Happy Birthday! Before you blow out your candles on your special day, there are plenty of free rewards to cash in on.
Almost every large chain restaurant offers birthday rewards in some form or another. Free food, half-off and other benefits are all available at many places.
The economically-minded college student is all about freebies, so The Kent Stater has compiled a list of most of the birthday benefits that can be accessed within a five-ish minute drive of Kent State. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it can be used to plan out a route to get the best bang for your buck.
Please note that most of these benefits require someone to sign up before their birthday to receive benefits. Many rewards will not be available if you sign up and try to redeem on the same day, so be sure to sign up a few weeks in advance.
Free food
These restaurants give out free sides or entire meals as part of their rewards:
Chipotle — Offers free chips and guacamole, queso blanco or salsa with their rewards program
McDonald’s — Free medium french fries with their rewards program
Jimmy John’s — Free sandwich with their rewards program
Buffalo Wild Wings — Free six wing entree during your birthday month through their rewards program
Marco’s Pizza — Free small one-topping pizza after you sign up for their email list
Desserts & drinks
These restaurants do not offer full meals, but still give out some sweet treats:
Papa John’s — Free dessert during your birthday month
Starbucks — Free any size drink or food with benefits program
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers — Free drink if you’re part of their rewards program
Wendy’s — Free small Frosty with purchase
Tropical Smoothie Cafe — Free smoothie with their rewards program
Dairy Queen — Free Blizzard with their rewards; you also have to place another order 45 days before your birthday to receive the offer
Arby’s — Free small milkshake through their rewards program
Subway — Free cookie with free rewards tier; Subway also has paid rewards programs that offer better birthday rewards like free sandwiches
Nothing Bundt Cakes — Free small Bundtlet cake with rewards
Crumbl Cookies — Voucher for free cookie on birthday
Insomnia Cookies — Free cookie with rewards
Sheetz — Free donut during your birthday month with their rewards program
Discounts & benefits
These establishments may not offer free food, but still give benefits:
Dunkin — Gives three times rewards points if you order on your birthday
Target — 5% off coupon through Target rewards
Sephora — Free selection of birthday gifts when you spend $25 online
Ulta Beauty — Free birthday gift, 2x rewards points during your birthday month and $10 off
On behalf of The Kent Stater, we wish you a happy (and cheap) birthday!
Andrew Bowie is a beat reporter. Contact him at [email protected].