Is there any such thing as a free lunch?

R

Rider77

Member
I hear people say, it's free from the government. Other than those opening day specials when a new business opens or striking gold in your back yard I don't think many things are even close to free.
 
Our town has a non-profit free-store, money comes from local churches and the police department's money from tickets. It runs a small piece work business in a spare room, where they file flak off parts for a local factory. The employees are mainly homeless or close to it. They work 2 hours, get a big, hot, free lunch cooked by the director, work 2 more hours and go home! I love it.
 
I sometimes shudder when people say that the NHS in the UK is free. It's not free, but it is free at point of use. However, I have read in the past that it is paid for by everyone who pays National Insurance, and that's everyone who has a job.

I believe that the NI payment thing is now out of date, and that nowadays the NHS is paid for from general taxation, as it benefits everyone, whether they work or not. So although it's not actually 'free', to all intents and purposes it is free for those who need to use it.
 
Corporations receive billions of dollars in free stuff from the government every year. Here is a partial list...
  • Energy:This sector receives billions annually through tax incentives and grants.
    • Fossil Fuels: Historically, oil, gas, and coal have received over $549 billion in direct tax subsidies. Some estimates suggest "implicit" subsidies (avoided costs for environmental damage) reach $62 billion per year.
  • Agriculture: Farmers received $9.3 billion in direct subsidy payments for commodity crops in 2024. The most heavily supported crops were corn ($3.2 billion) and soybeans ($1.9 billion).
  • Semiconductors & Tech: Recently bolstered by the CHIPS and Science Act, this sector is receiving over $53 billion in new corporate welfare and tax breaks to secure domestic supply chains.
Boeing is the largest recipient of government subsidies in the United States, accumulating approximately $15.6 billion in state and local assistance as of early 2026. While Boeing also receives billions in federal contracts, which are technically payments for services, its actual "subsidy" profile consists of massive tax breaks, R&D credits, and low-interest federal loans.

Amazon is the second largest recipient of government subsidies in the U.S. As of early 2026, Amazon and its subsidiaries (like AWS) have secured at least $14.4 billion in state and local subsidies across the U.S.. These benefits are largely granted by state and local governments competing to host Amazon’s physical expansion.

For the full fiscal year 2025, Amazon reported a record net income of $77.7 billion, a 31% increase compared to the $59.2 billion earned in 2024.
 
What's the saying. No such thing as a free lunch? Which means someone will wind up paying possibly even the recipient one way or another.
 
One day when my husband and I were heading to Costco, we decided to check out a new Chinese buffet restaurant in the area. When we took look at the selections and the price, we decided not to eat there. We'd gone to several other Chinese buffets that had good food and were less expensive. Since it was the middle of the day, many samples were being served. Our lunch included a shrimp dish among other things which I can't remember now because it was over 10 years ago. I just know we had a free lunch courtesy of Costco and we ate well.

Also, a Muslim brother in my town has served hot dinner meals, including desserts to whoever lines up. He and his staff used to set up in the large space inhabited by a gas station. Now they're indoors in a new building. I've donated to his organization, which also has counseling and other free services, for several years. I'm about to send another donation because today starts Ramadan and since I can't fast, I'm obligated to feed 30 hungry people during the month of Ramadan.

Another example: My Honorary Daughter's superpower is getting free food. She'll go into a fast food place or Dunkin Donuts, especially if it's in the evening and the workers give her extra food. I've been with her when that has happened. Also, we went for lunch at a diner where I ordered the crab cake meal for the first time. The menu said it came with three crab cakes (and they were huge). They gave me four.

I know these kinds of things are probably not what you meant, but your post caused them to come to mind. One can find freebies if one knows where to look. And what about BOGOs.
 
Before alot of stuff was done online I remembers stores and supermarkets would offer things like a free bottle of soda if you applied for a credit card right there on the spot.

The bottle isn't free. It cost the applicant privacy and control of their personal information which will be sold many times over. I heard the average applicant's information can go anywhere from 50 to 300 dollars a pop.

Same for the free gift an organization or charity offer you for joining. To continue a membership frequently one must pay a dues.

'Free' is bait
 
More free money, thanks to the government...

The $47 million loan scheme refers to federal allegations that Andrew Wiederhorn, former CEO of FAT Brands Inc., used the company as a "personal slush fund" to finance a lavish lifestyle between 2010 and 2021.

Mechanics of the Scheme
According to the May 2024 indictment, Wiederhorn and his associates bypassed standard corporate protocols to divert funds:
  • "Sham" Shareholder Loans: Wiederhorn allegedly directed FAT Brands and its affiliate, Fog Cutter Capital Group (FOG), to distribute approximately $47 million to him.
  • Lack of Commercial Terms: These distributions were categorized as "shareholder loans" but lacked interest, collateral, or repayment schedules.
  • Unilateral Forgiveness: Prosecutors alleged that Wiederhorn personally decided when to "forgive" these loans, effectively turning corporate revenue into tax-free personal income.
  • Financial Impact: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleged the scheme stripped FAT Brands of roughly 40% of its revenue between 2018 and 2021, sometimes leaving the company with insufficient cash to pay its own bills.
Legal Outcome
While originally facing 22 criminal counts—including wire fraud and tax evasion—the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) dropped all charges in July 2025. This dismissal occurred following a change in DOJ leadership and a shift in department priorities toward other types of crime. Wiederhorn separately settled civil claims with the SEC for $10 million in December 2025.
 
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