By Liza G., Teen Portal Contributor
Most people I know enjoy free things, and I am certainly no exception. But lately with mass-marketed junk mail and online pop-ups with promises of free iPods and gift cards, it’s becoming harder to tell what is truly free and what has strings attached.
One fantastic (and eco-friendly) source of free things is Freecycle. With groups based geographically, there is an always-active community in Arlington passing along items that are usually in fine condition. You have to have a Yahoo account to use it, but this can be set up very easily. You also have the choice of being emailed all of the ads that the Freecyclers post or viewing them on the website; the latter can be a good idea if you want to avoid email clutter.
The system is completely user-run, so transactions are arranged by the previous and future owner of whatever is changing hands. Things listed on the site range from “Conspiracy Theorist Starter Book Collection” to “40 inch GE Electric Range Oven and Kenmore Dishwasher.” And the best part? Everything on the site is 100% free, no strings attached. Check it out at http://www.freecycle.org/group/United%20States/Virginia/Arlington.
A free favorite amongst my friends has always been free food days at restaurants and other businesses, such as the well-known Free Slurpee Day at 7-11 on 7/11 of every year. Here are some free food days that happen regularly at area stores:
Every Halloween, Chipotle gives away one burrito to every customer who comes in dressed as a burrito or another item on their menu. The best way to do this is to wear some form of aluminum foil (their signature wrapping), as they are pretty lenient on how dressed up you need to be. Reportedly, Chipotle also gives out a free burrito on tax day annually if customers fill out and turn in a mock tax form. When you purchase a burrito on February 29 (the leap year day), participating restaurants will give out a coupon for a free burrito to be claimed later. Also, rumor has it that another way to score a free meal at Chipotle is to show up on homecoming or prom night in formal attire.
Every Monday, Ben & Jerry’s will be offering a “buy one sundae get one free” deal. This is of course not completely string-free, but it’s a great deal if you’re getting ice cream with a friend. You have to mention the offer specifically to get the free sundae, and the free one must be equal to or cheaper than the purchased one. It’s unclear how long this offer will continue, but it is still being advertised on their website.
7-11 famously offers free Slurpees on July 11 (or November 7 in some countries where the date is formatted differently). While supplies last, every 7-11 store that day will have smaller cups that customers can fill for free. These cups do run out, though, so it is best to get there earlier in the day.
If you register your birthday at baskinrobins.com, you will receive a coupon for a free scoop of ice cream as well as a discount on their birthday cakes. Similarly, upon registering your birthday at coldstonecreamery.com, they will give you a free Creation.
Free food days come up all the time even if they’re not an annual or regular thing—all it takes is a little looking!
