still, if you're buying a couple of gifts and some holiday dinner groceries, maybe some candy or wrapping paper, it won't be hard to hit the minimum purchase!

Offer is valid from Friday, Dec. 16, at 5:00 pm through noon on Dec. 17, so choose your shopping times wisely...

FREE $10 dining coupons from Restaurant.com.

2011-12-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

You may remember this offer from last year, when Restaurant.com just started shooting free $10 dining certificates out of a cannon during the holidays, and it's BACK! Go to their Feed it Forward site and login with your regular Restaurant.com account (or create one) in order to start sending $10-off coupons to your favorite local restaurants. Send one to your coworker, send one to your mailman, send one to your yoga teacher! They're free, so why not?

You can send up to 40 a day, so get going!

Target: Free $10 gift card with $50 purchase.

2011-12-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

Here's a deal that I won't have any trouble qualifying for... it is not hard at all to rack up $50 at Target on things I simply must have (especially since they have surprisingly good prices on baking supplies).

Get a $10 gift card with this coupon when you spend $50 at Target, now through Dec. 12. Even if you're way more organized than me and already have your holiday shopping done, stock up on toiletries or groceries and you'll be there in no time!

Einstein Bros.: Free Holiday Poppers with beverage purchase.

2011-12-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

Now this one really mystifies me (even more than the gelatinous crystal air freshener chunks). At Einstein Bros., you can get something called "Holiday Bagel Poppers" free with any beverage purchase. They look like donut holes, in that they're covered in frosting and sprinkles, but I assume they must be bagels under there because they're called "bagel poppers."

If you dip a bagel bite in frosting and sprinkles, does that make it a donut hole? I guess there's only one way to find out. Somebody try it and tell us!

Renuzit Crystal Elements, free after mail-in rebate.

2011-12-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

I have to confess I'm not really on board with plasticky air fresheners, which are not very environmentally friendly. But if you simply MUST have some smelly Jello bits in a glass bowl in your home, at least get them for free with this mail-in rebate offer.

"Try For Free! Renuzit Crystal Elements Air Freshening Crystals (Up to $2.99 on the 9 oz refill and Up to $5.60 on 18 oz refill). Purchase at your favorite retailer between 11/14/11 and 2/28/12 and postmark your rebate form by March 31, 2012."

Download the form and prepare to surround yourself with fragranced crystal chunks.

Seattle: Free ice skating Dec. 9 at Capitol Hill ice rink.

2011-12-08T17:12:00.000-08:00

What's this? I leave town for a couple of weeks and they build an ice rink in the middle of Capitol Hill? If you're as curious as I am, try it out free tomorrow, Dec. 9, from 11 am to 3 pm. (Admission is normally $12, so that's a pretty sweet deal if you're free during the day.)

Apparently the rink is using "synthetic ice," whatever that is, which some people have griped just isn't the same. There's only one way to know...

Wonder if they'll be hosting Occupy Seattle Icecapades?

Barnes & Noble: 20% off one item, 50% off cookbooks.

2011-12-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

This isn't THAT great of a deal, but maybe I'm just posting it because I'm nostalgic for the glory days of Borders coupons. Now through Dec. 8, you can get 20% off one item at Barnes & Noble's online store using promo code T3N9N3L.

Of course, that doesn't really make up for having to pay shipping unless you hit the $25 free shipping mark, so it's probably best used on a bigger-ticket item. Sadly, the Nook e-reader is excluded from this deal, but it looks like just about everything else is fair game.

Oh, and all cookbooks are 50% off at B&N.com today, too!

Free holiday song-a-day from Amazon.

2011-12-05T08:56:00.000-08:00

Ready for nonstop holiday music between now and the 25th? If you need more holly jolly in your life, check out the free-song-a-day offer on Amazon.com. Every day, another new holiday song is available for free download, so there are already five free songs waiting for you!

This offer is how I originally heard the Lady Gaga "Christmas Tree" song, which has become one of my favorites, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they have this year...

Restaurant.com: 80% off dining certificates + buy 5, get 1 free.

2011-12-05T08:49:00.000-08:00

Restaurant.com giving 80% discounts off their dining certificates isn't really new (use promo code GIFT through Dec. 7), but they're also running a buy-five-get-one-free special. It's a little vague on how it works, but it sounds like when you put five certificates into your cart, the sixth one won't appear to be in your cart, but will magically be delivered to you along with the rest.

Worth a try if you're already ordering a bunch as stocking stuffers, I guess!

Starbucks: BOGO holiday drinks, Nov. 17-20.

2011-11-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

Stop by Starbucks this week, November 17th through November 20th, 2011, between the hours of 2PM-5PM to get BOGO holiday drinks! Buy one and get one free.

This includes their Caramel Brulee Latte, Peppermint Mocha, and Gingerbread Latte, though you could probably sweet-talk them into including the caramel apple cider, because that's delicious.

A whole (new) slew of Veterans' Day freebies!

2011-11-11T08:51:00.000-08:00

There are a TON of Veterans' Day freebies floating around on the Internets, and more industrious souls than I have already compiled them into some excellent mega-lists. Here's a good one from HeyIt'sFree.net, including lots of national chains — but it's always a good idea to call ahead to make sure your location is participating.

Happy Veterans' Day!

Seattle: Free Rudi's gluten-free loaf.

2011-11-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

Hey Seattle gluten-haters, Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery wants YOU to try a free loaf of their GF bread. Just like them on Facebook and fill out the form, and you'll receive a coupon for a free loaf. Don't worry, you can find the bread at regular groceries, not just weirdo hippie stores.

Seattle: Free Dick's cheeseburgers for vets on Nov. 11.

2011-11-10T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a local freebie offer for Veterans' Day: Seattle fast-food chain Dick's is offering free hamburgers or cheeseburgers to veterans who show their military ID, or show up dressed in uniform. Add it to your list for tomorrow!

80% off Restaurant.com coupons.

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the start of the holiday gluttony season, here's a special from Restaurant.com for 80% off their dining-discount coupons. A $25-off coupon (usually off a minimum $35 check; see restaurant's restrictions) will run you $2 when you use promo code HAM.

This offer is good through Nov. 15. Shop wisely, and you should have enough coupons to see you through an entire season of festive get-togethers...

Veterans' Day: Free admission to national parks Nov. 11-13.

2011-11-09T09:43:00.000-08:00

Here's another Veterans' Day freebie for you: from November 11-13, you can get free admission into any national park. You don't even have to be a veteran!

Many of our country's 396 national parks are already free to get into, but there are over 100 that normally charge admission that will be free this weekend. ROAD TRIP!

Barnes & Noble: 50% off list price on kids' picture books.

2011-11-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

Well, it's official: Barnes & Noble is ready to step up and take Borders' discarded tiara as the king of coupons! (Maybe a tiara isn't sufficiently kingly?) Last week's 50% off coupon worked flawlessly at the store for me, so this coupon for 50% off kids' picture books should be equally smooth. (The printable coupon link is in the comments section.)

There's no stated limit for the number of books you can buy, so I think everybody on my list is getting a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar for Xmas this year. Don't tell!

Free 12-oz bag of Community Coffee.

2011-11-09T08:53:00.000-08:00

After all those booze rebates, you might be in need of a coffee freebie, if you know what I'm saying. So how about a free 12-oz bag of Community Coffee?

Available at your local Target, apparently, and you have through the end of January to sober up and remember to claim your free bag.

Veterans' Day: Freebies for veterans and active servicemembers, Nov. 11.

2011-11-07T09:29:00.000-08:00

Whew! This list is too long to try to recreate, so I'll just point you to HeyItsFree's excellent post on all the Veterans' Day freebies floating around on the Internets.

Some are for vets and some are only for active servicemembers, so check out the fine print as you're planning your freebie itinerary around town...

Get $10 back via mail-in rebate when you buy 2 bottles of Bacardi alcohol.

2011-11-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

The Boozeday fun continues with a $10 rebate from Bacardi Rum. Get $10 back by mail when you buy any two bottles from the following list. You must purchase two different brands to receive the rebate, so this is your excuse to try that dubious flavored vodka or rum you've been eyeing at the store.

This offer is only valid in certain states, so as always with any mail-in rebate, make sure to read the fine print so you know you're crossing all the T's and dotting all the I's. That spells FREE BOOZE.

Get $8 back via mail-in rebate when you buy two bottles of select liquor.

2011-11-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Stocking up your bar for the holidays, or just looking for stocking stuffers? Give everyone's favorite gift — booze — and save $8 with this mail-in rebate when you buy two bottles of qualifying hooch.

"Purchase TWO bottles (750ml or larger) of the following spirits to receive $8 by mail. See rebate for details.

BAILEYS® Irish Cream Liqueur (Original or any flavor)
CAPTAIN MORGAN® Original Spiced Rum
CAPTAIN MORGAN LIME BITE
JOHNNIE WALKER® RED LABEL® Blended Scotch Whisky
JOSE CUERVO ESPECIAL® Tequila (Gold or Silver)
SMIRNOFF NO. 21™ Vodka (Red label or any flavor)
TANQUERAY® London Dry Gin

Limit one refund per household."

Barnes & Noble: 50% off list price of one book.

2011-11-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

What's this? Is Barnes & Noble stepping into the coupon-parade shoes of the now-defunct Borders? Today they've got a fans-only promotion: click "Claim Coupon" to get your personalized coupon for 50% off the list price of one book.

Coupon expires Nov. 6, so use it fast if you're going to!

Free sample of John Frieda Full Repair 'poo and conditioner.

2011-11-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a free 'poo and conditioner sample offer — if you're willing to wait for it. The offer is valid through Dec. 26, so they aren't going to start sending out freebies until then. Could be a while!

Then again, you'll need something to keep you going after the post-holiday-season crash. Free 'poo in your mailbox might just do it.

Veterans' Day: Free Everyday Value Slam at Denny's on 11/11.

2011-11-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Sorry, Seattle veterans, Denny's says this isn't for you!

Veterans, here's a freebie just for you: "All active, non-active, or retired military personnel can get a free Everyday Value Slam (2 eggs to order, 2 pancakes and either 2 bacon strips or 2 sausage links) at participating Denny's Restaurants. Available from 6 am until 2 pm on November 11, 2011, just show a valid military ID. Limit one per person, beverages not included. No substitutions."

Serve our country, get served breakfast.

Free Krispy Kreme Halloween donut for costumed customers, Oct. 31.

2011-10-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

You may be too old for trick-or-treating, but you can recapture the magic of free sugary handouts if you stop by Krispy Kreme on Monday, Oct. 31, in costume. Dress in costume and get a free Halloween or pumpkin spice donut! No purchase necessary, but you may have to show them the coupon on your mobile phone. Find a store near you.

$5 magazine sale at Hearst.

2011-10-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

I know you don't want to think about it yet, but the holidays are coming! And the beauty of giving magazines is that if you do it now, the first issue will actually arrive sometime around the holidays, so your timing will be perfect.

Hearst is having a $5 magazine sale on a dozen or so titles. Some of those are for partial-year subscriptions, so read the list carefully, but you should be able to find some mom-and-dad-friendly titles for those family gifts...

Cosmopolitan 6 issues
Country Living 12 issues
Esquire 12 issues
Food Network Magazine 5 issues
Good Housekeeping 12 issues
Harper's BAZAAR 12 issues
House Beautiful 12 issues
Marie Claire 12 issues
O, The Oprah Magazine 6 issues
Popular Mechanics 12 issues
Redbook 12 issues
Seventeen 12 issues
Town & Country 12 issues
Veranda 8 issues

Facebook: Free $25 AmEx gift cards to the first 30,000 on Nov. 1.

2011-10-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: It starts at 1:00 pm Eastern time, or 10:00 am Pacific time for those of us on the West Coast. Set your reminders!

Last year, American Express did a support-small-business program during the holidays, where you'd get a $25 refund when you made a $25+ purchase at a small local business. This year they're doing it slightly differently by teaming up with FedEx via Facebook.

Starting on Nov. 1 (which could mean EDT or PDT - stay tuned!), the first 30,000 visitors to FedEx's Facebook page can sign up for a $25 ShopSmall AmEx gift card. This is all part of its campaign for Small Business Saturday (Nov. 26), encouraging shoppers to buy from their local independent businesses this holiday season. A good idea whether you get one of the gift cards or not!

Restaurant.com certificates 80% off.

2011-10-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

Once again, Restaurant.com is offering 80% off on their discount gift certificates, this time as a Halloween special. Use code PUMPKIN through Oct. 31 to get 80% off — a $10-off coupon will cost you just under $1, and a $25-off coupon will cost you about $2.

For those prices, you could almost use them as trick-or-treat handouts (at least the parents would appreciate them)!

Arm & Hammer Neti Pot kit free after rebate.

2011-10-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

The season of sinus congestion is upon us, and what better time to enjoy a free Neti pot kit? Just send in the rebate form along with your receipt (with price circled) and the UPC code from the box, and you'll get your purchase price back up to $14.99.

Um... have fun?

Free sample of Aveeno Living Color 'poo and conditioner.

2011-10-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since we had a 'poo freebie, but Aveeno saves the day with some free samples of their Living Color hair stuff! Scroll down to the bottom to find the link to the online form, and your samples will be on their way to you.

Free Republic of Tea samples.

2011-10-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

It's officially tea time (says the lady with the stuffy nose and sore throat)! Start things off with some free Republic of Tea samples. Yes, you'll be signing up for their e-newsletter, so be sure to give them your very finest, and not at all junk, email account.

Facebook: Free L'Occitane 10 ml hand cream in-store.

2011-10-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

Fancy-pants bath-product store L'Occitane is offering a Facebook freebie to their fans: a free 10mL (1 oz.) hand cream, normally $10. When you "like" them, you'll register for a free coupon that they'll mail to you, which you take to a store to redeem.

Find a store near you. Seattle, our closest store is in Pacific Place, downtown.

Southwest Fare Sale: $35 and up.

2011-10-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

Southwest is having a fare sale right now and their pricing structure makes sense: you pay based on the distance you travel. So it's $35 for a distance of up to 450 miles, and on up from there to $125.

Book by October 20 and fly November 30–December 14, 2011 or January 4–February 15, 2012.

Target: Free Barista Prima K-cup sample.

2011-10-17T09:18:00.001-07:00

The coffee freebies continue! Today you can get a free sample of Barista Prima K-cup coffee through Target's sample website. They offer quite a few samples through this page, so it's worth it to stop by occasionally and see what's available.

Free La Creme coffee creamer after rebate.

2011-10-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

It seems to be Rebate Week, so let's keep it going with another one: get up to $2.99 back when you buy a full-size La Creme coffee creamer (available at Walmart and Safeway). You have until 12/31/11 to buy the product and send in the rebate, so you can even wait a while and save it for your Thanksgiving dinner or holiday cookie parties if you want.

One thing to remember with rebates is to read the instructions VERY carefully — sometimes they insist on you cutting out the UPC code, sometimes they don't, but they usually want the original receipt with the item(s) circled. So if you're trying to cash in on all the rebates this week, make sure you buy them in separate transactions so you have receipts to send off with each one.

Restaurant.com certificates 80% off.

2011-10-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

Here's another old faithful: Restaurant.com has their dining certificates for 80% off using coupon code TOUCHDOWN (I think it's a soccer term?). You know the drill - basically you're buying $10-off or $25-off coupons for $1-2, and many of them come with minimum purchase amounts or other restrictions, but they can be a pretty good deal and there are lots of restaurants to choose from. Stock up and look like a big spender!

Zombie Borders: 33% off your entire purchase.

2011-10-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

Well, how about that! Just the other day I was lamenting how the steady stream of Borders coupons always gave me things to post, and how I was going to miss them. And now we have a hauntingly similar promo code out from Zombie Borders! (The walking corpse of Borders.com is now being run by Barnes & Noble - you may have received an email this week notifying you that B&N was taking over Borders' email lists.)

Use promo code BNJ9464R to get 33% off your entire order. Good through 12/6/11 - maybe to get rid of the last bits of inventory? That's even better than the single-item discount we used to get with the coupons! I already like Zombie Borders.

$5 magazine sale at Amazon.

2011-10-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

Looking for something to curl up with during the fall and winter months ahead? Sign yourself up for a $5 magazine subscription through Amazon. And I just want to point out that Country Living is much better than you're probably thinking — it's not like Country Bunnies Monthly or anything. For $5, you can afford to check it out, right?

Free PAM cooking spray with rebate.

2011-10-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

It's quite the week for food rebates! In addition to the Progresso soup rebate, now we have one for PAM cooking spray. Get a free cooking spray in original, olive oil, or butter after mail-in rebate (up to $4.00). Send a copy of your cash-register receipt (dated 10/1/2011–4/27/2012) showing the purchase of PAM Original, Olive Oil, or Butter variety (with the purchase price circled), and the completed offer form. Must be received by 05/27/2012.

Just don't try to use the PAM to cook your soup. Nothing good can come of that.

Free Emergen-C Kidz samples.

2011-10-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

Emergen-C is always giving away free samples, and this time they're offering samples of Emergen-C Kidz (start 'em young!). I wonder if I would have been fooled into thinking this was just a tasty drink mix if my parents had given it to me as a kid? It probably would have been better than the time my dad tried to pass off carob chips as chocolate.

Free Aquafresh Extreme Clean toothpaste.

2011-10-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Brighten up your teeth the EXTREME way with Aquafresh Extreme Clean toothpaste! Get your free sample and let the scouring begin.

Free can of Progresso Rich & Hearty soup.

2011-10-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

If your morning commute was as chilly and rainy as mine, then there's no doubt in your mind that soup season is here. How about a free can of Progresso Rich & Hearty soup to start things off? Get a mail-in rebate for up to $2.68 when you buy one Progresso® Rich & Hearty Soup between 9/1/2011 and 1/31/2012. Fill in the rebate form and send in, along with the cash register receipt and UPC bar code symbol from can, postmarked by 2/17/2012.

Plus, that long, brisk walk as you attempt to find a mailbox or an open post office will warm you right up...

Baskin-Robbins: BOGO Flavor of the Month.

2011-10-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

It's OCTOBER, you guys! Yikes, where did that come from? Time to start getting serious about my Halloween costume.

Get in the Halloween mood with this BOGO offer from Baskin-Robbins. Buy a cone, get one free on the flavor of the month, Trick Oreo Treat, which is "vanilla ice cream with orange creme-filled Oreo Cookies, Baby Ruth, and Butterfinger candy pieces." It kind of looks like leopard-print ice cream, which, frankly, is completely fine with me.

Free sample of Dial NutriSkin Replenishing Lotion.

2011-09-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

All these super-long, super-fancy product names are the bane of my freebie-blog existence. Not only does every product have to have like four adjectives in front of its name, but then they use bogus non-words like "NutriSkin," which to me sounds like a soy-milk skin forming on your granola-hemp cereal. Do they think we won't buy it if it doesn't have an eight-word-long name?

Anyway. Get a free sample of Dial body lotion. See, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Facebook: Free Kikkoman Pearl Organic Soymilk Coffee.

2011-09-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to hear that Kikkoman is in the coffee business — aren't they mainly in the soy sauce business? Well, don't be surprised if your "coffee" has a certain umami flavor, is all I'm saying.

Seen on their Facebook page today:

"In celebration of National Coffee Day, we are offering our Facebook friends one free container of Kikkoman’s PEARL Organic Soymilk Coffee. Simply email your name and mailing address to kmag@kikkoman.com." Today only!

Free Nintendo DSi/DSiXL/3DS game.

2011-09-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

Huh, does anyone out there actually have a Nintendo 3DS? I hear they're not selling so well. But anyway, if you have a DSi or a DSiXL or a 3DS, you can download a free copy of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition. Up to 4 people can play together at once via wifi, as long as you all have the game.

Good for a limited time, so download now and embark on a magically portable quest!

Free sample of Crest Complete toothpaste.

2011-09-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

After all those cups of free coffee, you're going to want to brush your teeth to avoid staining... so here's a freebie for a sample of Crest Complete toothpaste! This is what my dentist gives me, so let's just say I have a few travel-size tubes already lying around. I could probably just start squeezing it into my coffee to save time.

Free coffee from 7 am to 11 am on Sep. 29 at 7-11.

2011-09-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

Whoa, this National Coffee Day thing is serious. 7-11 is celebrating by giving away FREE coffee on Sep. 29, from 7:00 to 11:00 am. You cnn also play some sort of silly online game on their FB page, but it's not necessary in order to go in and get your free coffee tomorrow.

We're going to be WIRED tomorrow, friends!

Free Allure beauty giveaways every day at 9:00 am PDT!

2011-09-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

OK, I admit I wasn't going to post this at first because the freebies didn't sound that interesting, but it's my bad for not looking more closely at it. But you still have 3 days' worth of freebies to get! Each day at 9:00 am PDT, Allure is giving away a freebie to the first 10,000 people; today's is a Secret Natural Mineral Deodorant. Tomorrow is an Olay soap bar and then Friday is an Olay SPF moisturizer.

It's a little hectic right now as their servers get overloaded, but 10,000 is a lot of people, so just give it a minute and keep refreshing and you should get yours, stinky.

BOGO coffee drinks at Caribou Coffee Sep. 29.

2011-09-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

It's National Coffee Day on Sep. 29! Caribou Coffee wants to celebrate with BOGO coffee drinks all day long. Find a location near you (sadly, there aren't any in Washington state, so we'll just have to celebrate coffee at regular price).

Sep. 24 is Smithsonian Magazine's Free Museum Day.

2011-09-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

Want to enjoy a day at the museum for free this weekend? Lucky for you, it's Smithsonian Magazine's Free Museum Day, with over 1,400 participating museums nationwide. Just fill out the form and you'll receive an emailed ticket; take that to the museum and enjoy your $0 day of culture. That should leave you with plenty of spare change for a package of astronaut ice cream from the gift shop.

Krispy Kreme: Free 12 oz. cup of coffee on Sep. 29.

2011-09-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, September 29, Krispy Kreme will celebrate National Coffee Day and its new Krispy Kreme Signature Coffee Blends by giving a FREE 12oz cup of House Blend Coffee to its guests in the U.S. and Canada. No purchase necessary... but who could blame you if you decided to get yourself a donut to dunk in that coffee while you were there?

Free sample of Disney gummy vitamins.

2011-09-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

Gummy vitamins are very popular in our household among the vague-desire-to-be-healthy-meets-vague-aversion-to-taking-pills demographic (100% of the total market). So these Disney character gummy vitamins should be just the ticket. Who wouldn't want to chew their favorite Disney princess to death?

Free sample of Dove Nourishing Leave-in Smoothing Cream.

2011-09-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the rainy (frizzy) season, here's a free sample offer for Dove Nourishing Leave-in Smoothing Cream. 100% frizz control sounds like something I could use during the 10 rainy months of the year in Seattle.

Seattle: Free Day of Music, Sep. 18 at Benaroya Hall.

2011-09-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Whether you like rock, hip-hop, jazz, world or classical music, Benaroya Hall is offering a Free Day of Music on September 18, from noon to 6 pm! Over 40 acts will be performing, all for FREE. Looks like there will be some theater and dance performances, too. Check out the full listing and plan your day of music!

Free sample of Kleenex Cool Touch tissues.

2011-09-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

Get a free sample of Kleenex Cool Touch tissues, "the only tissue that actively releases a cool sensation to soothe your sore nose on contact." If, you know, that's something you want in your life. I'm not sure I do.

Free sample of Icy Hot Naturals pain relief cream.

2011-09-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

Soothe those tired muscles with a free sample of Icy Hot Naturals pain relief cream. Click on the "get your free sample" button around the middle of the page.

Do you think this would work faster if I squeezed it directly into my free Joe coffee? I like to combine my pain relief with a jolt of caffeine, if possible.