Holiday Freebies Guide: Free Stuff During Every Season

Smart freebie hunters know that brands align their sampling campaigns with holidays and seasons. By planning ahead, you can score free products all year long. Here's your month-by-month guide to seasonal freebies.

Winter Holidays: November through February

Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring some of the best free-with-purchase offers of the year. Beauty brands release holiday gift sets with purchase thresholds. Amazon offers free samples with select purchases. Sign up for retail email lists in early November to get early access to these promotions.

Valentine's Day in February is prime time for free chocolate and beauty samples. Godiva, Lindt, and See's Candies all run Valentine sampling campaigns. Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works offer free items with any purchase. Many restaurants offer complimentary desserts for couples dining on Valentine's Day.

Spring: March through May

Spring cleaning season in March and April brings a flood of free household product samples. Brands like Swiffer, Mr. Clean, and Clorox launch new products with generous sampling campaigns. Earth Day in April is when eco-friendly brands like Seventh Generation, Method, and Mrs. Meyer's give away free products to promote sustainable alternatives.

Mother's Day in May brings free food offers from restaurants, free flowers from select retailers, and beauty sample promotions from major department stores. Many spas offer free mini treatments during Mother's Day weekend to attract new clients.

Summer: June through August

Summer is the season of free outdoor events, concerts, and festivals that come with free samples and swag. Brand ambassadors set up at beaches, parks, and sporting events distributing everything from sunscreen to energy drinks. July Fourth celebrations include brand promotions from food companies eager to be part of your cookout.

Back-to-school season in August brings free school supply drives from community organizations and stores like Staples and Office Depot. Tech companies offer student deals and free trials timed to the school year. Many clothing stores offer free backpacks or supplies with purchase.

Fall: September through October

Pumpkin spice season is real for freebies. Starbucks, Dunkin', and other coffee chains run sampling campaigns for their seasonal drinks. Halloween brings free candy events from retailers, free trick-or-treat bags, and themed promotions. Many businesses offer free treats to costumed visitors.

Fall is also prime time for food sampling as brands launch products for the holiday cooking season. Grocery stores increase their in-store demo schedules, and food brands send samples of new soups, baking mixes, and comfort food products.

Planning Your Freebie Calendar

Create a simple spreadsheet tracking upcoming holidays and the brands that typically run promotions around them. Sign up for brand newsletters four to six weeks before major holidays. Follow freebie blogs that track seasonal offers — they do the research so you don't have to. The most organized freebie hunters save hundreds of dollars annually simply by knowing what's available when.