Free and Cheap Things You Can Get in August 2025

August is absolutely packed with opportunities to get free stuff, claim helpful benefits, and even receive cash from settlements. Whether you’re heading back to school, catching up on bills, or just looking to stretch your dollars a little further, we’ve gathered everything you need to know to make the most of this month.

For example, you can save $10 right now by downloading the #1 bestselling Medicare book on Amazon! Our sponsor Chapter is generously giving away their best-selling book, It’s Not That Complicated: The Three Medicare Decisions to Protect Your Health and Money, exclusively for the Low Income Relief audience. This book breaks down Medicare in plain language so you can make the best choices for your health and your wallet. Get your free copy.

Now let’s look at what else is happening in August 2025—and how to claim your share.

Benefits You Don’t Want to Miss

Some of the best opportunities this month are time-sensitive benefits that can put real money or resources in your hands. These programs can make a big difference, especially for families with school-aged children or people looking to boost their income.

Sun Bucks (Summer EBT)

If your children qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school, you may be eligible for $120 per child through the Summer EBT (Sun Bucks) program.

Most families receive this benefit automatically, but in some states, you’ll need to apply. Check with your local school district or state SNAP website to be sure. Most deadlines are set for August 31, but some states may close earlier—so don’t wait.

Live Your Dream Award

If you’re a woman who is the main income earner for your family and you’re working toward a degree or vocational training, you may be eligible for the Live Your Dream Award from Soroptimist International. These awards range from $1,000 to $16,000 and can be used for tuition, childcare, transportation, books, and more.

Applications are open now through November 15. You can apply at soroptimist.org.

Free School Supplies & Back-to-School Events

Back-to-school season is in full swing, and many local organizations are handing out free school supplies for K-12 students. These events often include extra perks like free haircuts, health screenings, backpacks, and more.

Check our Free School Supplies Directory to see what’s available near you—but don’t wait! Most of these programs end in early August.

Business Grants from Skip

Our sponsor Skip is offering some fantastic business grant opportunities this month. These include:

• Skip Instant Grants (up to $5,000)
• AT&T’s $50,000 grant for women-owned businesses
• Galaxy Grants for women and minority-owned businesses ($2,950)

If you’ve been dreaming about starting or growing a small business, this could be your chance. Their platform and AI tools make it easy to apply.

My Safe Florida Home Grants

If you own a home in Florida, you may qualify for a matching grant up to $10,000 to help stormproof your home. This program can also help you reduce your homeowners insurance costs.

Even if you don’t want the grant, you may still qualify for a free wind mitigation inspection, which can help identify ways to better protect your home. Applications reopen August 4, so be ready!

Class Action Settlements That Pay Real Money

These companies were ordered to pay up—and if you qualify, you could receive cash, gift cards, or even credit monitoring just for filing a claim. Some payouts are small, but others can be worth hundreds (or more!).

Here are the most valuable class action settlements closing this month:

• TracFone Data Breach – Up to $50,000 or free credit monitoring. File by August 7.
• Gerber Infant Formula (FL & NY only) – Up to $80. File by August 25.
• Torrid.com Pricing Lawsuit (CA, OR, WA) – Up to $15. File by August 26.
• MySchoolBucks Upload Fees – Refunds available for fees charged between 2013 and 2019. File by August 20.
• GameStop Data Privacy – $5 cash or $10 store credit if you purchased from their website and had a Facebook account. File by August 15.
• TMX Finance Data Breach – Up to $500 for documented losses. File by August 6.
• Mattress Firm (CA only) – $40 cash or a $40 voucher. File by August 5.
• Drips Text Spam – Up to $76 or more for unwanted marketing texts. File by August 5.
• Park National Bank Overdraft Fees – Refunds available. File by August 5.

For a full list of current settlements, check out our sponsor Class Actions page.

Earn Extra Cash from Home

Our sponsor FreeCash will pay you to test new apps, play games, or complete simple surveys. It won’t make you rich, but it’s a quick way to earn some extra spending money from your phone.

You can sign up at FreeCash.com.

Relief Recap

August is the last full month of summer and your final chance to claim certain seasonal programs like Sun Bucks, school supply giveaways, and storm prep grants. With everything from cash settlements to free treats on the table, this month offers dozens of ways to get more support—so take a few minutes to claim the help you deserve.