Gift-giving can be a beautiful thing; going into debt from holiday spending is not. While I don't advocate giving free toothpaste samples as holiday gifts, freebies can be used to stretch your Christmas gift dollar further than you think. With a little creativity and advance planning, freebies and free gift with purchases can help soften the holiday blow on your budget. Here are a few ideas I plan on using this year:
FREE TRIAL MEMBERSHIP TO A FITNESS CENTER: If you know someone who has been thinking about getting back in shape and could use a little nudge, there are three different fitness centers that offer free trial memberships. Just print off the free membership certificate to Bally Fitness Center, Lifetime Fitness or 24-Hour Fitness Center and stuff it in a card or stocking. This makes a nice addition to a larger Christmas gift (think new workout clothes or athletic shoes) or by itself as a secret Santa treat, white elephant gift or stocking stuffer.
FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE: These goodies run constantly and change from week to week. You can often get a free gift with purchase that is worth more than the required spending amount, like the current offer at Ulta.com for two free hurricane style candle holders ($50 value) when you spend only $30 on fragrance. Use your purchase as two separate gifts, or to make one gift extra special. Some other juicy free gift with purchase deals running right now include the free gift with $10 purchase at Bath & Body Works, the free scarf with sweater purchase at Victoria's Secret, the free six-piece Glamour Goddess gift with $45 purchase or the Restorative Treats six-piece gift with $45 purchase at Borghese, the BOGO free on bath items at e.l.f. Cosmetics, the free Metallic Flower Clutch and eight samples with $25 purchase or the free Harajuku Lovers Alarm Clock with Harajuku Lovers Solid Coffret purchase at Sephora, the free Estée Lauder gift ($200 value) with $55 purchase at Saks Fifth Avenue and your choice of free gift with any purchase at Yves Rocher. These are a few of the current free gifts with purchase. They change frequently, so be sure to check the FREE Today section weekly to keep up with the newest additions.
FREE PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGE: You should check the expiration date on these, but printing off the coupon and including it in an early Christmas/Holiday card is a nice idea for family members, or as secret Santa and white elephant gifts. We have two of these running currently. The first is a fantastic deal that lasts until December 31 for a free session plus a free 10x13 wall portrait at Sears Portrait Studio. You'll save $44.97 with this impressive package. The second is a free set of 15 portrait gift tags with a new portrait session at Picture People. This package you'd definitely want to take advantage of early so it could be used in time for Christmas, plus the expiration date is December 26. But portrait gift tags are a fun and unique way to put your family's stamp on gift-giving this holiday season.
FREE VIRTUAL GIFTS: Virtual Christmas gifts are great for online friendships. Internet-based friendships are a part of the modern age...with many of these friendships, you don't have the person's postal address but you still want to send holiday cheer. Sending an eCard or holiday email with a link to a free service or download is a great way to spread Christmas spirit without having to spend extra money. You can also add links when your filling out your Christmas cards, so your friends and family get an extra bonus.
Barnes & Noble Free eReader: Do you have a friend that is attached to their iPhone or Blackberry constantly? Send them a link to the Barnes & Noble free eReader that they can download onto their device (it can also be downloaded to a PC or Mac). The eReader comes with six free books automatically, plus gives them access to hundreds of free books they can download on the Barnes & Noble site. They can also purchase many books at reduced prices.
25 Free iTunes Downloads on LSTN #7 at Urban Outfitters: Free music downloads are an excellent idea and this link gives you 25 different tracks featuring artists like the Vivian Girls, Darlings, No Age, the Dodos, the Very Best and more.
Free Virtual Makeover Tool at E.L.F.: This one is great for your female friends. With this online tool, they can download a picture of themselves and then try out new hairstyles and makeup styles. This freebie is a great way to save money and avoid a bad haircut!
--Renee
Image courtesy of Dean Morrissey Studio