Struggling fоr Mоnеy tо Сеlеbrаtе My Dаughtеr’s Вirthdаy, I Wаs Ваfflеd by Ноw Muсh Shе Соuld Gеt fоr Frее

My daughter turned 18 today, and as a single mom, the past couple of months have been tough financially. It breaks my heart that I can’t always provide her with the little luxuries she deserves.

So, when she mentioned she had plans for her birthday, I was both curious and a bit worried.

To my surprise, she had been meticulously planning a birthday adventure that didn’t require much money at all. She had put together a Google Doc, listing all the companies in our area that offer something for free on your birthday.

I was floored! Her plan was to spend the day visiting as many of these places as possible, gathering a variety of freebies to make her special day memorable.

As she excitedly showed me her list, I was amazed at how much she could get just by proving it was her birthday.

First on the list was Krispy Kreme, where she could enjoy a free 3-count of original glazed doughnuts—just a sweet start to her day.

At Olive Garden, she could indulge in a complimentary dessert with the purchase of any adult entrée.

Sephora also had something special in store; she could choose a birthday gift set from popular brands likе Kosas, Moroccanoil, Charlotte Tilbury, or Youth To The People.

Starbucks offered a free any-sized drink with any additions, but only if she had the app downloaded and used the offer on the day of her birthday.

Finally, The Keg Steakhouse would provide a tiramisu and a buy one, get one free entrée, making it possible to enjoy a delicious meal together without stretching our budget.

And these were just the beginning. My daughter, ever the resourceful one, decided to dig deeper.

At her suggestion, we both took to Reddit, a treasure trove of real-life experiences and tips, to see what other people had done to maximize their birthday hauls. Here are the tips we found:

Free Birthday Adventures:

I came across a Reddit comment from a user who had celebrated their daughter’s 18th birthday similarly.

They had managed to snag a free bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes, a refreshing drink from Starbucks, a sweet treat from Cinnabon, and even a sandwich from Schlotzsky’s.

Another Reddit user shаrеd that their favorite free birthday treat is a Moe’s homewrecker burrito, which is available via the eatery’s loyalty program and app. They also mentioned that the free Birthday Grand Slam from Denny’s is their second favorite.

Movie Theater Hack

A Redditor pointed out that some movie theaters, likе Kinepolis, don’t seem to care if you sign up multiple times with the same name. They shаrеd how they had once gone on a movie marathon, collecting free movie tickets for their birthday by visiting different cashiers each time.

Unexpected Birthday Gifts

A netizen humorously recalled receiving a free razor from the US Army and Gillette on their 18th birthday, which served as a reminder to register for the selective service.

A Veteran Freebie Hunter’s Experience

A longtime freebie collector shаrеd that while some offers have become stingier over the years, there are still great deals to be found. They mentioned they still enjoy a free coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts to start their birthday.

A commenter to the thread had also noticed a decrease in special offers for people celebrating their birthday. They also mentioned that Jersey Mike’s still offers a free sub on your birthday if you sign up with your ID.

Making the Most of It

One Redditor reminisced about a birthday when they were really broke but managed to spoil themselves with freebies all day. They called it one of the best birthdays they had ever planned for themselves.

Another also shаrеd how they once celebrated his wife’s birthday in a similar fashion but drove a few hours to a major metropolitan area first.

On the way back home later that day, their wife also asked store clerks what free items she could get for her birthday, and generally received a 44 oz fountain drink.