Experience a day of complimentary indulgence with £60 worth of goodies, featuring MAC cosmetics, cocktails, tacos, and cakes. Here's a guide to help you replicate the experience:
Who doesn't crave a little something for nothing? That's why I spent a day hunting down deals on my local high street, and I managed to snag some sweet freebies worth £60.44. Shops throw out freebies to promote new products, reward loyal customers, or entice new shoppers.
With the cost of living on the rise, scoring a freebie is more important than ever. Food and drink prices have skyrocketed in recent years, making it expensive to grab a bite or a drink out. A takeaway coffee now sets you back £2.95, while a restaurant main course costs a hefty £15.74 - according to the Office for National Statistics.
I was eager to see how many freebies I could score, so I stepped out to test my bargain-hunting skills.
8:30am
I kicked off my day with coffee in mind, hitting up my local Greggs. I'd signed up for their app the night before and secured myself a free coffee. All I had to do was enter my email, password, postcode, and birthday, then open the app to activate the reward. With a barcode in hand, I showed the cashier, and I walked away with a coffee in hand.
Saving: £1.90
8:45am
Next stop: a nearby Danish bakery, Ole and Steen. They offer free pastries and tarts to loyal customers, and this week it was a free scoop of cinnamon ice cream. I'd already downloaded the app and signed up, providing my email, birthday, and phone number. Unfortunately, the deal was only available in specific stores, and I walked away empty-handed - but I managed to grab a free pastry with my birthday coupon.
Saving: £3.75
1pm
Lunchtime rolled around, and I set my sights on Chopstix Noodle Bar, where I scored five free spring rolls by downloading their app and choosing a password. The crunchy rolls, filled with delectable veggies, were a tasty and cost-effective treat.
Saving: £2.50
1:10pm
Still hungry, I walked 15 minutes down the road to Taco Bell. Their app offered a free Crunchy Taco, so I quickly downloaded it, entered my email and password, and claimed my taco. The taco was substantial and hit the spot.
Saving: £3.49
1:20pm
Afterwards, I popped into Waitrose to grab a free coffee in my reusable cup, thanks to my MyWaitrose loyalty program membership. All I had to do was show my card or the digital version in the Waitrose app. A cappuccino, usually around £4.10 from Caffe Nero, was mine for free.
Saving: £4.10
1:30pm
Feeling great, I decided to stop by Rituals to score some free beauty products. I asked the staff for samples and left with a miniature sun protection cream and a tester of anti-aging night cream. The sun cream would usually run me £3.78, and the night cream, £4.19 - safe to say I was thrilled with my freebies.
Saving: £7.97
1:40pm
Feeling confident, I popped into Mac Cosmetics and asked for free samples. They handed over two samples of Hyper Realism Serum, a popular and pricey product. Each sample was worth approximately £12.80.
Saving: £12.80
1:50pm
On my way back to the office, I realized I was running low on foundation. I stopped by Boots and asked the Estee Lauder counter for help. They hooked me up with a ten-day supply of foundation, usually £49 for a full bottle, and another sample in a lighter shade.
Saving: £4.90
1:55pm
I swung by The Body Shop to grab some samples of their Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter and Hemp Hand Protector. A complete bottle of each typically costs around £13 and £16, respectively.
FREE Birthday Treats
Many stores offer freebies for your birthday, like a free medium-sized Dunkin Donuts birthday frappe, a free sweet treat at Costa Coffee, or a free bake, breakfast roll, or coffee with any purchase from Greggs - just download their app and register. To get the deals, you'll usually need to provide your name, phone number, email address, and date of birth. Some chains send the voucher at the beginning of the month, while others deliver it on your birthday.
Saving: £2.24
3pm
Back at my desk, I jumped online to hunt for more deals. I found free samples of Spearmint Nicotine Pouches from the Nordic Spirit website and a free sachet of Felix As Good As It Looks Chicken for my cat from the Purina website.
Saving: £6.79
6pm
After work, I met up with friends for a drink and decided to check out Dusk, an app that offers free drinks and rewards at various pubs and bars. I signed up with my email, gender, and date of birth, searched for pubs nearby, and claimed a free Hugo Spritz - cheers!
Saving: £10
Now go forth and conquer those freebies! Remember to check out store apps, loyalty programs, and sign up for newsletters to stay informed about promotions. Keep an eye on store websites, social media, and app stores for valuable deals. Happy hunting!
Sources:
[1] Kobayashi, S. (2021, August 2). Four Mac Cosmetics freebie products worth up to $88 you can get this week only. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/story/2021-08-02/mac-cosmetics-freebie-products
[2] Warfel, M. (2022, September 12). 18 Restaurant Apps That Still Offer Freebies and Discounts. Retrieved from https://lifehacker.com/18-restaurant-apps-that-still-offer-freebies-and-8985082
[3] Upton, T. (2022, June 22). What Does NORMS Restaurants Offer? Retrieved from https://creatorsmine.com/normal-restaurants-offerings
[4] Taylor, R. (2022, November 22). The best food and drink deals, according to Theatie. Retrieved from https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/7017827/best-food-and-drink-deals/
[5] Lavelle, C. (2022, August 18). These 30 Restaurant Apps Will Save You Money and Make Eating Out More Fun. Retrieved from https://www.thefreebieguy.com/restaurant-apps/
- With various food-and-drink establishments offering freebies to promote new products, reward loyal customers, or entice new shoppers, dining out doesn't always have to break the budget.
- Traveling can also be a cost-effective experience, as many restaurants and bars offer free drinks and rewards through apps like Dusk, especially if you sign up, search for locations, and claim your free Hugo Spritz or similar deals.
- Online product-reviews can guide budget-minded travelers to discover affordable dining options when exploring new destinations.
- Shopping local can yield surprising benefits, such as free samples of beauty products or skincare items, making it an exciting part of the food-and-drink lifestyle.
- To make the most of these freebies, one must stay informed about promotions, store apps, and sign up for newsletters, keeping an eye on store websites, social media, and app stores for valuable deals.
