Birthday Freebies Round-Up
Mr. K (As in Mr. Kirbie. Yes I’m phasing out DH. He’s still a dear husband to me, but for several reasons, I’ve decided to change it for future posts. Sorry to those who’ve grown attached to the “DH” name and sorry for changing it again.) and I recently celebrated our birthdays.
We’ve signed up and participated in some of the birthday freebies that restaurants usually offer throughout the years, but usually only one or two. This year, Mr. K requested one day of his birthday weekend to be all birthday free meal things. So I signed him up for a bunch of restaurant clubs prior to his birthday and we spent a few hours driving around and picking up all his free items.
It’s been a little disappointing to see that a lot of restaurants have pulled back from their offers. Some of our favorites got rid of their free birthday meals this year, or added a lot of limitations, so we didn’t partake. Here’s a round-up of stuff we did get:
Noodles & Company
If you sign up for their eclub, you’ll receive an email with a coupon, allowing you a free bowl up to $9. It’s actually a generous offer because when we went there, we realized everything was under $9. They also give a generous amount of time to use it. We received the certificate 5 days before his birthday and it was good for another 3 weeks after.
Of course we had to take full advantage and got one of the more expensive bowls, beef stroganoff.
Starbucks
Both of us have Starbucks rewards cards which gives you stars every time you buy a drink and entitles you periodically to free drinks after you’ve accumulated enough stars/points. What I especially like about Starbucks’ system is that their free drink is always any drink of your choice. A lot of restaurants that offer a stamp card for a free drink after a certain number purchased usually restrict the drink to one with a very minimal value. But Starbucks doesn’t have that restriction. You can get the largest size drink, add as many shots, extra syrups, etc, and it’s still free.
The same goes for their birthday free drink. If you put in your birthdate on your online account, they will put in a free reward into your rewards account, good on any drink or a bakery item. They give you the reward a few days before your birthday and give you about a month to redeem it.
Rubio’s
If you sign up for their Beach Club, you get an entree up to $7 for your birthday. By signing up for the Beach Club, you also get a free fish taco coupon right after you sign up. The employees allowed Mr. K to use both at once. The birthday coupon expired 6 days after his birthday.
He got a shrimp burrito. I was actually surprised by how many shrimp were in here and they were a decent size too. I thought I had picture evidence but I seem to have lost it.
Here’s the fish taco.
Baskin Robbins
Sign up for their birthday club and receive a free scoop or a soft serve swirl. Coupon expired 5 days after Mr. K’s birthday. He opted for a banana ice cream scoop.
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Join the Sprinkles birthday club and receive a free cupcake of your choice. This is only redeemable on your actual birthday and they do check ID. I always get this one but I am always a little annoyed that you can only redeem it on your actual birthday. It’s not as if they are giving away a whole meal, just a cupcake! But given how much money I spend at Sprinkles, I look forward to getting my free one every year. Mr. K doesn’t really care for cupcakes, but redeems one for me.
So that’s the end of the ones we actually redeemed this year. Some others we didn’t get around to doing but have done in year’s past include $30 to Benihana during your birthday month, buy 1 get 1 free meal at Hometown Buffet, buy 1 get 1 free meal at Souplantation, $10 to spend at Godiva, and a small free make-up gift at Sephora.
gosh, damn or dumb? oh no! Ha ha! My City Wok coupon expired on Sat. It’s too out of my way. Curiously, my Daphne’s bday coupon doesn’t expire until the end of JUNE (2 months after my after birth month, wth, but that’s all right I guess). My Red Robin expires at the end of this month. Not sure if I will go though. Already did it 2 yrs in a row. Don’t forget Fuddruckers or Jersey Mikes for next year too.
Added to my list!
Ok so, I figured DH was for Dear Husband. But I also thought maybe Designated Husband – lol – for the baseball term “DH” designated hitter. Of course “dear” is much nicer. ; – )
Good roundup of birthday clubs, thx for that
haha! well one of the reasons I originally went with DH is that it could mean several things: dear husband when i’m happy with him and it could mean damn or dumb if i’m mad, etc. But I realized a lot of people were either confused on who DH was or was hesitant to ever say “DH” and a lot of my friends had been calling him Mr. K, so I decided to change it.
For Starbucks you can actually use the freebie for ANYTHING on drink or food menu. Sis and I have used reward for sandwiches and their bistro boxes (which goes for as much as $5.95 I think ). We are huge fans of their breakfast sandwiches especially the sausage and egg – it’s better than McD and again you can use your reward to buy this sandwich 🙂
good to know! i’ve never tried it on food before. next time i might try that!
Don’t forget Panera Bread! I got a free brownie (via email) on my B-Day as well as a free drink for signing up for the Panera Card (loaded on said card), and they load a free pastry on the card for your B-Day as well, as I recently found out. I also have Sonic, Which Wich and IHOP freebies. Maggie Moo’s is another option. Another tip, if you’re ever traveling out of town around your B-Day, check for places in that area so you can save on a meal there too. Zio’s Italian Kitchen is a good example. Happy dining!
thanks for the suggestions! i actually signed up for Panera Bread this year but we never got around to going as it was a little out of our path for that day.
My birthday is a couple of months away, but this gives me a reminder to sign up for the birthday goodies. I think I got something from The Corner Bakery last year, and while you’re not getting something free, the head-of-the-line pass at Phil’s BBQ is nice when there’s a line.
Oh i didn’t even know about the Phil’s one! Or Corner Bakery. Hopefully I remember these for next year.
Happy birthday to Mr. K – and to you! I’m sad to see a lot of the birthday freebies getting pulled back or being restricted as well. I’m still always trying to find new ones. CC found Which Wich and I just signed up for that one. The Sprinkles one is one my favorites but I’m annoyed its only day of your birthday, too.
Oooh Which Wich. Will have to add that to my list for next year. Yeah, I was super sad abut Daphne’s and even El Torito’s has changed so much.
Happy late bday to Mr. K (ooh, it felt wierd typing that instead of DH, ha ha)!!!! You young things!!!! 🙂
I still have my City Wok bday freebie but it expires tomorrow (t weeks after the bday). We didn’t do Benihana’s this year. We spend more than we save (since there’s 3 of us). Noodles was a new one to me this year and I really liked it. They were generous with their shrimp in my noodle bowl.
You did so many! I’m impressed. I only did the Benihana one once for my sis’s bday. I don’t have patience for that place. the dining experience takes too long!
do you have a recipe for homemeade fish or shrimp tacos you could share? do you eat it with lettuce ranch dressing?
Sorry I don’t have a recipe. I haven’t made them at home before
Why MrK over DH ?
only noodlesCo /Starbucks.Baskin Robbins would apply to me. The other restaurants arent national so they arent here.
This is a good idea, I may to a day of bday freebies. Thanks !