How are some of you guys getting hundreds of donuts for free to get characters??

The short answer is farming, either using KEM's or other items. The long answer can be found in the 3rd post in this thread, where farming is explained:
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/90074/tips-for-new-players/p1

This post should be read and reread and reread even by legacy players. B)

Amen to that. I've played since early '13 but never really bothered with my multiplier and just bought characters with the few donuts I earned. Did some light farming but didn't keep up with it.
Since X-mas I've been constantly farming and boy does those KEM bring in the donuts. I've gone from 170 % (excl. SH) to well over 300 % in a couple of months. I even had bunch of multiplier items in storage that I didn't use.

Where's Maggie gives you a donut box every 3rd time you find her and the railyard pays out 5 donuts when you finish the weekly grind. That's 7-11 donuts a week.

"sjsebayacc131;c-1634049" wrote:
That's 7-11 donuts a week.

I don't like the donuts at 7-11. I prefer KEM.

"shanejensen933;c-1634026" wrote:
I'm a donut saver, I recently bought Luanne Van Houten who costs 150 donuts I'd say it took me at least 2 weeks saving I make my donuts mainly from Maggie, tasks and bonuses from tasks. I recently maxed out my friend points too and got 2 free donuts tapping in friends towns so now I have that to help too :D I prefer not to pay for donuts unless it's something I really, really want because it's so much money I'm Australian so even if I bought the $20 donut lot it's closer to $30 for me and that can pay for like one character and not much more so it's not really worth it for me.

Lol I remember saving for a year to buy Barney's. Donuts are much much easier to come by now even without farming.

"dzzah;c-1633943" wrote:
Amen to that. I've played since early '13 but never really bothered with my multiplier and just bought characters with the few donuts I earned. Did some light farming but didn't keep up with it.
Since X-mas I've been constantly farming and boy does those KEM bring in the donuts. I've gone from 170 % (excl. SH) to well over 300 % in a couple of months. I even had bunch of multiplier items in storage that I didn't use.

Starting at Christmas I had about 300% .... Now past 4000% It's amazing what you can do if you're focused.

"shanejensen933;c-1634065" wrote:

"sjsebayacc131;c-1634049" wrote:
Where's Maggie gives you a donut box every 3rd time you find her and the railyard pays out 5 donuts when you finish the weekly grind. That's 7-11 donuts a week.

What's this about railyard donuts? O_O

If you have the railyard, after you produce all the blueprints needed for the week you get 5 donuts.

@Muhsterino Probably has a nifty link that will explain it all. :smile:


EDIT: I was touring your town (very nice btw) and saw you have the railyard.

Also, do you know that Heights buildings have a hidden XP multiplier of 153%? That plus the 5x collider boost is an extra 765% on your XP collected. That would make a big difference in your donut income.

"stinkbugger;c-1634066" wrote:

"sjsebayacc131;c-1634049" wrote:
That's 7-11 donuts a week.

I don't like the donuts at 7-11. I prefer KEM.

If I had the choice then KEM of course!

https://media.giphy.com/media/xTiTnjdV8ZVTKLaEWQ/giphy.gif

In addition to farming like its my job, I use an app called Google Rewards. It pays you to answer short surveys and the credit is only good in the play store. When i need to buy donuts, this has out right paid for them or offset the price.