Complete Guide To Birthday Freebies How To Score Free Food Beauty Products And More On Your Special Day

Birthday freebies have become a popular way for businesses to reward customer loyalty and attract new customers. Many restaurants, food chains, and beauty brands offer special deals, free items, or discounts during customers' birthday months. These offers can range from free food and drinks to beauty products and other gifts. This comprehensive guide explores the various birthday freebies available across different categories, how to access them, and important considerations to keep in mind.

Food and Drink Birthday Freebies

One of the most popular categories of birthday freebies is food and drink. Numerous restaurants and food chains offer special deals for customers during their birthday months. These offers typically require signing up for a rewards program or email newsletter in advance of the birthday.

Restaurant Birthday Freebies

Several full-service restaurants offer birthday freebies to reward their loyal customers. For example:

• Abuelo's provides a free special treat on your birthday for members who have visited at least twice before their birthday month. Additionally, new members receive a free offer after their first visit.
• Applebee's offers a free birthday dessert with a minimum purchase of $15 or more to members of their eClub.
• Bertucci's provides a free reward to customers registered for their e-club.
• Benihana offers a $30 complimentary birthday gift certificate to members of The Chef's Table program.
• California Pizza Kitchen provides a free birthday dessert to all rewards members, with Diamond members also receiving a free entree.
• Capitol Grille offers a free dessert with no rewards sign-up required.
• BD's Mongolian Grill gives members a free BOGO Bowl on their birthday after signing up and receiving a free starter or dessert with any bowl purchase.

Fast Food and Quick Service Birthday Freebies

Many fast-food chains and quick-service restaurants also offer birthday freebies:

• A&W allows customers to get a free root beer float on their birthday when they sign up for the Mug Club.
• Arby's offers a free order of small curly fries and a small shake with the purchase of any sandwich on your birthday.
• Auntie Anne's provides a free pretzel on your birthday when you spend $10 or more annually through their rewards app.
• Baja Fresh offers Club Baja members a special birthday treat, typically a free taco or similar offer.
• Baskin Robbins gives members a free 2.5-ounce ice cream scoop on their birthday when they join the Birthday Club.
• Burger King provides 2X reward points throughout the birthday month, which can be redeemed for free food and drinks.
• Buffalo Wild Wings offers six free wings during the birthday month to members.
• 7-Eleven provides a free Slurpee anytime during the birthday month.
• Zaxby's gives three free cookies through the app, either through in-app ordering or with a QR code to be scanned in-store.

Cafe and Bakery Birthday Freebies

Several cafes and bakeries also participate in birthday freebies:

• Atlanta Bread offers extra rewards on your birthday to Rise Rewards members, with past offers including free cookies.
• Au Bon Pain provides a free gift on your birthday (which varies by location) and a free coffee and bakery item for signing up.
• Black Bear Diner gives Bear Lover's eClub members a free meal upon joining and another free meal on their birthday.
• Carvel offers a free cone to Fudgie Fanatic loyalty program members.

Theater and Entertainment Birthday Freebies

• AMC Theatres provides different freebies based on membership tier: AMC Stubs Insider members get a free large popcorn, while Stubs Premiere and A-List members get a free large popcorn and a large fountain drink during their birthday month.

Beauty and Cosmetic Birthday Freebies

Beyond food and drink, many beauty and cosmetic brands offer birthday freebies as a way to reward loyalty and encourage trial of their products. These offers often require joining a loyalty program or rewards club.

Major Beauty Brands Birthday Freebies

Several well-known beauty brands offer special birthday gifts:

• Anastasia Beverly Hills provides birthday month gifts to members of their loyalty programs in addition to other exclusive offers.
• Armani Beauty offers special birthday rewards or gifts to members of the Armani Signature VIP Program, with specific gifts depending on membership tier.
• Aveda gives birthday gifts and double points with each purchase during the birthday month to loyalty program members.
• Bath & Body Works offers a free gift of choice (with a value up to $9.95) on your birthday when you join My Bath & Body Works Rewards.
• bareMinerals provides a birthday gift to loyalty program members, though it requires making an additional purchase online anytime throughout the birthday month.
• Bobbi Brown offers birthday gifts ranging from $10 off a $30 or more order up to $50 off a $51 order or more, depending on the rewards tier.
• Charlotte Tilbury provides loyalty program members with a one-time code to redeem one birth gift, though this appears to be a one-time offer rather than an annual gift.
• E.L.F. gives Beauty Squad members a birthday gift, with the two highest tiers also receiving bonus points with any purchases during the birthday month.
• Benefit Cosmetics previously offered a free brow arch on your birthday during the calendar week including your legal birthdate, except at Ulta Beauty Benefit BrowBar lounge locations.

Expired Beauty Freebies

Several beauty brands have previously offered birthday freebies that are no longer available:

• Benefit Cosmetics' free brow arch on your birthday
• Sephora's birthday gifts

How to Maximize Your Birthday Freebies

To fully take advantage of birthday freebies, there are several strategies and considerations to keep in mind.

Sign Up in Advance

Most birthday freebies require joining a rewards program or email newsletter before your birthday to be eligible. Many sources emphasize the importance of signing up well in advance, as some programs may require a waiting period before you can receive your birthday offer. Some programs also provide a welcome bonus when you first sign up, in addition to the birthday freebie.

Create a Dedicated Email Account

Since many birthday freebies are delivered via email, it's recommended to create a dedicated email account specifically for signing up for these offers. This helps keep track of all the birthday freebies in one place and prevents your primary inbox from becoming cluttered with promotional emails. According to one source, "Many of these birthday deals and coupons are via e-mail, so sign up in advance to your birthday. In fact, for that reason alone, I strongly suggest creating a new gmail account for these birthday freebies."

Plan Your Birthday Celebrations

With numerous birthday freebies available, it's possible to plan a full day of free or discounted food and products. Some sources suggest signing up for multiple programs to have options on your birthday. As one source notes, "Personally, I love having ALL the freebie options available to me, so what I like to do is sign up for everything. Then, on my actual birthday, I can pick and choose."

Track Your Rewards Memberships

Keeping track of which memberships you've signed up for and their specific requirements can help ensure you don't miss out on any birthday freebies. Some programs may have specific purchase requirements or time limitations that need to be met to qualify for the birthday offer.

Important Considerations and Limitations

While birthday freebies can be a great way to celebrate, there are several important considerations and limitations to keep in mind.

Location Participation

Many birthday freebies are subject to location participation, meaning not all locations of a particular chain may offer the same deal. Some offers may be limited to specific regions or corporate-owned locations rather than franchises. It's always a good idea to check with your local location to confirm they're participating in the birthday freebie program.

Purchase Requirements

Some birthday freebies come with purchase requirements. For example, Applebee's requires a minimum purchase of $15 or more to receive the free birthday dessert, and Auntie Anne's requires spending $10 or more annually through their app to qualify for the birthday pretzel.

Membership Tiers

Some brands offer different levels of birthday freebies depending on membership tier. For example, California Pizza Kitchen provides a free birthday dessert to all rewards members, but Diamond members also receive a free entree. Bobbi Brown's birthday gift value increases with higher rewards tiers.

Expired and Discontinued Offers

The source materials include a list of previously available birthday freebies that have since been discontinued. These include:

• Au Bon Pain's free travel mug for joining and special birthday offer
• Benefit Cosmetics' free brow arch
• BJ's Restaurant's free Pizookie
• Black Angus' free dessert for joining and free steak dinner on first birthday as a Prime Club member
• Bojangles' free 1/2 gallon of Iced Tea and free Cheddar Bo Biscuit
• Cafe Express' free dessert and special treat
• Cattlemen's Steakhouse's free Cowpie Brownie Sundae and birthday treat
• Cold Stone Creamery's BOGO creation
• Dippin' Dots' free small cup

It's important to verify that a birthday freebie is still active before planning to use it, as offers can change frequently.

One-Time vs. Annual Offers

Some birthday freebies are one-time offers rather than annual benefits. For example, Charlotte Tilbury's loyalty program provides "a one-time code to redeem one birth gift" rather than an annual gift.

Privacy Considerations

Signing up for numerous rewards programs typically involves sharing personal information including your name, email address, birthdate, and sometimes additional details. Consumers should be mindful of privacy considerations and review the privacy policies of each program before signing up.

Conclusion

Birthday freebies offer a fantastic way to celebrate your special day while enjoying complimentary food, drinks, and products. From restaurant meals and desserts to beauty products and specialty items, there are numerous opportunities to save money and receive gifts simply for being a member of various loyalty programs. By signing up in advance, creating a dedicated email account, and understanding the terms and conditions of each offer, consumers can maximize their birthday freebies and enjoy a memorable celebration without breaking the bank.

It's important to remember that offers can vary by location, may have purchase requirements, and are subject to change. Always verify that an offer is still active before planning to use it, and be mindful of privacy considerations when signing up for multiple rewards programs. With careful planning and organization, birthday freebies can add an extra element of fun and savings to your birthday celebration.

Sources

1. College Life Made Easy - Birthday Freebies
2. Good Housekeeping - Best Birthday Freebies
3. The Freebie Guy - Birthday Freebies
4. Hey It's Free - Birthday Freebies