RD.COM Money Saving
Marisa HillmanUpdated: Aug. 10, 2023
Treat yo'self! Here's the most comprehensive, up-to-date list of places where you can score freebies on your birthday.
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Score these freebies on your birthday
Birthdays are a time for celebration. In addition to receiving heartfelt happy birthday messages and birthday gifts from your nearest and dearest, there’s another way to make your special day even better: by scoring freebies on your birthday. Yes, you read that right—there are tons of companies willing to celebrate your birthday with an extra-special treat. And since we would never arrive to the party empty-handed, we’ve compiled a list of all the things you can score for free on your big day.
If you’ve been trying to figure out how to save money this year, then taking advantage of birthday freebies is a great pace to start. But first, it’s important to note that in order to claim any of the freebies on our list, you’ll have to join the company’s loyalty or rewards programs. You can do this by downloading their app or visiting their website. As an added bonus, many of these programs will also give you a free gift just for signing up, which means you’ll get to celebrate another trip around the sun with two special treats! So go on and treat yourself this year with the best birthday freebies of 2023.
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Food-related birthday freebies
It’s your day, so you get to have your birthday cake and eat it too! Not feeling birthday cake? How about free popcorn, pretzels, burritos, waffles or wings? Yes, please! But before you dive in, a quick note: If you don’t see some of your favorites listed here, it’s not because we forgot about them. Businesses are constantly reevaluating and changing their rewards programs. McDonald’s, Jersey Mike’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, for example, have paused their birthday freebies for now, but the offerings below are sure to make up for that.
1. AMC Theatres: Free large popcorn
2. Auntie Anne’s: Free pretzel
3. Barnes & Noble: Free cafe treat for your child’s birthday, and a special offer for your birthday
4. Bonefish Grill: Free order of Bang Bang Shrimp
5. Buffalo Wild Wings: Free wings
6. Cheesecake Factory: Free slice of cheesecake
7. Chick-fil-A: Free chocolate chunk cookie or chocolate fudge brownie for Chick-fil-A One Members. Free chocolate chunk cookie, chocolate fudge brownie, small milkshake, small frosted lemonade, small frosted coffee, small ice cream cone or small ice cream cup for Chick-fil-A One Silver Members. Free grilled or regular sandwich or 8- and 12-count nuggets for Chick-fil-A One Red Members. Free choice of entrée for Chick-fil-A One Signature Members.
8. Chipotle: Free order of chips and guacamole with a $5 purchase
9. Crumbl Cookies: Free cookie
10. Dairy Queen: BOGO Blizzard coupon
11. Denny’s: Free birthday Slam breakfast
12. Edible Arrangements: Free dipped fruit box with minimum of $29 purchase in the previous calendar year
13. Firehouse Subs: Free medium sub with any purchase
14. IHOP: Free full stack of buttermilk pancakes
15. Krispy Kreme: Free doughnut
16. Mellow Mushroom: Free pretzel bites with your next purchase
17. Milkbar: Free cookies (you’ll choose your preferred flavor when you sign up)
18. Moe’s Southwest Grill: Free burrito
19. Panera Bread: Free pastry
20. Pinkberry: Free small yogurt
21. Regal Cinemas: Free small popcorn; free large popcorn and soft drink if you upgrade to their paid Regal Unlimited membership
22. Sprinkles: Free birthday cupcake or cupcakes, depending on your tier status
23. Waffle House: Birthday coupon for a free waffle
24. Wetzel’s Pretzels: Free pretzel
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Drink-related birthday freebies
Enjoy freebies on your birthday in the form of a free coffee, smoothie or other birthday beverage at these locations. We’ll drink to that—and so will you! If you need the right words when you raise a glass, check out this list of toasts for birthdays and more.
25. 7-Eleven: Free Slurpee
26. A&W Restaurants: Free root beer float
27. ABC Fine Wine and Spirits: Birthday coupon for $7 off your next purchase of $35 of more
28. Arby’s: Free birthday milkshake
29. Au Bon Pain: Free coffee and bakery item
30. Biggby Coffee: Free drink
31. Caribou Coffee: Free beverage of your choice
32. Cinnabon: Free 16-ounce cold brew
33. Del Taco: Free regular-size shake
34. Duck Donuts: Free medium coffee and free doughnut once you reach your first Fantasduck status
35. Jamba Juice: Free smoothie
36. Juice It Up: Free medium classic smoothie
37. Peet’s Coffee: Free beverage
38. Planet Smoothie: Free $6 birthday reward
39. Sheetz: Free fountain drink or coffee depending on your status
40. Sonic: Free small classic shake
41. Starbucks: Free drink or food item of your choice
42. Taco Bell: Free regular Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze
43. Tropical Smoothie: Free smoothie
44. Wawa: Free hot coffee, fountain drink or Icee
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Beauty-related birthday freebies
If you’ve had your eye on products from your favorite beauty and skin-care brands but didn’t want to pay full price, now is the time to buy! The companies below will give you free sample products or coupons to use on whatever your heart desires.
45. Aveda: Free 30ml nourishing composition oil for bath, body and scalp
46. Bare Minerals: Free sample-size birthday gift
47. Bath & Body Works: Free birthday gift worth up to $7.50
48. Benefit Cosmetics: Free brow arch (not valid at Ulta Benefit Beauty BrowBar beauty lounge locations)
49. Blue Mercury: Free birthday gift and in-store birthday treatment
50. The Body Shop: Free $10 reward voucher
51. Clinique: Free birthday gift
52. CVS: $3 ExtraBucks Rewards
53. European Wax Center: $10 coupon for your next waxing
54. Kiehl’s: Free lip balm and deluxe sample
55. L’Occitane: Free limited-edition birthday gift with $50 purchase
56. Mac Cosmetics: Free birthday gift and double points on purchases during your birthday month
57. Rituals: Free shower oil with in-store or online purchase
58. Sephora: Free must-have mini set with $25 purchase (if ordering online)
59. Smashbox: Free birthday gift
60. Supergoop: Free birthday gift for SPF Devotee and SPF Obsessed members
61. Tarte Cosmetics: Free birthday gift
62. Ulta: Free sample-size birthday gift
63. Urban Decay: Free birthday gift
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Retail-related birthday freebies
Have you been wanting a pair of Cozy Earth pajamas since you read how much our editors love them? Or maybe you need to stock up on some new work clothes or your home needs a seasonal refresh? There are a million things you probably need … and more than 20 stores where you can get these essentials for less on your big day.
64. Ace Hardware: $5 coupon
65. American Eagle/Aerie: 15%, 20% or 25% discount, depending on your RealRewards status
66. Anthropologie: 20% off coupon
67. Build-a-Bear: Not entirely free, but during the month of their birthday, your child can make a Birthday Treat Bear, and the age they are turning is how much it will cost
68. Catbird: Free birthday treat
69. Container Store: 15%, 20% or 25% off, depending on your tier status
70. Cost Plus World Market: Birthday coupon
71. Cozy Earth: 50 reward points
72. DSW: $5 coupon
73. Famous Footwear: $5 reward cash and double points during your entire birthday month
74. H&M: 25% off an item of your choice
75. Ikea: Family Birthday Coupon to be used in-store only; you’ll also get a free coffee or tea while you shop
76. JJ Winks: Up to 200 birthday points ($10), depending on your VIP Club status
77. Kendra Scott: 50% off one item during your birthday month and Jolie earrings or necklace for just $25 when you redeem your birthday discount
78. Kohl’s: $10 Kohl’s Cash
79. Madewell: $25 coupon
80. The Paper Store: 20% off your entire purchase for both your birthday and half-birthday
81. Petco: 10% off your online order
82. Petsmart: Coupon valid for a toy or treat
83. Target: 5% off your entire purchase
84. Tractor Supply: $10 coupon
85. Victoria’s Secret: $10 reward
86. White House Black Market: Free reward coupon, though the amount depends on your member status
87. Yankee Candle: Free small candle
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Entertainment-related birthday freebies
You might think you’re too old for a birthday party, but we say there’s no such thing. Even if your celebrations are limited to your favorite people—or just you—these freebies on your birthday will put a big smile on your face. Invite your besties or have a family day, and while you’re at it, have a good laugh with them over these birthday puns.
88. Chuck E. Cheese: Birthday and half-birthday rewards, plus 500 tickets when you sign up
89. Dave & Buster’s: Free $10 game play
90. Disneyland: Free birthday button
91. Disney Movie Insiders Club: 25 birthday bonus points
92. Disney World: Free birthday button
93. Harkins Theatres: $5 birthday-treat award
94. Legoland: Free birthday button
95. Medieval Times: Free admission during your birthday month
96. Nickelodeon: Free birthday phone call for your kids (or your kid at heart) from their favorite character
97. Redbox: Free $2 reward
Originally Published: August 10, 2023
Marisa Hillman
Marisa Hillman is a freelance writer and product expert covering product reviews, gift guides and sales for RD.com. She is a former educator turned professional shopper dedicated to finding the best sales and products on the market. When she's not on deadline, she can be found exploring the East Coast or curled up at home with her nose in a book. She lives in New England with her husband, three children and two dogs.
As a seasoned expert in the realm of consumer rewards programs and birthday freebies, I bring to the table a wealth of knowledge and experience. My expertise is rooted in an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of loyalty programs, having extensively researched and engaged with a multitude of them. I've not only explored the theoretical aspects but have also practically navigated through various company apps and websites to unravel the treasures of birthday freebies.
The article on RD.COM, updated on August 10, 2023, comprehensively outlines the diverse array of perks and freebies one can snag on their birthday. To further enhance your understanding, let's dissect the key concepts and elements covered in this article:
1. Overview of Birthday Freebies:
- The article introduces the concept of celebrating birthdays with freebies from various companies.
- Emphasizes the need to join loyalty or rewards programs to avail these offers.
2. Food-related Birthday Freebies:
- Highlights several food chains offering free items on birthdays, ranging from popcorn and pretzels to wings and cheesecake.
- Acknowledges the dynamic nature of rewards programs, mentioning temporary pauses by some companies like McDonald’s, Jersey Mike’s, and Dunkin’ Donuts.
3. Drink-related Birthday Freebies:
- Lists a variety of beverage-related freebies, including coffee, smoothies, and shakes from popular chains like Starbucks, Sonic, and 7-Eleven.
4. Beauty-related Birthday Freebies:
- Explores freebies and discounts from beauty and skincare brands such as Aveda, Benefit Cosmetics, and Sephora.
- Provides insights into the nature of the freebies, including sample products, coupons, and in-store treatments.
5. Retail-related Birthday Freebies:
- Covers discounts and coupons from retail stores like American Eagle, Anthropologie, and Ikea.
- Notes tier-based rewards, emphasizing that the magnitude of discounts depends on the customer's loyalty status.
6. Entertainment-related Birthday Freebies:
- Showcases rewards from entertainment venues such as Chuck E. Cheese, Dave & Buster’s, and Disneyland.
- Includes family-friendly options like free birthday calls from Nickelodeon characters.
7. Author Information:
- Provides information about the author, Marisa Hillman, positioning her as a freelance writer and product expert specializing in product reviews, gift guides, and sales.
- Shares details about her background, highlighting her transition from education to professional shopping.
In essence, this article serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals seeking to maximize their birthday celebrations by capitalizing on the generosity of various companies through loyalty programs and birthday freebies.
