It's *The* Birthday Freebie Post
🥳🥂☕️🤑🍦😈🎂
Rewarded…for loyalty?! No, it’s not a myth – at least not with certain nationwide chains, on or around your birthday, when you sign up for their free loyalty programs.
My friend Nabilah and I, when she lived in New York (🥹), had what we called “Freekends”: weekends where we did our best to do everything for free (not to be confused with, although not always unrelated to, “Freakends”). This was in the heyday of popups, before gaggles of gals crossed town to wait in line for 2 hours because of a TikTok. We’d hit SoHo for a few hours and leave with floral arrangements, granola bars, matcha lattes and blowouts for the low, low price of free.99 (and maybe some swiping on Bumble or whatever). Those…were the days.
On my birthday a few weeks ago, I challenged myself to get as many free things as possible throughout the day. I’ll define “free,” in this case as: things that require no spend whatsoever – not “free cookie with purchase.” FREE-free! As in, the best things in life are.
Bookmark this post so that you have it handy when your own birthday approaches, and go ahead and sign up for each place’s rewards programs so that you qualify for their freebies. This list works for many non-NYC cities, too!
This is the order in which I gathered my goodies. Feel free to copy it move-for-move, or go your own way:
Barry’s – Your free birthday class is good for 14 days, but it’s most fun day-of because there will be a sign, a note, and attention! I didn’t pack a bag to shower there after, but I should have, because the locker rooms are stocked with Ouai products. So count this as a 2x freebie if you bring a fresh change of clothes. Set up an account well in advance of your birthday, and a week beforehand, you’ll get an email about your free birthday class.
Juice Generation – one free juice or smoothie, perfect to hit up right after your free workout. Valid for entire birthday month, must have been an active customer within 90 days
Starbucks – Free beverage or bakery item (maximize the freeness by getting a Venti of some specially formulated latte – I got a gingerbread latte with just a couple fewer pumps of syrup 🫠). Sign up for rewards at least a week before your birthday, valid only day-of, must have been an active customer in the last year
Maman – Birthday cookie, or $5 credit. I have the app and both of these things showed up in it; however, I wasn’t sure how to use them…the manager at the location I visited graciously just told the cashier to let me pick out a cookie, and as Maman’s are especially delicious, this was a favorite stop! BUT, disclaimer: I probably did it wrong.
Sephora – Anyone who’s a Beauty Insider (me and everyone I know, since 2003 or so) already knows you get to pick out a deluxe sample/kit during your birthday month. When you go in person, no purchase is necessary!
Claire’s – On my journey, I walked away with a free pair of earrings, which is because I had gotten an ear piercing earlier in the year, and that comes with a free pair each month (so I had to go for these, which I really do love). However, even if you don’t pierce anything, you get a $10 credit for the month of your birthday, which does cover most of the items in the store!
Chick-Fil-A – Select a free brownie or cookie. Enter your birthday in the app at least 24 hours in advance – by the way, they’re always tossing you freebies in this app, so you can benefit off, say, a diet lemonade addiction.
Panera – Free pastry. I walked away with a slice of orange-cranberry loaf and have no complaints.
After all that (the brownie and Panera pastry went in the fridge to enjoy in the coming days), I went to a Maker’s Mark popup near my house, where I enjoyed a free Manhattan, plus some popcorn. That popup is over, but you should look into others happening on your own birthday to partner with your loyalty rewards. You can also “save up” any CashApp rewards through local spots like coffee shops to blow on the big day – truly, the scavenger hunt becomes more fun as it grows.
Here are a few programs where you can get a freebie with purchase (you’ll still need to sign up for the loyalty/rewards programs):
Krispy Kreme – Free 3-pack of original glazed donuts with purchase
Sweetgreen – Free rice krispie with purchase
AMC Stubs – free large popcorn and large drink (to go with tickets you pay for)
When your ~*special day*~ arrives, try this route (I made myself a calendar with locations…) and report back. Oh, and…HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Back to regularly scheduled Whats Up This Week programming next Monday!
ONGOING THINGS
Check out the Events at Drawing Room for some social crafting.
Pay-What-You-Wish at the Guggenheim on Mondays at Saturdays
Stargazing – Every Tuesday at The High Line at sunset.
Trivia Tuesdays at The Factory 380 – Come say hello to me, the emcee, and enjoy an incredible happy hour PLUS prizes for the winner.
AMC Tuesdays – On Tuesdays, tickets to any AMC movie are only $7 each, and small combos (popcorn + drink) are only $5.
Free Fridays at the Whitney – Just as it sounds. Pre-reserve a time slot, show up, and enjoy.
Free Friday evenings at The Morgan Library – Live music begins at 5pm! Damn, I love the Morgan. (Reservations are required.)