Back during the egg shortage, the Ibotta shopping app gave away four dozen eggs to its users. Right now, Ibotta is offering a 100 percent cash-back deal on popular Thanksgiving food items:
- “Turkey roast” (more on that in a minute)
- McCormick gravy mix
- Idahoan instant mashed potatoes
- Jiffy corn muffin mix
- Edwards whole pie
A free Thanksgiving turkey – is there a catch? Kinda-sorta.
Those four free sides are available to any Ibotta user who activates and redeems the offers. One deal will be released each Monday in November, which means you still have a couple days to claim the first one (that McCormick gravy mix).
The free Thanksgiving turkey is a different story. Only new users will automatically get the gratis bird. Longtime users like me (and maybe you?) must refer someone to the app to score a turkey.
It shouldn’t be difficult to persuade someone to join, since whoever you refer will get a free turkey for downloading the app, claiming and purchasing the deal, and scanning the receipt. Not a bad way to get extra protein, or to score a free Thanksgiving turkey to donate somewhere.
Shameless plug time: If you aren’t yet an Ibotta user, I hope that you’ll use my referral link. Enter the code gtotprb (all lower case) when prompted. If anyone joins through my link, I will donate the turkey and sides to a mom I know who’s going through a rough divorce. (Edited to add: My neighbor joined using my link, so now I’m going to offer up DF’s referral code; enter the code jfbsmbn when prompted. If anyone does join with his link, he will donate the free turkey to the city’s holiday food drive.)
Note: Your referral must scan at least one receipt to unlock your free turkey offer. Ibotta will send you an email to remind you of this, so that you can remind them. Be sure to tell them that they, too, can get a free turkey if they refer someone with their own link. Just in time for the holidays: a Ponzi scheme you can eat!
How to get a free Thanksgiving turkey
As noted, a new deal gets released each Monday. If you don’t claim it in time, the deal goes away.
Before shopping, you must activate the deal by tapping the plus sign next to the item (or any other item you want to buy).
You’ll get the money into your Ibotta account within three days. (I’ve always had it show up sooner than that.) Note that you need at least $20 in an Ibotta account before you can cash out* – but if you buy all (or even most) of the items in this promotion, it’ll add up to $20-plus.
But why stop there? Cruise around the app to see the everyday deals being offered at your favorite stores. I routinely get toiletries, food items, pet supplies and OTC medications for free or almost free by combining deals on the Ibotta app with those on other apps, such as Shopkick and Checkout 51.
Grocery prices are appalling lately, so these rewards programs are a good way to shore up your budget, or to help out a food program, relative or friend. For more info on Ibotta, Shopkick and other deal opportunities, see my primer on the subject, “Rewards programs FTW!”
Some pro tips
“Turkey roast” means either a turkey breast or a whole turkey. It does not include ground turkey or deli meat. Among the accepted brands are Jennie-O, Honest Turkey, Butterball, Great Value and Honeysuckle, but others may also be accepted. Each Ibotta offer has a “check product barcode” function, so use it to be sure you’re buying the right products.
The free Thanksgiving turkey deal is good for birds priced up to $13.65. You can get a larger bird if you like, but you’ll be reimbursed for $13.65 only.
Speaking of reimbursement: The rebates are based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, which varies from place to place. For example, the gravy mix rebate is $1.29 but of course it cost more than that in Alaska. Didn’t matter to me, since I bought them with a gift card cashed in through the Shopkick deals app. In effect, I was paid to buy those items.
Note: If you’re ordering online for pickup or delivery, be certain to verify the products before you hit “pay now.” It’s a good idea to un-check the “allow substitutions” button, just to be on the safe side.
Good luck! And happy Thanksgiving.
*Ibotta offers loads of gift card options for groceries, home improvement, pet supplies, movies, clothing, restaurants and more. These cards make good gifts during the holidays, or any time.
I am a long time Ibotta user (since 2016!), and while it may take me a while to build up the minimum cash out amount, every little bit helps get there! My lifetime earnings are $752.95! That’s a pretty good passive income stream, and I like that you can transfer to your bank and not just redeem as gift cards….I don’t buy what I don’t need or cannot donate. I will be doing the “free” Thanksgiving items to donate to my local food pantry.
Exactly! DF recently joined Ibotta (sure wish I’d waited a few weeks so he could have gotten a free turkey) and has already amassed $53.95 in earnings. We are planning to replace our door locks in the near future, a project that will be paid for with gift cards from his Ibotta plus mine and maybe a cash-in from Copper or Receipt Pal if needed.
I like Ibotta (and Shopkick) because they offer supermarket gift cards and also movie theater gift cards. Balance in all things.
I don’t even celebrate Thanksgiving any more. I’m always the “poor relation” or stranger/guest at others’ meals, and it is very depressing. So several years ago, I just decided to stay home, eat a frozen dinner, binge-watch a movie or something, and do my laundry. Works for me.
However, I would strongly encourage everyone to support their local food bank this year! With the SNAP (food stamp) program in limbo, there are a lot of folks who are up a creek. One of our local food banks recently had a 3-hour wait in line and then they ran out before being able to help everyone, so many of the people went home empty-handed. If you have anything to spare, please share, and please don’t just do it at Thanksgiving and Christmas. People are struggling the whole year through!
PS — Also, please don’t assume someone wants a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings until you ASK them! I live alone, and have no family, and don’t know anyone to invite to dinner. Also, I have no oven, as mine no longer works and I can’t afford a built-in 21-inch wide replacement. (They are hard to find and massively expensive.) My (former) church had a lady call me right before Thanksgiving Thursday — and joyfully announce she was bringing me a nice, big turkey and all the trimmings! (It was such short notice that everyone’s plans would have already been made.) “No, you’re not!” I told her. After completing the phone call and hanging up, I cried for an hour or more. I know the gesture was well-meaning, but it was extremely insensitive, given my situation. (Which they knew about. Or at least the pastor and staff did.) Because of this, I am no longer a member of that congregation. So please don’t just assume that you know what’s beneficial for another person/family until you check with them first!
Some very good points here, especially as regards the “hunger is year-round” vs. “I donated at Thanksgiving and Christmas so everything is okay.” And yeah, don’t assume people can use what is being offered; for example, a lot of those holiday baskets (while often welcomed) are very high in sodium and some people just can’t eat them.
Doing whatever you want on Thanksgiving sounds like self-care to me. Although I will point out that one of the free items in the Ibotta deal is a whole frozen Edwards pie. To me, pie also sounds like self-care.
Thanks for being such a consistent reader and commenter.
That is so sad. Why did you not explain yourself?
I appreciate when Ibotta does this every year but I am disappointed this year. I truly do not have anyone to ask to sign up. I’m pretty sure I’ve only completed the entire thanksgivings freebie offers one time in the past. Sometimes I just cant and that’s ok. I enjoy using the APP.
And you can still get the free sides. A new one will be released on Monday.
I Love Ibotta! I also combine with other saving apps . It often has items that are good for the food pantry thus allowing me to give more than I would be able to otherwise.