In some instances you’ll have to show your ID to prove that it’s your birthday. In other instances you’ll have to share some personal information to get the freebies mentioned here. Think hard about how much information you want to give away to companies over the Internet, and keep these tips in mind:
Without further ado, here are some places across the United States where you really can enjoy a free lunch. If you know of other great deals and freebies, please share them here!";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
If you play your cards right, you could eat out almost every day of the week and not spend a dime on your kids’ food. To name just a few examples: Kids can eat free at many Denny’s restaurants on Tuesday and Saturday nights and at many Perkins and IHOP restaurants on multiple nights of the week. (Just call your local restaurant ahead of time to learn what’s available and when.) Local family restaurants in your area also may offer similar deals, so be sure to ask.
To peruse an eye-popping list of restaurants around the country where children eat free, check out CouponDivas.com. (Click on “hide sidebar” to see all the information on the page clearly. The list truly is impressive. Just be sure to double-check with those restaurants in your area before you go to make sure the specials will be offered on those days where you live.)";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
You were wise to click here, grasshopper. Based on the information you will behold here, you will quickly see that you should never, ever pay for food, desserts or drinks on your birthday. Some examples:
To see a list of birthday freebies that will blow your mind, check out this 'Be Centsible And Save' blog post. Again, be sure to call these businesses in your area to make sure the birthday deals are available where you live.";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
Nothing tastes better than free ice cream, and here are some deals you simply can’t pass up:
For planning purposes, your Slurpee will be 7.11 ounces in size. ";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
It’s an annual tradition: On the official first day of spring, you can slurp up a free, regular-size Italian ice at a Rita’s location near you. Yum!
For details, click here.";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
Each year on Mardi Gras – also known as Fat Tuesday – you can gobble up a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes at an IHOP restaurant near you.
The deal has no strings attached, but the restaurant will invite you to make a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network or to another local charity. If you’ve got a hankering to mark your calendar, Fat Tuesday will fall on Feb. 16 in 2010.
For more information about this promotion, click here.";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
That’s right: Mickey wants to party with you. On your birthday, you can enjoy free admission to Walt Disney World in Florida or to Disneyland in California. You’ll just have to show a valid ID to seal the deal.
For details, click here.";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
On your next road trip – or any kind of trip, for that matter – don’t forget to swing by the visitors’ center if the community you’re visiting has one. You can score oodles of free samples and fun stuff at visitors’ centers, including snacks, toothpaste, shampoo and other gems. You also can nab all sorts of great coupons and buy-one-get-one-free deals.";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
Most museums offer free admission one day of the week or month. Many art galleries also offer free receptions that feature wine, cheese and other snacks.
Also, don’t forget the power of the Internet. A quick online search for the name of your city along with the words \"free activities\" or \"free kids' activities\" can do wonders. Some Web sites are dedicated to highlighting free or dirt-cheap activities for parents in certain cities; Red Tricycle, for instance, provides lists of such options in the Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego areas.";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
Jax Kar Washes in Michigan offer free car washes on customers' birthdays, as long as they show their IDs to an attendant.
Local car washes in your area may offer similar deals, so be sure to ask. Rub-a-dub-dub! ";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
In economic times like these, it's important to remember to tap into resources such as the Freecycle Network. Such sites allow you to give stuff away and obtain stuff free of charge from folks who live in your area.
You also can find free items through classified ads, secondhand stores, yard sales and these Web sites: Craigslist, Sharing Is Giving, ReUseIt Network and FreeSharing.org
When using such resources, though, always have an eye toward giving, not just receiving. For your first posting, consider offering to give something away rather than announcing what you want. It's the polite thing to do! ";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
Warehouse clubs, such as Costco and Sam’s Club, offer oodles of free food samples as you roll your cart up and down the aisles. Time it correctly and you can score the equivalent of a full meal.
Trader Joe’s and other specialty grocery stores also offer exceptionally yummy free samples. Eat up!";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
With a little bit of planning, you may never pay for toothpaste, razors or skin-care products again. How’s that? By scoring free samples!
In many cases you may have to sacrifice some of your personal information online to get the samples, but if you don’t mind doing that, you can have all sorts of free stuff show up at your home. As mentioned in the introduction to this feature, be sure to create a separate, free e-mail account for these transactions so that your main personal account doesn’t get clogged with spam. Also, do whatever you can to avoid sharing your phone number when you sign up to receive free stuff.
Here are sites where the getting’s good:
Also remember that you’re likely to be given a stash of free samples to try at home if you get a free makeover at a department store. Even if you don’t get a makeover, you can often reap big rewards by politely asking for free product samples at department stores, cosmetology schools, beauty-supply stores and even drug stores. And you don't have to give away any of your personal information to do this!";
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Considering how many people are grappling with high prescription drug costs, it's important to remember to find deals wherever and whenever you can. Try these tricks:
Another site that can point you to drug manufacturers’ assistance programs is NeedyMeds.org. Pfizer also offers assistance programs for people who need help paying for prescription drugs. For details, click here. ";
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Today_Freebies[i-1].body = "
Get thee to the nearest public library! You’ll find free movies, music, magazines, books, Internet access and more. Be sure to check out the free readings, free kids' activities and other fun, free stuff that you can add to your calendar.
If you haven't been to the library in a while, just go. You'll get hooked! ";
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