Celebrate Your Birthday With Free Stuff

I celebrated my 40^th birthday last week (I don’t feel a day over 39 yet). One of the best things about the day, aside from the presents, phone calls and the 200 birthday wishes from friends on Facebook, were all the e-mails I received from restaurants and other places. This is what I received:

Wine.com – 10 percent off my order
Redbox – one free movie rental
Texas de Brazil – Buy one adult meal, get one free
Coldstone Creamery – By one creation, get one free
Disney Movie Rewards – 100 bonus points
AMC Theaters – free large fountain drink
Build-a-Bear Workshop - $5 off any purchase

I didn’t receive as many as I could have, because I have really started cutting down on my e-mail subscriptions. However, there are many other places who offer free and discounted items for birthdays when you either sign up for e-mail or join their online birthday clubs:

Baskin Robbins – free scoop on your birthday (online birthday club)
Jason’s Deli - $5 gift card on your birthday (Facebook online birthday club)
Chili’s – an unspecified birthday freebie when you sign up to receive their e-mails
Blue Mesa grill – free Sunday brunch (online birthday club)
Ruby Tuesday – unspecified birthday freebie when you join its online So Connected club.
IHOP – free birthday meal when you join the Pancake Revolution.
Texas Road House – free appetizer or sidekick or ribs when you join their e-mail club.
Ghengis Grill – free birthday bowl when you join the Khan’s Klub.
Dunkin’ Donuts – free coffee or tea when you join Perks Rewards.

I have no doubt this list could go on forever and ever. As you can see, it pays to go to the websites of your favorite restaurants and stores, as well as their Facebook pages, and sign up to receive your birthday freebies. Don’t forget to sign up everyone in your family so they each get a birthday freebie from their favorite place. If your kids have favorite kids places, sign them up for kids clubs whenever possible.

I think my favorite birthday freebie may be the one I received today. It wasn’t for my birthday, either. It was for the one-year birthday of Longhorn Skywalker, the pet my son made at Build-a-Bear Workshop a year ago today. By signing up his pet for e-mail when he made it, he is entitled to receive a free accessory for that pet this week. You just never know whose birthday will qualify for a celebration in today’s digital age.

Happy Birthday to you on whatever day you celebrate!