Birthday Freebies That Are Free (Updated for 2012)

I know what you are thinking...
"There are tons of Birthday Freebie lists out there, so why are you creating your own and reinventing the wheel?" 
Well this is the real Birthday Freebie list - the list that only contains full-fledged FREE birthday gifts.  Who wants a birthday gift that has strings attached, anyway?

Top Awards:

• Gigi's Cupcakes - did not receive 2012
• A coupon for a free cupcake of your choice ($3.00 value) is emailed to you if you have signed up for Gigi's email newsletter and provide a birthdate.  You will receive this coupon on the first day of your birthday month.
• City Barbeque - verified 2012
• Email VIP Club members can bring in a printout of the Happy Birthday email to receive a complimentary dessert any time of the month. You can choose between banana pudding, triple chocolate cake, or peach cobbler with homemade whipped cream.  You will receive this coupon on the first day of your birthday month.
• DSW - verified 2012
• If you are a DSW Rewards member, a $5 birthday certificate is emailed to you that can be used any time during your birthday month.  If you don't need shoes, get yourself some free socks!
• Steak 'n Shake - verified 2012
• Sign up for the eClub and you will have a coupon emailed to you of the first day of your birthday month 12 days before your birthday for a free Double Steakburger with Cheese 'n Fries to enjoy any time during your birthday month.  Go through the drive-thru or use the TakHomaSak counter if you are alone!  Note that the coupon has your first name and full date of birth on it and they ask you to bring an ID for verification.
• The Container Store - verified 2012
• A coupon  is emailed to you for a free gift that you can redeem any time during your birthday month.  Internet rumblings seem to indicate that it is a free The Container Store reusable bag.  How I signed up for this is a mystery to me.
• Yogurt Mountain - verified 2012
• Sign up for Yogurt Mountain's Birthday Club and receive a certificate in your inbox on the first day of your birthday month for a free 6oz. yogurt ($3.50 value) to enjoy anytime during your birthday month.  Be sure not to overfill your cup if you aren't willing to pay for extra ounces
• Graeter's - verified 2012
• A free birthday sundae is loaded onto your Sweet Rewards card to be used on your birthday or the week following.  If you need to join Sweet Rewards, you must pick up the card in-store and register it online.  Make sure to include your birthday on the registration form.  Start deciding...will you go for the Banana Split, Turtle Sundae, or 1870 Tower?? Yum!
• Sephora - verified 2012
• Sign up for Sephora's Beauty Insider program and receive a free gift in-store or online.  You will receive an email 13-14 days before your birthday with directions on how to get your free gift.  The deals is valid from then until 14 days after your actual birthday.  The fun part about this one is that the gift they give away changes from year to year, so it is always a surprise.  The gift for 2012 is a Fresh Shugar Kisses Mini Lip Duo.  Note that if you redeem online, you must purchase something and pay for shipping, so I recommend heading to the brick-and-mortar store if there's one in your area.
• Noodles & Co - verified 2012
• Receive a free bowl of noodles via an email sent to your inbox 5 days before your birthday.  You have until 9 days after your birthday to use it.  Sign up for Noodlegrams to get this tasty treat.  Make sure to order the large bowl with a protein to get the most out of your free birthday meal! ($7.50 value)
• Panera Bread - verified 2012
• Grab a MyPanera card next time you are at a participating Panera Bread and register it online.  By doing so and entering your birthday information, a free pastry or sweet is loaded onto your MyPanera card on your birthday.  It expires 60 days after your birthday so you have plenty of time to enjoy it.
• Sonic - verified 2012
• Choose between free medium Tots, a regular CreamSlush Treat, or a medium drink.  The Happy Birthday email provides a link to print one of these three coupons.  The email is sent on your birthday and you have one month from the date you print the coupon to enjoy the treat of your choice.  To get in on this deal, sign up for the Sonic Cruisers Club.
• Caribou Coffee - verified 2012
• Receive an email one week before your birthday that you can print and redeem for a free medium drink (any kind, any size!) at any Caribou Coffee.  The only bummer is that the offer is valid only ON your birthday.  Create an online account and be sure to enter your birthdate information to receive this treat.
• Baskin-Robbins - verified 2012
• A coupon for one free 2.5oz scoop or 3oz soft serve is emailed to you 5 days before your birthday.  The coupon expires 5 days after your birthday.  You must sign up for the BR Birthday Club to receive this coupon.
• Rita's Italian Ice - verified 2012
• Sign up for Rita's Online Birthday Club and you will receive a coupon in your inbox one week before your birthday for one free regular Italian Ice.  Once you click on the link to receive and print your offer, you will have 7 days to redeem it.
• Ruby Tuesday - verified 2012
• Receive a link to a coupon for a free Handcrafted Burger at Ruby Tuesday's 7 days before your birthday if you are signed up for their So Connected email list.  The coupon expires 9 days after your birthday and is valid for dine-in or RubyTueGo, so you can get a free meal on the run! (~$10 value).
• Tropical Smoothie - verified 2012
• Join Club Tropical and you will receive an email on your birthday inviting you to enjoy a free smoothie of your choice during the week following your birthday.
• Don Pablo's - verified 2012
• Pick up a Habaneros Club card at your local Don Pablo's, register it online, and $10 is loaded onto your card the week of your birthday.  You have 4 weeks to redeem it for $10 worth of tasty Tex Mex food.  Order it To-Go to get the trully free experience.
• Dunkin' Donuts - New! verified 2012
• Sign up for DD Perks Rewards to receive a free medium beverage of your choice when you enroll and again on your birthday.  This includes any iced or hot coffee, tea or latte, hot chocolate or Coolatta.  All cooler beverages are excluded (this includes bottled water, milk, bottled juice, etc.).  You must complete your DD Perks Rewards account profile within the month you enrolled and include your mailing address in order to receive your free beverage coupon.  The coupon will be delivered via US Mail during the month of your birthday and expire on the last day of the month following your birthday.
• Dippin' Dots - New! verified 2012
•  Join the Dippin' Dots Forty Below Zero Club and receive a coupon for a free small cup of Dippin' Dots at your nearest participating Dippin' Dots store or shopping center location.  The coupon is e-mailed out on the first business day of your birthday month and it has an expiration date of the last day of that month.
• Fazoli's - New! verified 2012
• You can pick up a free dessert - choose from New York Style Cheesecake with Strawberry, Turtle Cheesecake, Chocolate Layer Cale, or Chocolate Chunk Cookie.  You receive the email 3 days before your birthday and it is valid for 2 weeks after your birthday.  To take advantage of this offer, sign up for the Fazoli's eFamily.
• Jersey Mike's - New! verified 2012
• To receive a free sub and drink coupon on your birthday, you must sign up for the Jersey Mike's Subs Email Club.  This coupon is only valid on your actual birthday with proof of it being your birthday.
• Krispy Kreme - New! verified 2012
• Receive a coupon 7 days before your birthday for a free doughnut and small coffee or fountain drink.  The coupon expires 7 days after your birthday.  In order to receive this coupon via email, sign up to become a Friend of Krispy Kreme.

Honorable Mention:

• bd's Mongolian Grill - verified 2012
• Join Club Mongo and you will receive a coupon via email one week before your birthday for a free stir-fry meal.  You have until one week after your birthday to eat for free.  While there is no contingency on purchasing another meal, I don't enjoy going to a sit-down restaurant by myself.
• Chick-fil-A - verified 2012
• Check with your local Chick-fil-A.  Since they are franchises, it varies from location to location.  Our Chick-fil-A celebrates birthdays on the first Friday of each month.  If it is your birthday month, head over to Chick-fil-A and get a free milkshake of your choice on the first Friday of the month. 
• Red Robin - verified 2012
• A free Gourmet Burger is added to your Red Royalty card to be used any time during your birthday month.  In order to join the Red Royalty program, you must pick up a Red Royalty card at the restaurant and register it online.  Note that each adult in a family must have a separate card in order to each receive a free birthday burger.
• If you sign your children up through your Red Royalty card, they receive a coupon in your inbox for a free kid's meal of their choice.  It expires 14 days from the date the email was sent.  If your child's birthday falls within the same week of your birthday, you can redeem both free burgers in the same visit!
• Dave & Buster's - removed for 2012
• A coupon for $10 worth of free game play with purchase of $10 game play is emailed to you one week before your birthday if you have registered your Power Card online.  You have one month after your birthday to use the promotional coupon.
• Funny Bone Comedy Club - verified 2012
• If you have signed up for the Funny Bone newsletter either in club or online for you local club, you will receive an email one week before your birthday for 4 free General Admission tickets.  There is a two item minimum per person inside the show room, which is why Funny Bone only gets an Honorable Mention.
• Buffalo Wild Wings - verified 2012
• Join The Buffalo Circle and you will receive an email 7 days before your birthday with a coupon for a free dessert of your choice: Chocolate Fudge Cake or a scoop of ice cream with chocolate or caramel topping.  You have until one week after your birthday to indulge in this dessert.  There is no restriction on this coupon to buy an entree. 
• McCormick & Schmick's - did not receive 2012
• Receive an email 7 days before your big day that states you can print out the email and receive a complementary signature dessert.  No expiration date is noted and there are no purchase requirements.  To get in on this sweet deal, join their eCLUB online.
• Brio Tuscan Grille - demoted for 2012
• Print out the Happy Birthday email from Brio to receive a free Beef Medallions with Shrimp Scampi entree  complementary birthday entree up to $20 with the purchase of a second entree.   It must be redeemed for dine-in only.  Join Brio's Pasta Tuscana E-Club to partake in this freebie.
• Bruegger's - demoted for 2012
• If you sign up for Bruegger's Fresh News email list, you will receive an email in your inbox 7 days before your birthday with a coupon for a free cookie free bagel with cream cheese with the purchase of a drink.  You have until 2 1 week after your birthday to enjoy that treat.

Phew...what a list!  You might want to ask for an elliptical for your birthday so you can work off all these yummy calories ;)

Go get your "birthday hat" on!

Rita's: Free Italian Ice (3/20)

Reminder...

Head over to your local Rita's Italian Ice store for a FREE Regular Ice in the available flavor of your choice on March 20th.  This is in celebration of Rita's 20th Annual First Day of Spring event.

Go get your "spring" on!

Read It Forward - The Truth of All Things

Head over to Read It Forward and sign up for a chance to receive a free copy of Kieran Sheilds's The Truth of All Things. 

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to enter the giveaway promotion between now and February 20th.  Winners are chosen at random. 
Go get your "read" on!

Rita's: Free Italian Ice (3/20)

Head over to your local Rita's Italian Ice store for a FREE Regular Ice in the available flavor of your choice on March 20th.  This is in celebration of Rita's 20th Annual First Day of Spring event.

Go get your "spring" on!

BabiesRUs.com: Huggies Santa Diaper Jumbo Packs $4.98 Shipped

Head over to the Babies 'R Us website, because right now they have Huggies Santa diapers (sizes 3, 4, and 5) for just $4.98/jumbo pack.  If you signed up for a free year of ShopRunner, you can get free 2-day shipping as well.  Hurry, as I am guessing that they have limited quanities available!

Also, go through Ebates (my referral link) for 1% cash back.

Go get your "coup" on!

Read It Forward - The Expats

Head over to Read It Forward and sign up for a chance to receive a free copy of Chris Pavone's The Expats.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to enter the giveaway promotion between now and January 23rd.  Winners are chosen at random. 

Go get your "read" on!

Cheryl's: Valentine Cookie Cards

For $5, you can order a Cheryl's "cookie card" shipped to your Valentine's house.  Inside the adorable Valentine's box is a buttercream frosted heart shaped cut-out cookie with a $5 reward card good on a purchase at http://www.cheryls.com/!

Go get your "valentine" on!

It's a Woot-Off!

It's a WHAT off? It's a woot-off!

For all you Woot-aholics out there, today is what you live for - a woot-off! Woot is typically a deal-a-day site that sells a single item until it is out of stock or the end of the day, whichever happens first. During woot-offs, a single item is offered until an undisclosed amount (usually a relatively small amount) of them are sold, and then another item is offered. It is a fast paced day that reveals many deals...if you are smart about when to buy and when to hold off. You can easily get caught up in the fun of it all and buy something you later regret. This fast paced scenario does not allow you much time to be practical consumer, but you just might find something you never knew you needed!

The woot-off is going on at:

• woot.com
• wine.woot.com
• home.woot.com
• kids.woot.com

Go get your "woot" off!

Custom Handmade Gift Bags

Looking for an adorable and (most importantly) inexpensive gift to give your sweeties on Valentine's day?  Well head on over to domesticallyinept? to learn how to make these custom handmade gift bags!  The cost breaks down to about $1.00 per bag.  Fill the bags with candy, soaps, lotions etc. and they are the perfect gifts for co-workers, teachers, and friends!