Take Advantage of Refund Offers
Many grocery stores and companies offer refunds on items that did not satisfy the needs or expectations of the customer. Most people will simply throw away the bag and receipt of a food that they did not enjoy, but others choose to hold companies to their money-back guarantees if the quality of the food was poor.
ALDI supermarkets, which have extraordinarily low prices to begin with, offer a double guarantee on all food products sold in their stores. This means that if a customer is not satisfied, he can get his money back on the item and also receive a replacement for it -- amounting to two food items at no cost whatsoever.
Many other brands also offer guarantees on their products, but they may have to be gained by contacting the distributor, not the store of purchase. Bear in mind that these refund-offers should only be used when the product truly was unsatisfactory. Habitually abusing the system to receive free food may cost you your privilege to return unwanted items in the future, and it is also dishonest.
Combine a Coupon and a Sale Price
When aiming to get free food, it is important to clip, save, and subscribe to as many coupon distributors as you can. Check your spam box on your email, look online for printable deals, and scour the Sunday paper. Register your mailing address with stores and franchises you enjoy, and keep coupons in your wallet at all times. Treat them like cash and do not throw them away.
To get free food using coupons, scan the shelves and store circulars regularly. When you get lucky, you'll see signs that say things like, "Clearance--four jars of Gerber baby food for $1!" Combine that with the manufacturer's "$1 off four jars of Gerber baby food" coupon, and you've just landed yourself four completely free meals for your precious little one.
Deals like these are not as difficult or hard to come by as one might expect, and many websites are dedicated to helping thrifty shoppers find deals like these. CVS pharmacy is famous among online communities of thrifty shoppers for their "hidden deals" for free items available to Extra-Care Club members.
Look into Craigslist and Freecycle
Craigslist and Freecycle are both online groups that offer free items of all kinds. Although free items are somewhat hard to come by on Craigslist, they are the sole topic of Freecycle communities. While both organizations focus more on larger items like scrap metal, furniture, and electronic equipment, offers for free food occasionally appear on both.
There are many different reasons for food being offered for free on either website. Sometimes it is the result of an item being slightly out-of-date, and these foods are usually perfectly edible and nutritious. More often, people will offer foods that were purchased for them that they did not want.
Finding free food on Craigslist and Freecycle may require a bit of extra searching, since groceries are not the main topic of either group. However, a daily check of both lists will likely yield free food within a few weeks.
Check your Local Food Bank or Soup Kitchen
Food banks and soup kitchens operate in almost every city in the U.S. They can generally be found by contacting your town's Salvation Army, United Way, or County Human Resources Department. Food banks offer free food to families and individuals who are on tight budgets or struggling to afford their groceries. Depending on the charity that operates the food bank, free food may only be distributed after showing proof of your income (or lack thereof).
Soup kitchens are usually operated by church organizations. Many people are worried or concerned about the potential for embarrassment by going to a church-operated soup kitchen, but are surprised when they realize how many of their neighbors and co-workers are also there. While there are some soup kitchens attended primarily by the extremely poor and the homeless, others are also visited by working-class and working-poor families.
When visiting a soup kitchen or food bank, always remember to be curteous to the volunteers. Although you have no reason to feel embarrassed, you should also avoid having a high-and-mighty attitude of entitlement. Complaining that the food isn't what you expected or wanted will not get you better food--it will simply offend the volunteers who work hard to help families like yours. Unwanted free food obtained at food banks can always be listed on Craigslist or FreeCycle.
Apply for Food Stamp Benefits or WIC
Federal and state operated programs are available to help feed individuals and families that are financially struggling. Free food through both programs are available to individuals as well as couples, based on income and other factors.
Disabled people and families with children generally receive larger Food Stamp allotments than adults who are able to work. In most states, WIC and Food Stamps are only available to people who work, are disabled, or are caring for children full-time. Call your local Human Resources deparment to learn about the requirements in your own state and county.
The federally operated WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program is specifically designed for young children and women who are pregnant or nursing. The income limit for obtaining WIC benefits is relatively high compared to other government benefit programs--you may be surprised to find out that you qualify. Unlike Food Stamps, WIC only provides specific foods, which the USDA says are designed to meet the nutritional needs of their target recipients.
Free food is easy to come by if you know where to look and how to take advantage of offers that arise. With careful planning, you may save tens or even hundreds of dollars every month by scouring the shelves and city for literally priceless deals.
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