Birthday celebrations often extend beyond personal gifts to include complimentary treats and rewards from businesses. In 2019, numerous U.S.-based companies offered free products, discounts, or special rewards to individuals celebrating their birthdays, typically through loyalty programs, email sign-ups, or in-store verification. These offers spanned various categories, including food and beverage, beauty products, and retail goods. Access to these freebies generally required enrollment in a brand’s rewards program, often with specific eligibility conditions such as making a prior purchase or remaining subscribed to marketing communications.
The availability and terms of these birthday freebies were subject to change, and many were specific to the 2019 calendar year. The following information is compiled from a variety of sources, including personal experience blogs, deal-focused websites, and promotional roundups. It is important to note that some offers were confirmed through direct redemption, while others were reported by third-party aggregators. Consumers are advised to verify current terms directly with any brand, as programs may have been discontinued or altered.
Restaurant and Food Service Freebies
Many restaurant chains provided complimentary food items to birthday celebrants, often requiring enrollment in their digital rewards programs. These programs typically grant the freebie on the birthday itself and may offer additional benefits throughout the year.
Denny’s
Denny’s offered a free Build Your Own Grand Slam to individuals who presented a valid ID proving their birthday on the actual date. No sign-up was required for this offer, making it one of the most accessible birthday freebies available. The Grand Slam allows customers to choose from a selection of classic Denny’s breakfast items.
IHOP
The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) ran the Pancake Revolution program. Members received a free meal on their birthday. The program also provided free pancakes on the anniversary of signing up. Enrollment was required to qualify for the birthday meal.
Applebee’s
Applebee’s provided a free dessert to members of its e-Club. The offer was available during the birthday month and required prior sign-up for the email club.
Red Robin
Red Robin’s Royalty program offered members a free burger during their birthday month. The program also included other perks like free fries on sign-up and points earned per dollar spent.
Chili’s
Chili’s Rewards members received a free dessert or appetizer coupon during their birthday month. The program is known for offering points-based rewards and special offers to members.
California Pizza Kitchen (CPK)
CPK Rewards members earned 1 point for every dollar spent, with 75 points equating to a $5 reward. For their birthday, members received a free dessert. The program also offered a free starter upon registration.
Abuelo’s
The Mi Abuelo’s rewards program provided a free entree for a member’s birthday. However, a specific requirement was that the member must have visited Abuelo’s twice before their birthday month to be eligible.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel offered a free dessert to customers celebrating their birthday. This freebie was available without requiring any sign-up, but having an ID on hand was recommended for verification.
Crumbl Cookies
Crumbl Cookies’ rewards program included a free cookie on the member’s birthday. The program also offered other loyalty benefits.
Del Taco
Del Taco’s “Del Yeah!” rewards program provided a regular-size premium shake on a member’s birthday. Members could also upgrade to other shake or dessert choices by accumulating points, though the Cheesecake Bites were excluded.
Dutch Bros Coffee
The Dutch Bros app allowed members to earn points toward rewards. On a member’s birthday, they received any drink, any size, for free. The app also provided a free medium drink upon sign-up and a 50% discount on the half-birthday.
Edible Arrangements
The Edible Arrangements rewards program offered a free 6-count chocolate-dipped fruit box, valued at $12.99, on a member’s birthday. A key eligibility requirement was that the member must have spent $29 in the past calendar year.
Ben & Jerry’s
The Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Fanatics ice cream rewards program provided a “cone-gratulations surprise” on a member’s birthday.
Bertucci’s
Bertucci’s eClub members received a “special gift” for their birthday and anniversary.
Bruegger’s Bagels
The Bruegger’s Bagels inner circle program offered a free bagel on a member’s birthday. Members also received a free bagel within the first 14 days of signing up.
Firehouse Subs
Firehouse Subs Rewards members received a free medium sub on their birthday.
Don Pablo’s
Habaneros Members at Don Pablo’s received a free $10 gift card on their birthday.
Fuddruckers
Fuddruckers Fudds Club members received a special offer on their birthday, described as a “surprise.”
Cinnabon
Club Cinnabon members received a coupon for one free Minibon at participating locations on their birthday.
Marble Slab
Members of the Slab Happy email program received a free birthday surprise, which was speculated to involve free ice cream.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme’s eClub provided a free donut on a member’s birthday.
Jack in the Box
Registration on the Jack in the Box website granted members an order of free birthday tacos.
Hard Rock
The Hard Rock Rewards program provided an annual offer on a birthday, with the surprise potentially being anything from the program’s hotels, casinos, shops, or Hard Rock Cafe locations.
Golden Corral
Members of the Gold Corral rewards club (Gold Club) received a free drink and a “special offer” on their birthday.
Denny’s (Alternative)
Denny’s also offered a free Grand Slam on birthdays, as previously noted, with no sign-up required.
Dairy Queen
The Dairy Queen Blizzard Fan Club provided a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for Blizzards on a member’s birthday.
PF Changs
PF Changs offered a free appetizer or dessert with no other purchase necessary for birthdays, as reported in one source.
Nothing Bundt Cake
Nothing Bundt Cake provided a free mini bundt cake for birthdays, as reported in one source.
Smashburger
Smashburger offered free fries with any purchase for birthdays, as reported in one source.
Godiva
Godiva Rewards members received a free $10 gift reward and a free monthly chocolate truffle, as reported in one source.
Sephora
Sephora provided a free birthday gift to members of its Beauty Insider program, as reported in one source.
Denny’s (Multiple Locations)
Denny’s was consistently noted for its free Grand Slam offer, with some reports indicating it was available at multiple locations without a prior sign-up requirement.
Retail and Beauty Freebies
Several retail and beauty brands offered complimentary gifts or products for birthdays, typically through loyalty or rewards programs. These often required prior enrollment and sometimes a purchase history.
Aveda
Aveda’s Pure Privilege program offered a free birthday gift valued at $23. Eligibility required a sign-up for the program and a purchase on Aveda.com or at an Aveda store in the 12 months leading up to the birthday. Participants also needed to remain subscribed to the newsletter to receive the gift.
bareMinerals
bareMinerals provided a free birthday gift to members of their program. The specific gift was described as makeup samples.
Hallmark
Hallmark Crown Rewards members earned points with purchases. A free dessert was offered for birthdays, with 75 points equaling a $5 reward.
Ace Hardware
The ACE reward program offered a free $5 coupon on a member’s birthday. Sign-up was required and could be completed on the Ace Hardware website.
Barnes and Noble
Barnes & Noble’s Kids’ Club provided a free cupcake, cookie, or Rice Krispies treat at a store on a child’s birthday. The program was for children, requiring parental sign-up.
Aveda (Alternative)
Aveda’s birthday offer was also confirmed in another section, emphasizing the requirement for a purchase within the prior year and newsletter subscription.
Bakery and Specialty Food Freebies
Local and national bakeries often provided complimentary pastries or cakes for birthdays, sometimes through store loyalty programs or special promotions.
Koekela (Rotterdam)
A bakery in Rotterdam, Koekela, offered a free slice of cake of choice on a customer’s birthday. The offer was valid until March 2019. The experience included a handwritten birthday card and a pink birthday candle.
HEMA
HEMA card members received a free tompouce pastry for their birthday, presented in a small festive box.
Patisserie Dudok (Rotterdam)
Patisserie Dudok in Rotterdam provided a free slice of black velvet cake, which was redeemable using OV miles (a public transport loyalty currency in the Netherlands).
Eligibility and Common Requirements
Based on the compiled offers, several common eligibility patterns emerged for birthday freebies in 2019:
- Loyalty Program Enrollment: The vast majority of free offers required prior sign-up for a brand’s rewards program, email club, or app. This often needed to be completed well before the birthday month to qualify.
- Purchase History: Some programs, like Aveda’s Pure Privilege and Edible Arrangements, required a minimum purchase within the previous 12 months or calendar year to be eligible for the birthday reward.
- Active Subscription: Maintaining an active subscription to a brand’s newsletter or marketing communications was frequently a requirement, as noted for Aveda.
- In-Store Verification: For offers like Denny’s Grand Slam or Cracker Barrel’s dessert, presenting a valid government-issued photo ID that confirmed the birth date was necessary on the day of the birthday.
- Geographic and Location Specificity: Some offers were only valid at participating locations (e.g., Cinnabon) or were specific to certain regions (e.g., the Rotterdam-based bakeries).
- Time-Limited Validity: Many offers were only valid during the birthday month, and some, like the Koekela cake, had a specific expiration date (e.g., March 2019).
Sources of Information
The information for this article was derived from several online sources, which included personal blogs, deal aggregators, and promotional roundups. It is important to distinguish between verified offers and those reported by third parties.
- Direct Redemption Reports: Some sources, like the blog post from “Tiff’s Deals NOLA,” detailed personal experiences of redeeming nearly fifty freebies in a single birthday month, listing specific locations and offers for restaurants in the Metairie and Veterans Blvd area of New Orleans. These included Godiva, PF Changs, Sephora, Nothing Bundt Cake, Smashburger, and others. The reliability of these reports is based on the author’s personal experience.
- Aggregated Lists: Other sources, such as “Well Kept Wallet,” compiled extensive lists of birthday freebies from numerous national brands. These lists included detailed terms, such as the specific requirements for Aveda, Edible Arrangements, and Abuelo’s. While comprehensive, these lists are aggregations and should be verified with the official brand for current terms.
- International Experiences: One source documented personal experiences with bakeries in Rotterdam, Netherlands, offering free birthday items. While not applicable to U.S. consumers, it illustrates the global nature of birthday promotional offers.
Conclusion
The landscape of birthday freebies in 2019 was rich with opportunities for U.S. consumers to receive complimentary food, beauty products, and retail items. The key to accessing these offers was proactive enrollment in loyalty programs, often with specific conditions such as prior purchases or ongoing subscription to marketing emails. While many national chains provided consistent rewards like free meals or desserts, some required more stringent eligibility criteria. The information presented is based on aggregated data from 2019 and serves as a historical reference. Consumers should always check with individual brands for the most current program details, as offers and terms are subject to change.