Lots of free birthday treats can come your way when you sign up for loyalty programs!
As a couponer, I’m always looking for a great bargain, but I also get pretty used to never paying full price for anything.
Even better than not paying full price is getting something totally free.
The week before my birthday, I was able to treat one daughter to lunch using my free burger coupon at Ruby Tuesday’s.
Through the years I have found that many restaurant and store loyalty programs have a birthday treat that arrives in your email inbox or your snail mail right around the month of your birthday. The treat varies depending on the program and establishment from very specific, like a particular menu item at a restaurant, to a dollar amount you can spend for free at a retail location, using it to buy whatever you’d like.
This summer, as my birthday month rolled around, I tried to pay particular attention to my inbox as the gifts came in, printing them out if necessary and making a plan for how I’d like to use them so that they don’t go to waste. Many gifts expire in 30 days. There were some I knew I just wouldn’t use, or couldn’t because they’d moved out of our area, and others that I knew I definitely didn’t want to let go.
Two of my kids were treated to breakfast for dinner at Denny’s the weekend before my birthday, using my birthday coupon from their loyalty program.
Here’s a list of just some of the places I received emails and gifts from:
Sbarro’s (no longer in our area)
Friendly’s (no longer in our area)
Outback Steakhouse
Not Your Average Joe’s
Kohl’s
Denny’s
My froyo was free one afternoon when I took the kids out for a cool treat after a visit to the orthodontist.
Bob’s Store
Pinkberry
Panera Bread
DSW shoes
Ruby Tuesday’s
T’s Restaurant (local to our area)
Vera Bradley
Dinner with a friend at Panera in the days following my birthday was made even more special when I found out that I had a free birthday treat for dessert! I chose a chocolate crossaint.
Not only do I like being able to treat myself in the days and weeks surrounding my birthday each year; a little shopping here, a little eating out there, it’s also such a nice feeling to be able to treat my family. I love being able to say to my kids that we can go to lunch or dinner, or out for yogurt because it’s free, thanks to my birthday and they loyalty programs. It also makes my birthday last a whole month long as I shop and eat and treat!
If you haven’t yet explored some of the loyalty and rewards programs at area establishments near you, be sure to check them out in your travels. Pay particular attention to the places you go often. Those would be the places you’d get the most use out of a free treat which you can keep for yourself or share with loved ones when you’re out together.
If you’ve found some great ones, be sure to share them with us by leaving a comment below!
The Whole bag of Chips 
Corner Bakery has something too! I have a bunch of these but somehow never get to use some cuz my birthday is in May.. Crazy time for me and my family! But I do use a few of them! Thanks for the list!
oooh we love the Corner Bakery! I’ll have to look it up now that we have two of them so close to us!