So there are a ton of free samples available – I share some of them here on the blog and many more in the little green widget in the sidebar. But what to do with all of them? No sense in requesting them if they can’t be put to good use, right?
Here’s my Top 5 Things To Do With Free Samples – add your ideas in the comments!
1. Save them for stocking stuffers.
This use for freebies requires some planning ahead, but if you start requesting freebies in January, you’ll surely have enough to fill up your family’s stockings come next Christmas! Maybe you’ve never done stockings before – they can be a huge expense – but by requesting free samples you can get some really fun stuff and start a new family tradition for free!
You can also give some freebies as gifts – I received a couple of full-size “samples” from places like Vocalpoint last year that were totally nice enough to be given as part of a gift basket.
2. Make care packages.
Got a ton of free granola bars, mini toothpaste tubes, and shampoo samples? Why not put them together and make a care package for a college student or a solider. What about the homeless? An elderly shut-in? These people groups can often use the help but may not have access to a computer or have time to request free samples.
3. Save them for in-the-car snacks.
Whether you’re taking a road trip or just planning on spending all day running errands, it’s easy to blow more than a few dollars on snacks. Why not save your money and keep a small plastic container full of free food samples in your car? When those samples come in the mail, there’s not even a need to take them inside – just put them in your container and save for later!
4. Pack a surprise in your kids’ lunches.
Even if your kids aren’t of school age yet, there’s probably a situation where they’ve had to pack a sack lunch. You are probably just as cheap as I am and don’t buy “exciting” stuff like Lunchables or those cute, overpriced packages of chips or crackers. But, you can still pack a fun treat by using those free food samples!
5. Use them as rewards!
Got a potty training toddler? Want to reward a child for completing a weekly chore chart? There’s no too much that’s more fun to a child than being able to eat a single-serving size bag of chips, or getting a fancy new pen to use for their schoolwork. Request free samples that could be used as a reward and save yourself a trip to the dollar store.
Of course, when signing up for freebies, make sure you protect your personal information!
What other uses do you have for free samples?
This goes along with your care package idea. Our church takes a mission trip to Mexico each spring break. I save many of the samples and send them with the group. They give them out to needy families and to orphanages in the area. Many of the items are luxuries to them.
I used a lot of freebies as stocking stuffers this Christmas. It really saved a lot of money. All those little items add up!
Yes I have been saving them for my adult children as stocking stuffers…they love all the samples!
And my 18 year old son uses them in his backpack ( the food ones) when he goes skiing or camping!
I donate the samples and hotel size toiletries to the Marian House for the homeless. I donate the full-size products to Tessa.
Shampoos etc. I use to pack for short vacation trips.