11 Fantastic Summer Freebies

Freebie No. 1: Coffee

The coffee wars are heating up, and that’s a good thing for us coffee lovers! In an attempt to hook more customers on its new McCafe coffee offerings, McDonald’s is offering one free 7-ounce iced mocha or 8-ounce hot mocha every Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until August 3. No coupon needed, but the offer is at "participating locations" only. Here’s hoping your nearest McDonald’s is one of them! By the way, Daria (and her discerning taste buds) loves the new McDonald’s coffee so even hard-core coffee lovers should give this a try!

Next: Free Chocolate

Freebie No. 2: Chocolate

If coffee isn’t your thing, how about chocolate?? Every Friday from now through September, Mars is giving the first 250,000 people a coupon for free chocolate. You can choose from M&Ms, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Twix, Dove, and Milky Way. To get your coupon, visit Mars’ Real Chocolate Relief Act site at 9 a.m.-- be on time or you’ll be out of luck!

Next: Free Music

Freebie No. 3: Music from iTunes & NYLON Magazine

Get on your dancing shoes and headset and turn on your computer ... no money needed. NYLON magazine and iTUNES are offering 22 MP3 songs by groups featured in their magazine for download in honor of NYLON magazine’s annual June/July music issue. Check it out: Just click to download -- and listen!

Next: Broadway Tickets

Freebie No. 4: Broadway Tickets

Daria and I lived in New York City for years, and have a special place in our heart for Broadway shows. But those ticket prices ... $200 or more for a pair of tickets to a popular Broadway show -- ouch! How about a free ticket to a Broadway play or musical instead? Established in 1973, “TKTS” sells unsold tickets on the day of the performance for all Broadway shows (and many off-Broadway shows) for 25-50% off the box office price. You can often get two tickets for the price of one!

Check out www.nyctourist.com/broadway_tkts.asp or if you are in New York City, stop by the TKTS booth in Times Square.

Next: Business Cards

Freebie No. 5: Free Business Cards

Whether you’re starting a new small business or running an existing one, we found a great place to get free business cards. www.freeprintablebusinesscards.net has a dizzying array of all types of business cards designs, from corporate business to animal business to nature business to kids’ business card designs. All free. We’re going to use the site to re-design our own business cards!

Next: Free Computer Camp for Kids

Freebie No. 6: Free Computer Camp for Kids

Forget the summer camp archery contests, arts and crafts and canoing in the lake. Today’s kids are high-tech and so are their camps. Apple computer stores are offering a free camp for kids ages 8-12 who are interested in computers and software. Starting July 13, Apple stores around America are offering a series of FOUR different three-hour workshops during which kids will be introduced to MACS and Apple software and learn how to make a movie, create a slide show, write and record a sing or craft a presentation. It’s free, but space is limited and each child is limited to two workshops this summer. For more information and an Apple workshop location near you, go to www.apple.com/retail/camp.

Next: Birthday Deals

Freebie No. 7: Birthday Deals

YUM! Your taste buds and wallet will thank you for taking advantage of these special freebies on your birthday.

· Cold Stone Creamery - free ice cream by signing up for their free My Coldstone Account
· California Pizza Kitchen - free kids meal during the month of their birthday if you sign up in advance of the big day
· Applebee's - free dessert on your birthday
· Denny's - free meal and sundae for kids under 10, if you sign up in advance
· TGI Friday's - free birthday dessert with purchase of an entrée
· Quizno's - free cookie on your birthday
· Wendy's - free kids meal on their birthday (plus, $1 off coupon for signing up on their Web site)
· Burger King - join the BK Birthday Club to get a free BK Kids Hamburger Meal coupon

All of these offers are subject to change without notice, so check with your local franchise.

Next: Free Weekend in the Park

Freebie No. 8: Weekend in the Park

How about a nice, quiet walk in the park? A beautiful national park! The National Park Service will offer fee-free weekends this summer to encourage cash-strapped families to visit national parks -- and to help boost local economies. All 147 National Park Service sites that charge entry fees will waive them on August 15 and 16. The fees at these parks normally cost from $3 to $25, so it’s a nice savings.

Next: Cash for Summer Reading

Freebie No. 9: Cash for Reading

Can’t get the kids to read this summer? Try the old standby: give ‘em cold hard cash! TD Bank is offering a summer reading program to encourage kids to read and develop the habit of saving money.

There is no age limit for kids for this reading promotion. Each time a child reads a book on their own or with a parent, they simply have to write it down on a form that can be printed out at www.tdbank.com/summerreading. A child can earn $10 for reading 10 books this summer. The $10 credit will be deposited in a new, or existing, Young Savers Account when they take the completed form (with the list of 10 books read) to a TD Bank branch.

Next: Popular Medications for Free

Freebie No. 10: Popular Medications

Pfizer, the world's biggest research-based drug maker is offering 70 different drugs -- including big sellers such as Lipitor and Viagra -- for free for up to one year for those Americans who have lost their jobs and health insurance. The program applies to anyone regardless of prior family income who has lost their job since January 1 and has been prescribed one of the company’s drugs for at least three months. You can enroll until 12/31/09 by calling 866.706.2400 to sign up. You can also apply online at www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com.

Next: Free Online Movies

Freebie No. 11: Free Online Movies

It costs more than $10 to go to a movie in some cities, plus traffic, parking, babysitter and overpriced treats at the concession stand! Forget it! Stay at home and crank up the microwave popcorn instead, because SONY is making nearly 100 of its films available on www.CRACKLE.com, the company's online movie and TV video Web site, including "Spiderman-3" and other titles such as "A Few Good Men."

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More From Dolans.com:

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