Everyone loves free things, and I am no exception. A great time to get things for free is on your birthday! Of course, you may have to sign up for a business’s rewards program first, but considering all these apps are free, I think it is well worth it if it means you get to make your birthday a little more special! From food to minis, there are many opportunities to treat yourself. 

Ulta Beauty: The week leading up to your birthday, Ulta will send you a “Happy Birthday” email with a barcode at the bottom. Once you receive it, you have until your birthday to redeem it for a free gift. These range from skincare to make-up, and part of the fun is you don’t know what you are going to get until you get there! I found my favorite mascara from the sample they gave me last year. 

Sephora: Similar to Ulta, Sephora offers you a free gift on your birthday. From hair care to nails, I always love to see what I get. This year, I was able to get some shampoo and conditioner samples from Ouai. 

Chick-Fil-A: On your birthday, Chick-Fil-A will give you a birthday reward, which is available to use up to 30 days after. If your birthday falls on a Sunday, you will just receive your gift the following Monday. 

Starbucks: Something I look forward to every year is my birthday Starbucks drink! Starbucks is one of my favorite places to get coffee, but it is so expensive to get a large size. On your birthday, however, you can get any size drink for free! (I like the Chai Tea Latte with oat milk.) 

Dunkin’ Donuts: Similar to Starbucks, Dunkin’ also gives members a free any-size drink on their birthday! My favorite way to make sure I get both coffees for free is to go to one before school and the other after! It never fails to make my day brighter. 

Chipotle: On your birthday, Chipotle offers customers free chips and guac with any five-dollar purchase. While this is not technically free, both the chips and guacamole cost extra, so I’d say it is definitely worth a visit. 

Krispy Kreme: Krispy Kreme gives customers a free glazed doughnut on their birthday. In my opinion, their hot glazed doughnuts are some of the best, so I never miss this opportunity! 

While all these options do require a rewards membership, getting my free birthday gifts each year always makes it worth it. I really hope you will sign up and be able to feel as special as I do on your birthday this year!