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The cheapest way to celebrate in 2022 🎂
The days of office birthdays spent waiting for a soggy piece of cake and a flat-noted Happy Birthday chorus are over.
No matter when your birthday falls this year, you’re gonna have an actual good time and do it for cheap. If we have it our way, you’re gonna do it for free.
We’ve rustled up a list of places you can get free breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts on your day.
You might wanna bookmark this. We’ll be updating it constantly.
Quick note before we get into it: we’d never lead to you to pay walls, but most of these places do require you to download their app or sign up to some sort of membership/email club. And they like you to do it at least 7 days before your big day.
So you better get reading. 👇
Start your day right. Without spending a penny, obviously.
#1 Bruegger’s Bagels
What you get: a free bagel (duh).
What you gotta do: sign onto their email list.
#2 IHOP
What you get: a full stack of pancakes. Yeehaw.
What you gotta do: join IHOP’s Pancake Revolution club. Not as intense as it sounds.
#3 Tropical Smoothie Cafe
What you get: ok so this one depends how loyal you are to TSC (abbreviating it shows real loyalty btw). It can range from a $2 reward to a free item on the menu.
What you gotta do: Download the Tropical Smoothie Cafe app
#4 Krispy Kreme
What you get: free donut. 🇺🇸
What you gotta do: become a friend of Krispy Kreme (in writing. You can’t just call your Original Glazed buddy and be done with it).
Also, yes. You should have a donut for breakfast on your birthday.
#5 First Watch
What you get: a free breakfast/brunch (or lunch if you’re running late).
What you gotta do: get a membership to the Sun EClub.
You’re gonna need to wash that down, right?
But you’re not gonna spend money. It’s your birthday for god’s sake.
Cue:
#1 Starbucks (obvs)
What you get: a free snack or drank of your choice
What you gotta do: sign up to Starbucks Rewards (dw, it’s free)
#2 Peet’s Coffee and Tea
What you get: a free coffee.
What you gotta do: sign up for Peetnik rewards.
#3 Au Bon Pain
What you get: a smokin’ hot free coffee and a pastry.
What you gotta do: sign up for Au Bon Pain’s Eclub.
Errrrr bonus point: these guys give you a free cup, too. Isn’t that everything you’ve always wanted and more?
#4 Cinnabon
Cinnabon don’t stop at your free snack. They’re also gonna give you something to compliment it.
What you get: a free iced coffee.
What you gotta do: Be a member of Club Cinnabon (and prove it’s your birthday)
#5 Dunkin’ Donuts
What you get: one free drink.
What you gotta do: come on down and sign up for DD Perks Rewards Program.
#7 Planet Smoothie
Ok it isn’t coffee. But you should probs give the caffeine a break some time anyway. So.
What you get: free smoothie.
What you gotta do: join the Birthday Club. Doesn’t that sound fun?
This one’s a bigger section because there’s so many out there!
Say what you want about corporate America, but dang do they love to treat you!
I’d take a free donut over free healthcare any day!
silently weeps
Anyway, here’s where to get your free food.
#1 Chevys Fresh Mex
What you get: a whole freakin' free meal.
What you gotta do: nothing. Nothing at all.
Bonus point: get a free appetizer too when you sign up to their emails.
#2 Steak n’ Shake
What you get: a double steak cheeseburger and fries.
What you gotta do: sign up to their email list.
#3 Big Boy
What you get: a whooole free meal on your big day.
What you gotta do: join the I Love Big Boy (🙄) email list.
#4 Jersey Mike’s Subs
What you get: one free bday sub. 💅
What you gotta do: sign up for their emails.
#5 Noodles & Company
What you get: big ol’ bowl of noods. Get it.
What you gotta do: join the Family. Sounds intense, but probably less toxic than the one you’ve got now. At least during holiday season.
#6 Benihana’s
What you get: a $30 birthday certificate.
What you gotta do: sign up for Benihana’s Chef’s Table.
#7 Buffalo Wild Wings
What you get: free wings.
What you gotta do: sign up for Blazin’ Rewards.
Money best bit: you don’t even have to get your wings on your actual birthday. You can redeem the offer any time during your bday month. Go off.
#8 Houlihan’s Restaurant and Bar
What you get: a free bday entree.
What you gotta do: join their email club (they also throw in a $10 when you join).
#9 Moe’s Southwest Grill
What you get: a birthday burrito coupon and a free cup of queso. Hallelujah.
What you gotta do: sign up for Moe Rewards.
#10 Sbarro
What you get: a free Big Deal Combo meal on your big day.
What you gotta do: join the ‘Q Crew.
Oh, and you get a $5 coupon just for signing up.
#11 The Spaghetti Warehouse
What you get: free meal, bud. A whole freakin' meal.
How to get it: join the Warehouse Club.
Bonus: do that, and you’re getting a free appetizer with any entree because you’re a member.
Calling your second stomach.
It’s time to put that lactose intolerance to the side, there’s free pudding to be had.
#1 Baskin-Robbins
What you get: free 2.5 ounce scoop on your special day.
What you gotta do: join the joyously named Birthday Club.
#2 Bertucci’s
What you get: one free dessert for you my friend. 💅
What you gotta do: sign up to the brick-oven pizza chain’s email club.
#3 Cinnabon
What you get: a coupon for a good ol’ free snack.
What you gotta do: turn up on your bday and prove your part of Club Cinnabon.
#4 Pizza Hut
What you get: free cinnamon sticks.
What you gotta do: literally just have an online ordering account.
#5 Cheesecake factory
What you get: a free dessert (don’t ask specifics. We don’t know specifics).
What you gotta do: tell ‘em it’s your birthday.
Sometimes they ask you to prove it’s your bday, so take your ID. Or wear a party hat.
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Happy birthday.
Enjoy your free food.
Whatever you do, don’t wear non-elasticated pants.
While you're here, check out where to get free stuff on your birthday, how to get free coffee, or how to get Spotify premium for free. Treat yourself.
Enjoy this post? Def give it a share or send it along to a friend. You never know, it could make a big difference. And of course, if you want to try the best money app in the world for free, just hit this link right here.
Big love. Cleo
💙
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