My Number Will Shock You — Here’s How Many Birthday Deals I Snagged
When you’re a kid, every birthday is a big deal.
Remember those days when you actually wanted to brag about being a year older? You turned 9 and suddenly felt wiser and more mature than the kid sitting next to you who would still be 8 for another two months. Plus, birthdays meant presents, cake and maybe even a party.
And your birthdays somehow became an even bigger deal over time, at least for a while.
You celebrated your sweet 16 knowing that the only thing standing between you and your driver’s license was some guy or gal at the DMV.
You turned 17 and no longer needed a parental unit to buy R-rated movie tickets.
Your 18th birthday was the day you became a totally mature grown-up fully capable of making adult decisions. Errr… at least in the eyes of the law. Suddenly, you could vote, get married, open a bank account and get a tattoo, all without mom or dad’s permission.
But perhaps no birthday was a bigger deal than the epic 21st. It’s the day we all had our very first alcoholic beverage ever. Right???
And at 25, you could finally rent a car and have that quarter-life crisis you’d been putting off — still kind of a big deal.
Here’s the Deal on Birthdays After 25
But what about all those birthdays that come long after you’ve earned your last adulting badge — especially the ones that don’t end in a “0” or “5”?
I should know because a 32nd 33rd 34th birthday recently happened to me. As I contemplated birthday plans with a resounding “meh?”, it dawned on me that as you get older, your birthdays just aren’t a big deal.
Sure, next year I can finally run for president. And when I turn 50, I can get my AARP card, which I hear comes with lots of sweet deals. And maybe when I turn 67 77 87, I’ll celebrate my Social Security birthday.
Between now and then, I’ll be celebrating some not-that-big-a-deal birthdays. But here’s the thing about birthdays: Even when your birthday isn’t that big of a deal, you can score some really big deals. In fact, The Penny Hoarder has this list of 100 places that will give you free stuff for your birthday.
So in honor of celebrating the big 3-4, I decided to see how many birthday deals I could snag. Hey, you know what they say: You only turn 34 once.
The Inspiring Story of How I Scored $114.47 Worth of Birthday Deals
A few places will give you free stuff just for being born. Denny’s, for example, will give you a free Grand Slam on your birthday — no beverage to purchase or app to download. All you have to do is show your ID.
But most businesses want something in exchange for that freebie. They’re trying to lure you into a rewards program in hopes that you’ll order more food the other 364 days a year — which is why you’ll typically have to provide your email address or download an app. Or you have to buy something that’s often far pricier than the “freebie.”
I decided I wouldn’t spend any money I wouldn’t otherwise spend to get free stuff, which meant joining a lot of rewards programs. And to take advantage of all these deals, I had to plan ahead.
Many places require you to register at least seven days in advance of your birthday; some require you to sign up before your birthday month begins. So, in early February, I prepped for my March 20 birthday by creating a new email address and providing it to practically any business I could find that gives you free stuff on your birthday.
Sure enough, the deals started flooding my newly born inbox on March 1.
But here’s another thing you need to know about birthday deals: While you might get coupons of 10% or 15% off from your favorite retailer, the vast majority of the truly free birthday loot you’ll score is food.
That’s why, unless you’re hoping to start your new year 10 pounds heavier, you’ve got to rethink the way you’ve been defining “birthday” all these years. I thought of my first 33 birthdays as a single day, but I changed that thought for this experiment. .
Most places give you a window to use your birthday deals ranging from a few days before or after your actual birthday all the way until a month or two afterward. That’s why anyone who has a birthday needs to think of it as less of a day and more like their own personal appreciation/awareness month. Otherwise, think of all that free food you’re leaving on the table.
Here’s Exactly What I Got for My Birthday
Drumroll please… Here’s what $114.97 worth of birthday freebies looked like for me. But first a caveat: Birthday deals can expire, and they also vary widely by franchise and location. Don’t assume any deal is valid at a specific location without verifying it first.
OK, seriously now, without further ado:
March 17
Free Farmhouse Skillet Hash at First Watch. Anyone can snag a free entree at the breakfast-and-lunch chain by joining the Sun eClub.
Value: $11.22*
*All prices include tax when applicable.
March 18
Ten free wings at Hooters — but I had to purchase a beverage. Oh twist my arm, Hooters, I thought as I ordered an IPA. The deal is available to Hooters eClub members.
Value: $10.15
March 19
Free spinach, mushroom and egg sandwich with my coffee purchase at Einstein Bros. Bagels. Shmear Society members get a free egg sandwich with any beverage purchase for their birthdays.
Value: $5.33
March 20
Sit back, because this is the big day, and the deals came fast and furious.
Free slice of chocolate fudge cake at Buffalo Wild Wings. Is it really a birthday without cake?
Value: $6.20
Free mini-size Tarte blush and lip gloss at Sephora, where Beauty Insider Rewards members get to choose one of these three free birthday gifts.
Value: A Sephora rep told me that since gifts are specifically for Beauty Insiders, a retail value isn’t available. But I found my selection for sale on eBay starting at $7.99, so I’ll go with that.
Free chicken Parmesan sub and drink at Jersey Mike’s Subs. Email club members get a regular size sandwich and drink on the house for their birthdays.
Value: $9.89
Free churros from Tijuana Flats are available to Flatheads on their birthdays. Still full from free birthday food, I gifted them to a co-worker. #Teamwork
Value: $3.20
Tall Nitro Cold Brew at Starbucks. Starbucks Rewards members get a free drink on their birthdays.
Value: $4.27
Redbox free birthday rental: All Redbox Play Pass members get a free movie rental on their birthdays.
Value: $1.61
March 21
Free medium coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts, available to members of the DD Perks Rewards Program when they celebrate their birthdays.
Value: $2.02
$3 in ExtraCare bucks at CVS. Because I’m a member of the ExtraCare Beauty Rewards Club. I saved $3 on my purchase.
Value: $3
March 22
Free birthday burger at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews for being part of the Red Robin Royalty Rewards Program.
Value: $10.58
March 24
Free shot at the Hamburger Mary’s franchise in St. Petersburg, Florida.**
**This isn’t a deal I’ve seen advertised. I knew the location has a tradition of bringing anyone celebrating any special occasion on stage during Fabulous Fridays. Those 21 and up usually get a free shot. This night was no different.
Value: $7, according to the bartender’s best guesstimate
March 25
Choice of a free Bang Bang Shrimp or dessert at Bonefish Grill as a BFG Insider. Was there really any choice? Bang Bang Shrimp, please!
Value: $11.45
March 26
Free burrito at Moe’s, which Moe’s Rockin’ Rewards members get for their annual celebration.
Value: $8.56
Ulta birthday gift for Ultamate Rewards Program members: Benefit Cosmetics POREfetional Primer Deluxe Mini.
Value: $12
Party’s Over? Not Quite
After 10 days and $114.47 worth of birthday deals, it was finally time to call it quits, right? Hell no.
The only reason you’re reading this post is because I had a deadline, and my co-workers were gonna strangle me if I didn’t turn this in.
Remember what I said about how your birthday is really a monthlong occasion? Well, the 34th Annual Robin Hartill Awareness month is just beginning.
I’ve got plenty of coupons that don’t expire until April 20, a full month after my actual birthday. I even have a coupon for a free pastry from Panera that doesn’t expire until nine whole weeks after the big day!
Turning 34 now feels like a really big deal.
Cheers to all of you out there who will celebrate a birthday any time, well… ever. May your day week month be filled with good cheer and plenty of free stuff!
Robin Hartill is an editor at The Penny Hoarder. She’d like to thank all the places that gave her free stuff for her birthday.
