Scoring bargains typically doesn’t happen haphazardly.
Since planning and preparation are needed, we’ve rounded up the biggest made-up food “holidays” of the year. Everything from National Bagel Day to one of the most popular days, September’s National Coffee Day, and beyond.
A smorgasbord of offers makes Tax Day a little more palatable, and April also offers twisted treats with National Pretzel Day.
July has nonstop made-up holidays, including National French Fry Day, National Ice Cream Day and National Hot Dog Day, along with 7-Eleven’s birthday and Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day.
Some businesses offer freebies when the seasons change, and there are specials to mark actual holidays such as Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Here’s your guide to making 2019 a year filled with fun freebies and delicious deals.
More: January specials: Your monthly guide to freebies and meal deals
More: McDonald’s brings back 2 for $5 Mix & Match Deal, includes new Quarter Pounder with Cheese
More: New year, new you? 20 things that will help you get in shape for 2019
Most popular deal days
Dates can vary by year but the following are the dates for 2019:
Feb. 9: National Pizza Day
March 14: Pi Day
April 15: Tax Day
June 7: National Doughnut Day
July 21: National Ice Cream Day
Sept. 18: National Cheeseburger Day
Sept. 29: National Coffee Day
Oct. 4: National Taco Day
Oct. 31: Halloween
Nov. 3: National Sandwich Day
January
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day and National Bloody Mary Day
Jan. 4: National Spaghetti Day
Jan. 15: National Bagel Day (Thomas’ Bagels has declared Jan. 15 as the National Bagel Day, however many bagel chains will continue to celebrate the day on Feb. 9.)
Jan. 19: Popcorn Day
Jan. 23: National Pie Day
February
Feb. 6: National Frozen Yogurt Day
Feb. 9: National Pizza Day and National Bagel Day
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day
Feb. 22: National Margarita Day
February freebies: Your monthly guide to food specials, meal deals and more
March
March 12: IHOP’s Free Pancake Day
March 14: Pi Day
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
March 20: First day of spring
April
April 4: National Burrito Day
April 7: National Beer Day
April 9: Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day
April 15: Tax Day
April 26: National Pretzel Day
May
May 4: Free Comic Book Day
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 6: National Nurses Day
May 7: National Teacher Appreciation Day
May 12: Mother’s Day
May 27: Memorial Day
May 28: National Burger Day
TBD: Häagen-Dazs Shops’ annual Free Cone Day is typically in early May.
June
June 7: National Doughnut Day
June 8: National Best Friends Day
June 10: National Iced Tea Day
June 16: Father’s Day
June 21: First day of summer
July
July 6: National Fried Chicken Day
July 11: 7-Eleven Day aka Free Slurpee Day
July 13: National French Fry Day
July 14: National Mac & Cheese Day
July 21: National Ice Cream Day
July 23: National Hot Dog Day
July 24: National Tequila Day and National Drive-Thru Day
July 29: National Lasagna Day, National Chicken Wing Day and National Lipstick Day
July 30: National Cheesecake Day
July 31: National Avocado Day
TBD: Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day, is usually held in July along with Amazon’s annual Prime Day.
August
Aug. 6: National Root Beer Float Day
Aug. 8: National Frozen Custard Day
Aug. 13: International Left-Handers Day
Aug. 18: National Fajita Day
September
Sept. 5: National Cheese Pizza Day
Sept. 7: National Beer Lover’s Day
Sept. 18: National Cheeseburger Day
Sept. 19: Talk Like A Pirate Day
Sept. 20: National Pepperoni Pizza Day
Sept. 28: National Drink Beer Day
Sept. 29: National Coffee Day
October
Oct. 4: National Taco Day
Oct. 14: National Dessert Day
Oct. 17: National Pasta Day
Oct. 28: National Chocolate Day
Oct. 31: Halloween
November
Nov. 3: National Sandwich Day
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Nov. 16: National Fast Food Day
Nov. 28: Thanksgiving
Nov. 29: National Espresso Day and Black Friday
December
Dec. 4: National Cookie Day
Dec. 15: National Cupcake Day
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve and National Champagne Day
Kelly Tyko is a consumer columnist and retail reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers and TCPalm.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Read her Bargainista tips at TCPalm.com/Bargainista, follow her on Twitter @KellyTyko and email her at kelly.tyko@tcpalm.com.