As you get older, birthdays can start to lose some of their bright, happy, “OMG PRESENTS AND CAKE!” appeal — especially when you don’t have dear ol’ Mom and Dad around to make sure the aforementioned treats appear.
And, let’s face it, your friends are college students and, often, hovering somewhere in the realm of teenager and 20something, which really means one thing: Broke. They’d love to get you a Wii or a flat-screen TV or both (let’s not deny the fringe benefits here — they get to play too!), but more often than not, they’re living off a mix of minimum-wage jobs and student loans.
But wait! That doesn’t mean the only way you’re blowing out any candles is if you fork up the dough for your own cake. In fact, plenty of companies will toss freebies your way to help you celebrate the day you entered this world — just so long as you join their eClub or fill out a short form, of course.
If you plan things out properly, your birthday could amount to an entire week of free meals. Here are some companies, along with a breakdown of the deal (and any hidden tricks):
- Carrabba’s — Score a free appetizer with purchase of an entree if you’re an Amici Club member.
- Coldstone Creamery — Buy one, get one free Coldstone Creations. Birthday Cake Remix, anyone? Just pop a candle on top and you’ve got a party in a cup — or cone. Sign up for their newsletter to snag the deal.
- Dave & Buster’s — Enjoy an evening (or at least 20 minutes) of fun with $10 in free game play on your birthday and sporadically throughout the year. You just have to sign up to be a rewards member.
- Famous Dave’s — Rumor has it that PIG Club members receive a free meal on their birthdays. Unfortunately, none are close enough to me for me to test that offer.
- Firehouse Subs — Join the birthday club to score a free medium sub.
- IHOP — One Rooty Tooty Fresh & Fruity shortstack awaits you on your birthday, and on your one-year anniversary when you join IHOP’s Pancake Revolution.
- Moe’s — Free chips and queso when you sign up to join the Moe’s mailing list, and they’ll send you a voucher for a free burrito on your big day.
- Red Robin — Your burger is on the house when you join Red Robin’s eClub.
- Starbucks — Rewards members who have registered their birthdays will receive a voucher in the mail for a free birthday drink. Click here to join the group.
- TCBY — One small cup of frozen yogurt on the house for being part of their birthday club.
- TGI Fridays — More Stripes members receive vouchers for a free dessert with purchase of an entree, among other free-with-purch deals.