May 23, 2026
As millions of high school and college grads prepare to walk across the stage, many may be unaware that brands you love are willing to give you free gifts or discounts to celebrate your new diploma.
In addition to free swag and food, there are also many student discounts graduates can use. Considering the average college graduate leaves school with nearly $40,000 in student loan debt, these savings are worth taking advantage of after your years of hard work.
Companies giving out free swag or food
Sending graduation announcements to friends and family is a rite of passage. But a growing number of graduates have discovered a savvy twist on the tradition: mail a few extras to your favorite brands, and you might be surprised by what shows up in your mailbox.
The trend took off on TikTok, where graduates began posting unboxing videos of the gifts they received — everything from sticker packs and branded merch to full PR-style gift boxes. The responses aren’t guaranteed, but the math is pretty compelling: a stamp and a few extra outbound announcements could net you hundreds of dollars’ worth of free products.
- Chick-fil-A: Several viral posts claim the famous fried chicken brand will send you a gift box if you send them a graduation announcement. Reported hauls range from free fries to stuffies, cups, and other swag. Check out your local stores, too. Some areas are offering free food, like the Winter Springs location in Florida, which is offering a free cookie and brownie tray and a grad gift with a catering order.
- Lego: According to social media posts, sending a graduation announcement to Lego could land you a personalized card and a small Lego set.
- Golden Corral: If you show up to Golden Corral in your cap and gown, you’ll eat for free in many locations. This does seem to vary across the country, so we recommend verifying if the promotion applies in your area.
- Sun Bum: The popular sunscreen brand has sent grads who email them free stickers, branded merch, and lip balm.
- Crumbl cookie: The well-known cookie brand reportedly sends grads a gift card and a sticker pack.
- Buca di Beppo: The popular Italian restaurant chain is offering two grad-related promotions. Dine-in grads will receive a free cannoli with their meal, while those who order catering can get a free half pan of cannolis with a $100+ order.
- Brio Italian: Similar to Buca di Beppo, this Italian brand also offers free cannolis when you order $100 or more in catering and use the code GRAD2026.
- Takis: The popular chip brand doesn’t just send you chips — reports suggest they’ll send samples of new chip flavors for you to try, a card, and branded swag. It’s worth a shot, especially if you’re part of the brand’s cult following. Takis are made by Barcel.
- Raising Cane’s: The popular chicken-tender brand has sent branded hats, cards, and, occasionally, gift cards.
To give yourself the best chance make sure to personalize it — a short, handwritten personal note explaining why the brand means something to you goes a long way. Companies are much more likely to respond to a genuine message than a mass mailing.
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Student discounts on software and delivery
Free merch is great, but the savings don’t stop there. If you’ve just graduated or are heading to college, many brands offer student discounts that can save you hundreds.
- Microsoft: If you’re heading to college, Microsoft offers access to Microsoft 365 for free for a year. You’ll need a college email address to verify your student status.
- Amazon: Amazon Prime Student gives eligible college students a six-month free trial, then discounts the membership to $7.49/month — about half the standard rate. You’ll get all the usual Prime benefits: free two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Gaming. You’ll need a .edu email to verify your student status.
- Spotify: Students get access to Spotify Premium and Hulu for just $6.99 a month after a free 1-month trial. Considering Spotify Premium usually costs $12.99, and Hulu runs $11.99, that’s a substantial savings.
- Lenovo: Students and teachers can save 5% site wide with a .edu email address or by verifying their identity through ID.me.
- DoorDash: Students can get a Student DashPass for $4.99 per year instead of $9.99. DashPass members pay no delivery fees, lower service fees, and have access to exclusive discounts.
One last thing to keep in mind: most student discounts are tied to your college or high school email address, which schools typically deactivate within a few months of graduation. So make sure to sign up for any programs you want before that window closes.
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Danielle is a personal finance writer whose work has appeared in publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love. She’s especially passionate about helping families and kids learn smart money habits early.
