August is often one of the most expensive months of the year as families gear up for back-to-school. However, it is also a goldmine for freebies, grants, and massive sweepstakes. From free cookies and root beer floats to $5,000 cash giveaways, here is your roadmap to saving big this month.
August Freebie Calendar
These offers are date-specific, so set your reminders now!
- August 4: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. DoubleTree by Hilton invites people to stop by any location for their famous cookie (featuring a secret splash of lemon juice!). No stay is required. Details here.
- August 4: National Night Out. Communities across all 50 states host free block parties with law enforcement. Many events include free hot dogs, snacks, school supplies, and health screenings. (Note: Some regions celebrate this in October instead so check with your local agencies).
- August 6: National Root Beer Float Day. Visit A&W between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. for a FREE small Root Beer Float. Find an A&W near you.
- August 18: National Icee Day is being celebrated for the first time ever. There are over 1,800 participating locations including many Walmarts.
- August 22: Lowe’s Mini Cooler Giveaway. Starting at 10:00 a.m., the first 150 MyLowe’s Rewards members at participating stores can snag a free Mini Cooler Cup.
- August 25: National Parks Free Day. Celebrate the NPS 110th birthday with free entry to all National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.
Don’t forget to check your state’s schedule for upcoming sales tax holidays! Many states offer tax-free weekends this month for clothing, school supplies, and computers.
Don’t Miss These Deadlines
August is the last call for some of the freebies and deals we’ve shared in prior videos. Don’t forget:
- Free Summer Meals: The Summer Food Service Program provides free meals to kids 18 and under through late August in many areas.
- Book It! Deadline: The current reading program session wraps up on August 31 so don’t forget to have your child claim their free pizza by then!
- Blue Star Museums: Free admission for military families ends September 7.
- LIHEAP Energy Assistance: The application season for cooling/heating assistance ends August 15 in many states.
Grants & Financial Assistance
If you need a financial boost for education or home costs, these deadlines are approaching:
- Single Parent Scholarship (AR & Bowie County, TX): Applications for the Fall 2025 semester are open from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1. These flexible funds cover “real-life” needs like gas, rent, and car repairs. Apply here.
- Ohio Disability Grant: Applications for the Community Fund Ohio’s individual disability grant program are due August 15, 2026. This program can provide up to $7,500 toward home modifications, assistive technology and more . Learn more.
Don’t forget to check our upcoming deadlines page for more limited-time opportunities!
Sweepstakes Opportunities
You can’t win if you don’t enter! These three giveaways all offer $5,000 prizes:
- HGTV Home Sweet Home: Enter twice daily (once on HGTV.com and once on TLC.com) through August 12. Enter here.
- TLC Summer Cash: Enter twice daily (once on TLC.com and once on FoodNetwork.com) through August 20. Enter here.
- Grill Master Giveaway: Enter twice daily (once on FoodNetwork.com and once on Food.com) through September 8. Enter here.
Settlement Opportunities
Don’t leave money on the table if you were affected by these companies:
- Costco Marketing Emails (WA Residents): For those who received emails while living in Washington (June 2021 – July 2026). Apply here. Deadline: August 24.
- YouTube TV Renewals (CA Residents): If you paid for a renewal via YouTube billing between Feb 2017 and Oct 2021, you could get an estimated $92.26. Apply here. Deadline: August 30.
Find more upcoming class action settlements here.
Relief Recap
August is packed with ways to save, earn, and get a little extra help — but many of these opportunities have hard deadlines. Don’t let them slip by! Bookmark this page, set a reminder on your phone, and share it with a friend who could use a little relief this month.
Have a freebie or deal we missed? Drop it in the comments below!
