For the frugal, the coupon clipper, the deal seeker, a birthday holds extra anticipation. As the birthday month begins, their inboxes are flooded with deals, rewards, freebies, and more, the fruits of signing up for a variety of newsletters and rewards programs and downloading ALL OF THE APPS.
These days, birthday rewards seem to pale in comparison to years past. Remember that one year when Walt Disney World gave away free admission on your birthday (during the Great Recession)?
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And so many places that used to offer free meals now offer just discounts or desserts. How many free pieces of cake does one person need?
That is a sarcastic question. We all know birthday calories don’t count.
We’ve done a new scrape of Google to find the latest birthday deals, including some area businesses. We’ve separated the rewards, with a section for food and a section for everything else.
Some things to know ahead of time:
Almost all of them require you to sign up for a loyalty program or a newsletter. Almost all of these programs are free to join. I’ve tried to specify the ones that aren’t.
More companies are requiring you to make some sort of purchase before you use your birthday coupon, sometimes up to a month before your birthday month. So you can’t just walk into a store once a year and demand a free sandwich.
Pay attention to the dates on your birthday deals. Some give you a month to use them. Some can only be used on your birthday, like the Starbucks coupon.
Rewards may vary depending on location. Some locations may not accept a company coupon. So check ahead of time.
Be sure you are adding your birthday information to your account.
Food
4 Rivers Smokehouse: Free dessert for loyalty members during your birthday month.
Bahama Breeze: Free dessert when you join the EClub.
Benihana: $30 birthday coupon when you join The Chef’s Table.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: Free birthday Pizookie when you sign up for Premier Rewards.
Bloomin’ Brands: Free dessert at Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Flemings Steakhouse and Outback Steakhouse when you sign up for their rewards program.
BurgerFi: Free frozen custard shake through the BurgerFi app for reward members.
Chima Steakhouse: Get a special gift on your birthday month when you become a preferred diner.
Chipotle: Free chips and guacamole with any $5 purchase through Chipotle Rewards.
Cracker Barrel: Free birthday dessert through Cracker Barrel Rewards.
Crumbl: Free cookie for loyalty program members. crumblcookies.com/rewards
Culver’s: Free ice cream through My Culvers.
Dutch Bros Coffee: Get a free drink on the day of your birthday through Dutch Rewards.
Eggs Up Grill: Free breakfast for rewards members.
Firehouse Subs: Free medium sub through Firehouse Rewards.
Foxtail Coffee: Get a free birthday drink through the app.
The Fresh Market: Free cake slice through their Ultimate Loyalty Experience program.
Jersey Mike’s: Free sub, wrap or sub bowl through My Mike’s.
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse: Get a discount off your birthday entree when you purchase another full-priced entree during the birthday month. Have to sign up to get it.
KPot: Free birthday meal when you bring a party of 4 or more on the week of your birthday. Must have a valid ID to redeem.
Krak Boba: Free drink with one topping through the app.
Krispy Kreme: Free dozen glazed donuts through Krispy Kreme Rewards.
Kung Fu Tea: Free birthday drink through the app.
Landry’s Restaurants: By joining the Landry’s Select Club, which costs $25, you get a $25 welcome card, plus a $25 birthday reward. Includes restaurants like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Morton’s Steakhouse, Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex Cafe at Disney Springs.
McDonald’s: Get a free order of medium fries through the app
Melting Pot: 6 chocolate-dipped strawberries, valid with menu purchase, through the Club Fondue program.
Panda Express: Choose from a number of birthday items through its reward program.
Paris Baguette: PB Rewards members get a free cake slice on their birthday week.
Planet Smoothie: $6 coupon through Planet VIP.
Publix: Free cake bar from the bakery or free ice cream through Club Publix.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers: Get a free birthday reward through the Caniac Club.
Red Robin: Free burger for your birthday. Must make a qualifying $10 purchase by your birth month.
Rise Biscuits and Chicken: Free biscuit on your birthday through the rewards program.
The Salty: Free donut on your birthday. www.saltydonut.com/rewards
Sonny’s BBQ: Free appetizer or dessert through Sonny’s BBQ ‘Q Crew Rewards.
Starbucks: Free drink or food item on your birthday through the Starbucks Rewards app.
Texas De Brazil: $20 birthday coupon.
Texas Roadhouse: VIP club members get a free appetizer or sidekick of ribs. They can also get a free dessert. This varies depending on location.
Toojay’s: Free slice of cake through the Nosh Club. (No minimum purchase required).
Total Wine and More: Get a birthday deal as part of their rewards program.
Wawa: Choose 1 of three rewards through Wawa Rewards.
Stores, attractions, movie theaters and more
Abstract Orlando: Birthday guest paints for free when booking a party of four or more.
Aerie and American Eagle: Real rewards members get a $5 birthday reward.
AMC Theaters: Members of AMC Stubs Insider get a free large popcorn on their birthday month. Members of paid accounts get free large popcorn and large drink.
Bath & Body Works: Get a free “birthday gift” through its loyalty rewards program.
BoxLunch: $5 rewards through the BoxLunch Rewards program.
Build-A-Bear Workshop: “Pay Your Age” for a birthday bear.
Crayola Experience: Get free admission on your birthday.
DSW: $5 birthday coupon through its rewards program.
Famous Footwear: Get a $5 birthday reward through the Famously You Rewards program.
Fleet Feet: For Fleet Feet Milestones members, a $10 birthday offer if you spend up to $399 a year. $15 if you spend more than $400.
Fun Spot America: Get a free single-day pass with proof of birthday.
Hot Topic: $5 gift through Hot Topic Rewards.
IKEA: $10 reward through IKEA family.
Kohl’s: Kohl’s Rewards members get a free birthday gift in the form of extra Kohl’s cash for their birthday
Lane Bryant: $20 gift through Lane Bryant Rewards.
Macy’s: Get a birthday coupon for your birth month if you are a Macy’s Star Rewards member.
Michaels: Get a birthday offer when you sign up for Michaels Rewards.
MINISO: Free blind box toy on your birthday at this store full of cute products.
Nike: Get a 10% birthday coupon to use in stores and online.
O’Reilly Auto Parts: Free birthday gift through the loyalty program.
Orlando Paintball: Free 500-round bag for the birthday person with valid ID.
PopStroke: “Birthday goodies” when you sign up for offers.
Regal Cinemas: Regal Crown Club members get a free small popcorn on their birthday, while Regal Unlimited subscribers get a free large popcorn and large soda.
Simon & Schuster: Free eBook on your birthday through the publisher’s newsletter.
Target: Target Circle members get 5% off a future purchase.
Torrid: $10 birthday reward through Torrid rewards.
Ulta: Extra points, choice of a birthday gift, and an extra $10 off for Diamond and Platinum members.
Victoria’s Secret: $10 reward for VS and PINK Rewards members.
World Market: World Market Rewards gives a free birthday coupon.
WonderWorks: Join the birthday club and get free admission, plus $2 off for everyone in the party.
Yankee Candle: Free gift on your birthday through its rewards program.
Do you know of a birthday reward we’ve missed? Tell us in the comments below!