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Freebies You Can Get in October 2017

By U.S. News & World Report

Fun-size chocolate bars and candy corn flow freely throughout October, a month synonymous with Halloween. But candy isn’t the only thing you can get for free during the spooky month this year. Here are some of the best freebies you can get in October.

[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]

Free coffee from Tim Hortons
Sept. 29 to Oct. 8

National Coffee Day took place in September, but Tim Hortons is extending the celebration. Up until Oct. 8, you can get a free original blend, dark roast, decaf or iced coffee of any size when you download the Tim Hortons app.

Free kids meal at Baja Fresh
Oct. 31

This Halloween, Baja Fresh is hooking families up with a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree. No costume is required, but you must be a member of Club Baja to access the deal.

[See: How to Live on $13,000 a Year.]

Free kids meal at Bertucci’s
Oct. 25 to Nov. 1

During the week leading up to Halloween, Bertucci’s is treating children in costume to free kids meals. The purchase of an adult entree is required.

Free kids meal at Carrows Restaurants
Oct. 31

Carrows doles out free kids meals to costumed children with the purchase of an adult entree on Halloween. To redeem the deal, check with your local Carrows to see whether it is participating this Halloween.

Free tickets at Chuck E. Cheese
Oct. 1 to Oct. 31

In honor of “Chucktober,” kids in costume can get 50 free tickets all month long at Chuck E. Cheese.

Free kids meal at Coco’s Bakery Restaurants
Oct. 31

Every Halloween, Coco’s Bakery Restaurants hands out free kids meals to youngsters in costume with the purchase of an adult entree. To see whether your restaurant will participate this Halloween, contact your local Coco’s Bakery.

Free taco at Chuy’s
Oct. 4

To celebrate National Taco Day, Chuy’s is giving away free entrees to guests who visit in a taco costume. On the holiday, Chuy’s will also offer $1 crispy beef tacos and $1 off Mexican beers.

[See: 12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families.]

Free tacos at Del Taco
Oct. 1 to Oct. 31

All month long, you can get two free grilled chicken tacos if you sign up for Raving Fan e-Club at Del Taco. As a member, you’ll also receive one free premium shake on your birthday.

Free kids meal at HomeTown Buffet
Oct. 31

Many HomeTown Buffet locations celebrate Halloween by inviting kids wearing Halloween costumes to eat free with the purchase of an adult buffet meal. Check with your local restaurant to see whether it will offer a free kids buffet this year.

Free scary face pancake at IHOP
Oct. 31

To celebrate Halloween, IHOP is serving up free design-your-own scary face pancakes to youngsters. The buttermilk pancakes feature a whipped topping mouth with a strawberry nose, plus two mini Oreo cookie “eyes” and candy corn “fangs.”

Free kids meal McAlister’s Deli
Oct. 31

To celebrate Halloween, McAlister’s Deli hooks up kids in costume with a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree. Contact your local restaurant for confirmation of participation and details.

Free pizza from Mellow Mushroom
Sept. 19 to Oct. 31

Mellow Mushroom has partnered with No Kid Hungry to raise money for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Donate $5 to No Kid Hungry and receive a free small pepperoni pizza the next time you dine at Mellow Mushroom.

Free kids meal at Mimi’s Cafe
Oct. 31

On Halloween, Mimi’s Cafe locations will offer free kids meals to youngsters, costume or no costume, with the purchase of an adult entree. Check with your local Mimi’s to ensure participation.

Free pizza from Papa Gino’s Pizzeria
Sept. 23 to Oct. 31

In recognition of Fire Safety Month, Papa Gino’s sponsors Fire Safety Open Houses throughout October. At these events, guests can visit their local fire station to learn about fire awareness and enjoy free pizza from Papa Gino’s. Visit PapaGinos.com to find an event near you.

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Freebies You Can Get in October 2017 originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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