Plan your store route and snack route at the same time

• Grab free or BOGO burgers, fries, drinks, and treats all December at Shake Shack, Chipotle, BK, McDonalds, Wendys, Sonic, Krystal, and Starbucks

• Most deals are free with purchase on specific days (Fridays, certain Saturdays, or promo windows), so timing matters

• Youll usually need the restaurants app, a small minimum spend, and its one freebie per account/order at participating locations

Do higher price tags for the stuff on your holiday shopping list this year have you feeling a little gloomy? I have some news that might cheer you up. A bunch of restaurants are offering some great freebies for December. So, when youre out wrapping up your shopping, stop by one of these places and get a free or highly discount meal or treat.

Shake Shack Free burger or sandwich

Whats free: One free rotating sandwich (Big Shack, SmokeShack, Chicken Shack, or ShackBurger) with a $10+ purchase.

When:

• Dec 17: Big Shack
• Dec 814: SmokeShack
• Dec 1520: Chicken Shack
• Dec 2131: ShackBurger

How to claim: Order in the Shake Shack app, online, or at the in-store kiosk and enter promo code SHACKCHEER at checkout.

Fine print: $10 minimum before tax. Not valid via third-party delivery apps and one freebie per order.

Chipotle BOGO burrito or bowl

Whats free: Score a free burrito or burrito bowl when you buy one the next two Saturdays in December.

When:

• Dec 13: Buy a burrito and get a free burrito, burrito bowl, or 3 taco meal.
• Dec 20: Wear a festive sweater, buy any entre and get one free.

How to claim: You must walk into any Chipotle location to claim either offer. Not valid with mobile or online ordering.

Fine print: The free item will be the lower-priced entre. Limited to five free menu items per check.

Burger King 13 Days of Deals

Whats free: BK is offering a different daily deal from December 1224. The deal often includes a free item with a minimum in-app purchase. Stuff they regularly give away include a free Whopper Jr., a free Frapp, and a free dessert.

When: December 1224, 2025.

How to claim: Open the BK app each day and check the Offers or promo banner; tap the deal and order through the app.

Fine print: Most deals require a minimum purchase (typically around $3$5). App and account is also required; participating locations only.

McDonalds Free fries every Friday

Whats free:Free medium fries with a $1+ purchase.

When: Every Friday through Dec 31, 2025.

How to claim:

• Open the McDonalds app and go to the Deals tab.
• Then just tap Free Fries Friday and add it to your Mobile Order.

Fine print: One use per Friday; app + account required; participating locations only.

Wendys Free fries every Friday

Whats free: Free any-size fries with a qualifying purchase (often $5+) in the Wendys app.

When: Every Friday for the rest of 2025 (so yes, all December).

How to claim:

• Open the Wendys app, check Offers & Coupons.
• Look for Free Any Size Fry w/ Purchase or Fryday promo and apply it to your mobile order.

Fine print: One use per Friday; purchase minimum usually $5; app + account required.

Sonic Free any-size Coke (with all the add-ins)

Whats free: One free Coke, Diet Coke, or Coke Zero Sugar, any size, with unlimited flavor add-ins, when you make any in-app purchase.

When: Daily through Dec 28, 2025.

How to claim:

• Order through the Sonic app, add at least one paid item.

• Apply the Free Coca-Cola Your Way offer before checkout.

Fine print: One free drink per day per account; app only; participating locations.

Krystal Krystalmas freebies with purchase

Whats free: As part of Krystalmas 2025, select days include legit freebies with purchase, including:

Treat Yo Elf Tuesdays: Free 10-count Glazed Bombs with a Sackful purchase.

Festive Frydays: Free Chili Cheese Fries with a $15+ purchase.

When: Recurring daily themes all December 2025.

How to claim:

• Join Club Krystal and check the app or website for that days Krystalmas deal.
• Apply the offer and order through the app or in-store, depending on the promo.

Fine print: Most deals are free with purchase; offers may be digital-only and vary by location.

Starbucks Daily chances at free drinks & food

Whats free: While its not guaranteed free food, Starbucks Rewards members can win freebies like drinks, bakery items, and even Bonus Stars.

Plus, you have the chance to win the biggest of all prices, a year of free Starbucks or Starbucks for Life via the Starbucks for Life game.

When: Dec 8, 2025 Jan 4, 2026.

How to claim:

• Join Starbucks Rewards and visit the Starbucks for Life site or app.
• They allow you to play the game every day. Also, you can earn extra plays by making purchases with your linked payment method in the app.

Cases are climbing sharply heres how its spreading and what you can do to protect your family

• South Carolinas Upstate region is seeing a rapidly growing measles outbreak, with more than 110 cases confirmed.

• Most of the infections are among unvaccinated people, and hundreds of contacts are now quarantined.

• Health officials stress vaccination and awareness of symptoms as the best defenses against spread.

South Carolina health officials have confirmed that a measles outbreak in the Upstate region particularly in and around Spartanburg County has rapidly intensified over the past few weeks.

As of the latest update, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) reported 27 new cases since Friday, December 5, bringing the total linked to this outbreak to 111, and the states total for the year to over 110 confirmed infections.

Measles, a highly contagious viral disease once eliminated in the United States, can spread through tiny droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Its so infectious that if one person has it, up to 90% of nearby people who arent immune may also become infected.

Because of how quickly it can spread, the DPH has identified numerous exposures and put over 250 people into quarantine most of them close contacts like classmates and family members.

Measles is highly contagious, and there is risk for continued, rapid spread of the disease in the Upstate among communities with low immunization rates, Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolina state epidemiologist and Health Programs Branch director said in a news release.

[The] measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination remains the most important tool for preventing measles infection and spread. We strongly encourage everyone to review their immunization records and make sure they are up to date on all recommended vaccinations, including MMR.

Whats Behind the Spike?

Public health officials say several factors are contributing to the outbreaks growth:

• Low vaccination coverage: Many of the people whove gotten measles were unvaccinated, underscoring the importance of two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine for strong protection.

• Community spread in familiar settings: Schools, churches, and other close-contact locations including exposure at a local church have played roles in transmission.

• Holiday travel and gatherings: Officials are concerned that travel and social events around Thanksgiving helped fuel transmission.
  

Measles symptoms usually begin about 1014 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash that spreads across the body. Because theres no specific medicine to treat the virus, prevention through vaccination remains the most reliable defense.

What You Can Do

If you live in or travel through South Carolina (or elsewhere in the U.S.), heres how to reduce your risk:

• Check vaccination status: Make sure you and your children are up to date with the MMR vaccine. Two doses provide around 97% protection.

• Know the signs: Early recognition of symptoms can help people get medical advice and avoid exposing others.

• Follow public health guidance: If youve been exposed, follow quarantine instructions and monitor for symptoms.
  

Health officials continue monitoring the situation closely. With measles still spreading in other parts of the country, staying informed and protected is especially important this season.

Smart deals, extended hours, and fast delivery to help you finish your list before time runs out

• Target makes it easy to finish your shopping with extended hours, exclusive deals, and tech tools to find gifts fast.

• Walmart gives shoppers extra time with late delivery cutoffs, one-hour Express delivery, and a new app feature to simplify ordering.

• Both retailers offer pickup and delivery options that help even the most procrastinating shoppers get gifts in time for the holidays.

The holiday countdown is real and if youre in the camp thats still working through that gift list, dont panic.

Major retailers like Target and Walmart are rolling out last-minute options designed for people who wait until the final days (or hours!) to shop.

From extended store hours and tech-powered gift finders, to one-hour delivery and special pickup cutoffs, heres what you need to know to wrap up your holiday errands with ease.

Targets last-minute playbook

Target is keeping stores open late and stacking deals into the final stretch of the season.

Through Dec. 23, stores stay open from early morning until midnight, and on Christmas Eve most locations stay open until around 8 p.m., giving you plenty of time to swing by after work or errands.

In-store and online pickup options like Drive Up and Order Pickup let you place orders up until the early evening on the 24th and pick them up the same day, so theres no need to go inside if youre on the go.

Target also sweetens the deal with daily offers during its Holiday Countdown Sale and exclusive deals for Target Circle members, with big discounts on toys, tech, apparel, and more.

Beyond timing and savings, Targets holiday tech tools like an AI gift assistant in ChatGPT, a Gift Finder, List Scanner, and in-store navigation via the Target app can turn your wish list into a shopping list in minutes.

Walmarts final-hour flex

Walmart is also geared up for shoppers racing the clock. This year, the retailer extended its Express Delivery window to let customers place orders for delivery as fast as one hour up until about 5 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve. This means that you can order gifts late in the day and still have them arrive quickly.

Walmarts new Get it Now option in the app shows estimated delivery times and lets you place orders with one tap, a helpful tool when every minute counts. Other cutoffs include same-day pickup and delivery orders up to midday on Christmas Eve, and standard shipping that still makes it by Christmas if ordered by the earlier deadline.

Whether youre grabbing stocking stuffers, last-minute kitchen ingredients, or that one big gift you forgot, Walmarts fast delivery and flexible pickup deadlines can be a lifesaver for procrastinators.

Gas prices are lower but airfares have taken off

• 122.4 million Americans are projected to travel during the 13-day year-end holiday period, a 2.2% increase from last year

• Gas prices have dropped below $3 per gallon for the first time in 4 years, making road trips more affordable

• Domestic flights are 7% more expensive this year, averaging nearly $900 for a roundtrip ticket

If you're planning to travel this holiday season, you're not alone and you need to prepare for crowds and higher costs in some areas.

What's happening with holiday travel

On December 10, AAA released projections showing that 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between December 20 and January 1. This surpasses last year's record of 119.7 million travelers.

The overwhelming majority 109.5 million people or 89% of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations. Air travel is also hitting a record high, with 8.03 million Americans expected to take domestic flights.

But here's the catch: while gas prices are lower, airfare costs have jumped significantly. Domestic flights are averaging nearly $900 for a roundtrip ticket, up 7% from last year.

How to save money and avoid travel headaches

1. Book your rental car now if you haven't already Saturday, December 20 is expected to be the busiest pickup day, especially in Orlando, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, and Phoenix

2. Consider driving instead of flying to save hundreds of dollars, especially with gas prices below $3 per gallon for the first time in four years

3. If you must fly, avoid the days leading up to Christmas when tickets are most expensive flying on Christmas Day itself is cheaper

4. Be flexible with your return date many people fly back on New Year's Day, making January 4 potentially less expensive

5. Prepare your car for the road trip surge AAA responded to more than 860,000 emergency calls during last year's holiday period for dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks

6. Plan your departure times carefully Christmas week will have heavier traffic than New Year's week, with the worst congestion expected the weekend before Christmas

7. Follow "Slow Down, Move Over" laws when you see stopped vehicles reduce speed and change lanes to protect roadside workers

The most popular destinations to avoid or embrace

Warm weather destinations are dominating travel plans this year. Orlando tops the domestic list, followed by Fort Lauderdale and Miami. For international travel, Cancun leads the way.

If you're flexible about your destination, consider avoiding these high-demand locations where prices and crowds will be at their peak.

Safety concerns you need to know

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and AAA is urging extra caution during what's historically one of the most dangerous times to drive.

With record numbers of people on the road, plan your safe ride home before you start celebrating. Don't become a statistic during this busy travel period.

The bottom line: Holiday travel will be more crowded and expensive than ever, but smart planning can help you save money and stay safe. Take advantage of lower gas prices by driving instead of flying when possible, book rentals immediately, and prepare your vehicle for the journey. Most importantly, prioritize safety over speed arriving late is better than not arriving at all.

Big promises for gamers should improve performance for everyone

• Microsoft plans to optimize Windows 11 for gaming with improvements to background processes, power management, and graphics performance

• New Xbox Full Screen Experience will launch on all Windows PCs in 2026, potentially boosting game performance by reducing RAM usage

• Auto Super Resolution technology will expand to handheld gaming devices, offering better visuals and smoother gameplay

Why this matters to your wallet and gaming experience

If you're a PC gamer frustrated with stuttering performance or considering whether to upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft's latest announcement could save you money on hardware upgrades while improving your gaming experience.

In a December 10th blog post, Microsoft committed to making Windows 11 "the best place to play" through targeted improvements to system performance, graphics optimization, and driver updates.

What Microsoft is promising for 2026

Microsoft outlined several key improvements coming to Windows 11 that could directly impact your gaming performance and experience.

The company plans to focus on four critical areas: background workload management, power and scheduling improvements, graphics stack optimizations, and updated drivers. These changes could mean smoother gameplay without needing to upgrade your hardware.

Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE), currently exclusive to ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, will expand to all Windows PCs next year. This controller-friendly interface consolidates games from multiple platforms including Steam, Epic Games, and Battle.net into one launcher.

More importantly for your system performance, FSE uses less RAM than the standard Windows interface, potentially giving you better gaming performance on older or less powerful machines.

New features that could boost your gaming performance

Microsoft is also expanding Auto Super Resolution technology to handheld gaming devices, starting with the ROG Xbox Ally X. This feature delivers sharper visuals and smoother framerates in games running at lower resolutions.

Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) will roll out to more Windows 11 devices, allowing your system to preload game graphics data during downloads. This means faster game launches, smoother performance, and better battery life on laptops.

Your action plan for these Windows 11 gaming improvements

1. If you're still on Windows 10, consider waiting until these gaming optimizations roll out in 2026 before upgrading to get the most value from your transition

2. Current Windows 11 users can join the Windows and Xbox Insider programs to test Xbox FSE early and provide feedback

3. Before spending money on hardware upgrades, wait to see how these software improvements affect your current system's performance

4. Keep your Windows 11 system updated throughout 2025 to ensure you receive these gaming optimizations as they become available

5. If you're shopping for a new gaming PC or laptop, factor in these upcoming improvements when deciding between Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems

The bottom line

Microsoft's commitment to gaming optimization in Windows 11 could save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary hardware upgrades while delivering better performance from your existing system. The key is timing your Windows 11 adoption or hardware purchases to coincide with these improvements rolling out in 2026, rather than rushing into expensive upgrades now.