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What’s your favorite munchie food? Ooey-gooey warm cookies? Fresh-from-the-fryer McDonald’s fries? Movie theater popcorn? Or maybe you prefer to indulge in a little retail therapy. Whatever your pleasure, your birthday is the perfect time to visit your happy place, and it’s even better when you get a gift for doing so! That’s right, dozens of your favorite restaurants and stores offer no-purchase-necessary birthday freebies just for signing up for their mailing lists or downloading their apps. The way I see it, my personal information is already floating out there in the ether anyway, I might as well get some free birthday love from it, right?
Last year, I threw down the gauntlet and challenged myself to my first-ever Birthday Freebie Fest. For the two weeks surrounding my birthday, I claimed gifts from more than 24 stores, from Sephora beauty products to Starbucks hot chocolate. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already, but Freebie Fest 2 has officially begun! Below, I share my complete list of free birthday gifts from your favorite chain businesses and shops local to NYC, where I’ve spent my last two birthdays. If you have any additions or updates, let me know in the comments below; I’ll verify and add them to the list ASAP.
Happy birthday, friends!
Sweets, Treats, and Eats
16 Handles
- What: $5 credit
- When: 90 days starting on the first day of your birth month
- RSVP: Sign up in the app.
AMC Theatres
- What: free large popcorn
- When: during your birth month
- RSVP: Become an AMC Stubs Insider.
- Details: You don’t even need to see a movie to claim the popcorn!
Baskin-Robbins
- What: free scoop
- When: 10 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP here: Sign up for Baskin-Robbins Rewards.
- Details: You’ll get a free welcome scoop after your first purchase, too!
Ben & Jerry’s
- What: free cone
- When: during your birth month
- RSVP: Become a Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Fanatic.
Buffalo Wild Wings
- What: free 6-count wings
- When: 1 month starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up for Buffalo Wild Wings Rewards.
BurgerFi
- What: free shake
- When: starting on your birthday through the end of the month
- RSVP: Become a V-Fi-P.
- Details: Get a free welcome fries when you sign up, too!
Capriotti’s
- What: free cookie or brookie
- When: during your birth month
- RSVP: Download the app and join Capriotti’s Rewards.
Carvel
- What: free small cone
- When: on your birthday
- RSVP: Become a Fudgie Fanatic.
Chick-fil-A
- What: free chocolate chunk cookie, chocolate fudge brownie, or kid-size Icedream cup or cone
- When: 30 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up for the Chick-fil-A One membership program.
- Details: If you’re at a higher membership tier, the freebie is even better.
Chip City
- What: free cookie
- When: 2 months starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up to become a Cookie Insider.
Cinnabon
- What: free 16-ounce cold brew
- When: 14 days starting the week of your birthday
- RSVP: Join the Cinnabon Rewards program.
- Details: Sign up in the app for a free 4-pack of minis with your first purchase, too!
DIG
- What: free brownie
- When: 2 weeks starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up for DIG Rewards.
- Details: You’ll get a $5 welcome coupon for signing up, too!
Edible Arrangements
- What: free gift
- When: on your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up for Edible Rewards.
- Details: After the first year, you only receive a free gift if you spend $30 annually.
Haagen-Dazs
- What: free mini cup or cone
- When: 7 days before your birthday through 7 days after your birthday
- RSVP: Download the app and join Haagen-Dazs Rewards program.
- Details: You’ll get a free mini cup or cone for joining, too!
Insomnia Cookies
- What: free deluxe cookie
- When: 8 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Join Insomnia Rewards.
- Details: Be sure to sign up for promotional emails to receive your free cookie.
Krispy Kreme
- What: 1, 3, or 6 doughnuts … stop into the shop to find out!
- When: 30 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Join Krispy Kreme Rewards.
- Details: Freebie might require a purchase depending on how often you buy.
Le Pain Quotidien
- What: free cafe beverage
- When: on your birthday
- RSVP: Download the app and sign up for Le Pain Quotidien Rewards.
Maman
- What: free cookie
- When: 7 days starting on your birthday
- How: Download the app and sign up for the loyalty program.
Mamoun’s Falafel
- What: free sandwich
- When: 1 month starting on your birthday
- How: Sign up for Mamoun’s Rewards.
McDonald’s
- What: free item — lots of choices!
- When: 7 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Download the app and join MyMcDonald’s Rewards.
Ole & Steen
- What: free pastry — lots to choose from!
- When: 7 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Download the app and sign up for Ole & Steen Rewards.
Panera Bread
- What: free pastry
- When: 7 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up for the MyPanera program.
- Details: Get a free bakery treat or bagel with your first purchase, too!
Peet’s Coffee
- What: free drink
- When: on your birthday
- RSVP: Download the app and sign up for Peetnik Rewards.
Pinkberry
- What: $5 coupon
- When: 2 weeks starting a week before your birthday
- RSVP: Create a pinkcard account.
Rita’s
- What: free small water ice
- When: 7 days starting on your birthday (or half-birthday if it’s a seasonal store)
- RSVP: Download the app and enroll in Rita’s Rewards.
Smashburger
- What: free shake
- When: 7 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Join SmashRewards.
Sprinkles
- What: free cupcake
- When: 30 days starting the Wednesday before your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up for Sprinkles Perks.
- Details: To be eligible, sign up at least 7 days before your birthday.
Starbucks
- What: free drink or food item
- When: on your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up for Starbucks Rewards.
- Details: To get the reward, you must be opted in to receive emails.
Subway
- What: free cookie
- When: 1 month starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up for MVP Rewards.
Tim Hortons
- What: free item — lots of choices!
- When: on your birthday
- RSVP: Enroll in TimsRewards.
- Details: You’re only eligible if you’ve made a purchase in the last 12 months.
Wetzel’s Pretzels
- What: free pretzel
- When: 30 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Sign up in the app.
- Details: Get a free pretzel after your first purchase, too!
Wellness, Beauty, and Retail Therapy
Aerie and American Eagle
- What: $5 coupon
- When: during your birth month
- RSVP: Sign up for Real Rewards.
Anthropologie
- What: 20% off
- When: during your birth month
- RSVP: Join AnthroPerks.
- Details: You’ll also get a $20 coupon for signing up.
Container Store
- What: 15% off
- When: during your birth month
- RSVP: Become a Container Store Organized Insider.
- Details: You’ll get a $10 welcome coupon for signing up, too!
Sephora
- What: free gift
- When: during your birth month
- RSVP: Become a Sephora Beauty Insider.
Target
- What: 5% off
- When: 30 days starting on your birthday
- RSVP: Join Target Circle.
Ulta Beauty
- What: free gift
- When: during your birth month
- RSVP: Join Ulta Beauty Rewards.
- Details: You must be subscribed to Ulta’s marketing emails to receive the free gift.
Victoria’s Secret
- What: $10 coupon
- When: during your birth month
- RSVP: Join Victoria’s Secret Pink Rewards.
- Details: Your total must be at least $10.01 to use the coupon.
Yankee Candle
- What: free candle
- When: on your birthday
- RSVP: Join the Fragrance Family.
Have more spots to add to the list? Want to share your birthday freebie adventures? Join the conversation in the comments below.
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