This is my birthday month and so far I’ve gotten a blu-ray DVD, stock trade and many meals for free. How? By being on their email list (and including birth date) or signing up for the loyalty club.
Businesses do this for several reasons. First of all these offers drive traffic in what is a slowly recovering economy. People like me don’t go to the restaurant alone. Mr. Boomer and other family members have joined us at times and this is additional revenue they would not have had without the offer.
Also, it builds loyalty. Customers continue to patronize the business that remembers them and gives them something.
Unless otherwise mentioned the coupons were good anywhere from 1-4 weeks.
Free Birthday Food: The Best
Here is the list of coupons I received from restaurants (fast food and sit-down).
1. Black Angus Steakhouse. The coupon is for a free entree with purchase of another. Frankly, it’s not one of my favorite places and we never got around to using it although it’s a good offer for Prime Club members.
2. Pick Up Stix. A free wok combo with the purchase of another one. Decent offer but we didn’t get around to using this coupon.
3. Denny’s. A free grand slam is a great way to start your birthday. Unfortunately this offer is only good on that day and I couldn’t make it in there before work. The good news is that no other purchase is required.
4. Mimis Cafe. Unfortunately we just didn’t get around to using their offer of $10 off a purchase of $20. Breakfast is our favorite meal here but they have good food all times of day.
5. Rubio’s. Remember I told you about fish tacos being a local specialty. This is the THE place to get ’em. They have a good offer with a meal up to $7.00 value (this is fast food type place) and no other purchase required. I love their shrimp burritos!
6. Brigantine.This is a local chain of restaurants and where we ate on my actual birthday. Their coupon was for $15 off purchase of $30. Additionally, they bring out a free dessert.
7. Chevy’s. We had lunch here using a coupon good for a free entree. Love their tortillas and maybe the margaritas. (I’ll never tell!)
8. Acapulco Restaurants. Another offer a free entree which we didn’t get a chance to use. Mexican food twice within one week was enough for us.
9. Souplantation. This soup and salad place has a buy one get one free coupon. They have the best salad bar I’ve ever seen in a casual dining place.
10. Claim Jumper. We ate here and got an $18 dollar credit to our bill and a free dessert. You may not have these restaurants in your area but have probably seen their frozen meals and pies. It’s much better in person.
Free Birthday Food: The Rest
1. Macaroni Grill. The birthday treat is a free piece of chocolate cake. Most restaurants give a free dessert on your birthday without a coupon. We didn’t take advantage of this one.
2. Chili’s. The birthday present here is a coupon for a free dessert with purchase of entree. Lame.
3. Red Lobster. Their not so great offer is $5 off of two adult dinner entrees. Nope, you can’t use it at lunch with it’s lower prices. Needless to say we didn’t go.
4. Jack in the Box. They really don’t want you to take advantage of their coupon which is for a free dessert ONLY on the day of your birth.
5. Friday’s. They’ll give you a free dessert but only if you buy an entree.
6. Islands. Last year they gave me a free meal but this year it’s only dessert. At least they don’t require a purchase!
7. Buca di Beppo. Free dessert is the offer here with no other requirements.
8. Marie Callendar’s. This birthday coupon is good for $5 off and a free slice of pie. Last year the free pie was for everyone in the party. They’ve downgraded the offer and we didn’t go.
Others
I did get birthday greetings from a free retailers with promotional codes offering a certain percentage off of purchase. Because I wasn’t planning to buy anything from them I didn’t take advantage of the savings or even save them.
There were two birthday “gifts” I did follow up on.
1. Disney Movie Rewards. I took advantage of their offer for a free blu-ray DVD and had a choice of four movies. Shipping was not included resulting in a cost of $3.19 for “Meet the Robinsons”. It’s $23.99 at Amazon so I feel like it was a very good offer.
2. Sharebuilder. What could you get here for free? How about credit for one automated investment plan transaction. That’s about a $4 value.
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What birthday offers have you used? Are there others that I haven’t listed?
Image by Hendrike
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{ 8 comments }
Great list of giveaways for birthdays. Our son got a free dessert at Black Angus, that was really cool.
Visiting from Sits to welcome you, thank you!!
.-= Martha @ A Sense of Humor is Essential´s last blog ..Loose Grammar on the Slopes for Almost Wordless Wednesday =-.
Hi Martha,
Thanks for clicking through and reading it. Was the dessert free without a coupon?
I love this list Boomer!! I’ve never thought about all the free stuff you could get. Thanks for putting this together.
.-= Jeff´s last blog ..Newton’s First Law of Debt Reduction =-.
It was too many, but once you get all the offers you can pick and choose. We signed up all our household members so its not just once a yaer.
Free buffet lunch or dinner at Todai, a fairly expensive ($15 to $25) Asian, susi and seafood buffet on your birthday only–no coupons, but must have ID. The sushi is only so-so but the shrimp, crablegs and mini-desserts are awesome.
Also, for folks with Entertainment Books, (and Regal Theatres), there is a coupon for a free movie on the day of your birthday–I saw “Avatar 3D” with one of those.
.-= Grace´s last blog ..The Ups, Downs and Surprises in Obama’s Health Plan =-.
Hi Grace,
Thanks for the tip on Todai; we have one here.
I remember you wrote about going to the movies for free but couldn’t remember what chain. Oh well, next year!
I used several of these! Also, Hometown Buffet does a BOGO on entrees, Coldstone gives you a free ice cream, as does Baskin Robbins. Red Robbin will give you a free burger. Those are all the ones I can think of off the top of my head that you didn’t already list.
Happy SITS sharefest!
.-= MarfMom´s last blog ..Friday Favorites =-.
Thanks for coming over from SITS and telling us about more birthday freebies. I’m definitely going to sign up for Coldston and Baskin Robbins!
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