This Thanksgiving, you can get a free dinner just by downloading an app and filling up your online shopping cart. The shopping app Ibotta aims to help families enjoy a sizable meal without some of the costs.
Eligible food items
It’s a “cash back” offer, and you will need to download the Ibotta app or browser extension to access the meal deal. Clicking the “Free Thanksgiving Day dinner” offer in the app or web browser will reroute you to Walmart’s Pick up and Delivery service to redeem your free meal. This means you will need to also make a Walmart Pick up & Delivery account if you don’t already have one. Eligible items include:
3-pound turkey roast
Gravy, 0.87 oz
Stuffing Mix, 6 oz
Mashed Potatoes, 8 oz pouch
Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, 10.5 oz can
Cranberry Sauce, 14 oz
Green Beans, 12 oz
Crispy Fried Onions, 2.8 oz
And a 2-liter bottle of cola
How to redeem the cash back offer
Online shop as usual, choosing the items listed above through Ibotta and Walmart. When loading the items in your cart, the total cash back amount will be tallied and available for withdrawal within the app. In-store purchases can still qualify for the deal, but you will need to purchase the items and upload a receipt to redeem the cash back. Cash can be received within as little as 24 hours.
There are some restrictions, like all Coca-Cola being available except Coke Zero, for some reason. Check out the fine print and frequently asked questions to make sure you are saving as much as you can. Items are also only available on a first-come first-served basis, so shopping sooner rather than later is advantageous for the offer. Luckily, you do not need to order every item on the list to get cash back.
How much are you saving?
The American Farm Bureau reported after their 2019 survey that the average Thanksgiving Day meal for a family of 10 runs about $48.91. The items listed above are valued at just over $20 and said to feed a family of five. For an average household, it’s not too shabby.
Of course, the average household is also challenged by the pandemic this year, including unemployment and higher electricity bills. Households are even spending more on food during the pandemic, with more meals at home and rising grocery costs. Getting any money back at the holidays hopefully helps take the pressure off when celebrating this season.
Update 11/19/20, 5:10pm: Edited to clarify that the above offer is courtesy of Ibotta, and is not in partnership with Walmart.