Where to Get the Best Birthday Freebies and Discounts

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Along with thoughtful presents from friends and charming homemade crafts from the kids, there’s one type of birthday gift everyone wants to receive: birthday freebies.

Everyone loves a birthday freebie, but what kinds of places will dish out the goodies? From free stuff to discounts and other deals, there are a lot of fun offers out there waiting for the big day to arrive.

Online shopping, in-store offers, even major deals at the best restaurants: these are a few of the best freebies customers can get when a birthday rolls around.

Stores That Offer Free Birthday Gifts

Retailers love rewarding customers with discounts and other fun gifts. The catch, though, is that most of these merchants require customers to sign up for their rewards program or an email newsletter to get a birthday reward. But that’s hardly a deal-breaker for customers who already shop there! Typically, all it takes is a minute or two to sign up and get a birthday reward from these companies every year.

For people who think ULTA Beauty makes the ulta-mate birthday gift, signing up for the Ultmate Rewards program is well worth that extra minute or two at the register—or online. ULTA offers customers celebrating their special day an extra-special gift, plus double points on anything they purchase during their entire birthday month. That means reaching those cash rewards even sooner!

What about other retailers? Well, not only does Kohl’s offer major savings in weekly sales and discounts, they also offer a killer surprise every year for members of their Yes2You rewards program. Customers who shop Kohl’s through Swagbucks can earn at least 1% cash back from all the stuff they score at Kohl’s online too—sometimes even more with special deals!

Here are a few more stores and retailers with free birthday gifts for loyal customers:

Aveda: gift worth $23, plus a double points certificate for getting a free Pure Privilege membership.
bareMinerals: birthday gift by signing up for the free FAB friends and benefits rewards program.
Disney: birthday gift for signing up for a D23 gold membership (additional cost).
Medieval Times: one-time free admission during your birth month after signing up for Birthday Fellowship email.
JCPenney: birthday gift for signing up to free JCPenney rewards program.
Edible Arrangements: free box of 12 chocolate-dipped fruit for signing up to free Edible Rewards.
Sephora: free mini-set during birthday month when signing up as a Beauty Insider.
The Container Store: free gift on birthday for being a POP! member.
The Body Shop: free gift worth $10 for signing up to their Love Your Body Club.

Restaurants with Free Birthday Treats or Meals

Free food is by far the most common freebie offered for birthdays. A savvy bargain-hunter could eat free all day long on their birthday!

Got an IHOP nearby? Sign up for MyHOP for a free pancake meal coupon, redeemable for up to two weeks after the big day.

Au Bon Pain is another awesome restaurant for free munchies. Anyone who signs up for the Au Bon Pain eClub program can enjoy a free birthday coffee and pastry!

Here’s another one just for chocolate lovers: the Godiva Chocolate Rewards Club gives customers a free chocolate gift on their birthday. And to make the tasty savings last even longer, shopping Godiva through Swagbucks lets birthday savers earn 2% cash back plus access to all sorts of deals and discounts.

Stop by one of these restaurants for even more tasty freebies:

Friendly’s: free birthday sundae for joining the BFF Email Club.
Starbucks: free treat for signing up for Starbucks Rewards.
Planet Smoothie: free birthday smoothie for joining the free Planet Smoothie eClub.
Firehouse Subs: free medium sub for being a member of free Firehouse Rewards program.
Chili’s: free birthday dessert for signing up for MyChili’s Rewards.
Auntie Anne’s: free birthday treat for being a Pretzel Perks member.
California Pizza Kitchen: free dessert for Palm Level members and free entrée for VIP, Diamond, and Elite Level members who are signed up for the free CPK Rewards program.
Red Robin: free burger after signing up for Red Robin Royalty.
Applebee’s: free entree or dessert on birthday for signing up to the Applebee’s email club.
Olive Garden: free dessert ($8.50 value max) after becoming eClub member.
Jersey Mike’s: free sub on birthday for being a MyMike’s member.
Baskin Robbins: free scoop of ice cream for signing up to free Birthday Club.
Dairy Queen: free blizzard for signing up to the Birthday Club.

Birthday Freebies with No Signup Required

Birthday freebies from shops and restaurants generally require signing up for a rewards program or newsletter, but no-signup freebies do exist!

Cracker Barrel offers a free birthday dessert to customers who dine in on their birthday, with proof of ID. But be warned, the crew will sing a birthday song too—that means the whole restaurant will know!

Denny’s is another popular place to go for free birthday stuff. Anyone celebrating a birthday can get a free Grand Slam. Build Your Own Grand Slam meal, which can be any combination of 4 items, or else the customary order of 2 pancakes, 2 sausages, 2 strips of bacon, and 2 eggs. Now that’s a killer way to start a b-day!

Check out this list of a few more no-signup birthday freebies:

Cheesecake Factory: free mini hot fudge sundae.
Iguana Mia: free meal up to $18 value, plus free fried ice cream.
Outback Steakhouse: free birthday dessert.
Harkins Theatres: free popcorn for customers watching a movie on their birthday.
Dutch Bros. Coffee: free coffee at participating locations.
The Capital Grille: free birthday dessert.
Jack in the Box: free dessert when showing ID.
TGI Friday’s: free ice cream when dining in and showing ID.
Benefit Cosmetics: get a free brow arch during birthday week.

Shops and Restaurants That Offer Birthday Discounts

Apart from free gifts and free food, birthday discounts might be the best thing to get on the big day. Whether it’s a coupon redeemable online or a card sent through snail-mail, birthday discounts mean paying less for some seriously great stuff.

See below for some stores and restaurants offering birthday discounts:

Cold Stone Creamery: BOGO discount, buy one ice cream and the second is free.
Chipotle: Free chips and Guac with a $5 purchase, the perfect pair to your burrito.
Hometown Buffet: BOGO coupon.
American Eagle: 15% off coupon valid during birthday month.
Maggiano’s: Coupon for $10 off $30 purchase.
Marie Callender’s: $5 off an entree, plus a free slice of pie!
Famous Footwear: Coupon for $5 off and double points during birthday month.
Orange Julius: BOGO coupon for a free drink.
Best Buy: Coupon for 10% off purchase.
DSW: Coupon for $5 off a purchase.
World Market: 15% off coupon valid during birthday month.
Benihana: Certificate for $30 off a birthday meal.

There are tons of places ready and willing to offer up birthday freebies. Bargain-hunters signing up for free rewards programs, shopping through Swagbucks, or just stopping by a participating retailer can find endless ways to make a birthday more special with deals, discounts, and freebies.