I belong to several companies' rewards programs and often am eligible for freebies. Sometimes I don't need or want the free items, so I donate them.
I know lots of people don't have the money for gifts this time of year. What I do is subscribe to several freebies newsletters.
Little advertising freebies make good little gifts. I rounded out a birthday gift bag with some dream cards I got from a drug company and gave another set to some teenagers who helped me carry my groceries up the stairs!