Photo:
A free sample-sized beauty product from Sephora. Photo: JiaYing Grygiel
On my birthday this year, I walked around Bellevue Square and stopped at each store to ask, “It’s my birthday! Do you have any birthday freebies?”
Absolutely shameless, yes, but as a mom, I absolutely need a birthday surprise. Moms spend a lot of time planning, shopping, wrapping, hosting and cleaning up other people’s birthdays. It’s time moms are celebrated, too!
Many stores and restaurants offer birthday freebies as part of their customer loyalty program. The gifts can range from a slice of cake to a drink to — my favorite — straight-up free money to spend at your favorite store. National chains like Panera, Krispy Kreme and Ikea offer very nice birthday gifts. But since I didn’t want to spend my birthday driving around suburbia, I kept it to chain stores at the local mall in Bellevue, Washington.
Tips I learned along the way:
- Most companies require you to sign up for their rewards program or download their app to collect the birthday freebie. A few will let you register on the spot, but for most you need to do it well before your birthday, at least a month in advance.
- Set up a separate email just for the birthday offers, so your main account doesn’t get clogged with spam. Log in just before your birthday to collect the gift codes.
- Not all birthday rewards are worth your time. Some stores offer discounts or points on their loyalty programs. Others require a minimum purchase to redeem the birthday gift. Unless it’s a store where I normally shop, no thanks. I only want free gifts without strings attached.
- Note: No one actually checked my ID to verify my birthday. You look like a middle-aged mom, they take your word for it.
Save this list!
Here are the best freebies I found and verified at The Bellevue Collection.
Aerie and American Eagle: Sign up for the Real Rewards program and get $5 to spend in the store during your birthday month.
Alo: Sign up for the Alo access program and get a free body lotion or body wash during your birthday month.
Ann Taylor and Loft: Sign up for the free Style Rewards Insider program and get a $10 reward for your birthday.
Bath & Body Works: Pick out any gift for yourself up to $9.95, no purchase required. Download the app and redeem it on the spot. (Where are my millennial moms? Allll the high school nostalgia.)
Ben & Jerry’s: Sign up for the Flavor Fanatics ice cream rewards program for a free birthday scoop. The offer comes through email, and you must sign up in advance.
Cinnabon: Get a free 16-ounce cold brew. You can download the Cinnabon app on the spot to redeem your birthday iced coffee, and there’s no purchase required.
Claire’s: Sign up for the C.Club rewards program and get a $5 birthday gift.
Jamba Juice: Sign up for the JamFam rewards program and get a free small birthday smoothie if you’ve spent at least $10 over the past year.
J. Crew: Sign up for the free J. Crew Passport loyalty program and get $15 to spend in-store for your birthday. You even get $10 on your half-birthday!
Kiehl’s: Sign up for the rewards program and get a free full-size lip balm #1 on your birthday, regardless of how many points you have.
Lego: This is unofficial, but tell the store it’s your birthday and they’ll let you make a free minifigure. Pick one head, one torso, one set of legs and one accessory to build your minifig.
Lolli & Pops: Sign up for the Loyalty Rewards program and get a free tub of cotton candy during your birthday month.
Madewell: Join the free Madewell Insider loyalty program and get a $25 birthday reward to spend at Madewell.
Nordstrom: Nordstrom is a splurge, but it is a local Seattle company I love to support. Sign up for the free Nordy Club for a birthday discount on a minimum purchase of $10.01. Unofficially, I was restocking some beauty products, and when I told the sales associate it was my birthday, she put some extra mascara and lipsticks in my bag.
Pacsun: Sign up for the rewards program and get a free $5 birthday gift to spend in-store.
Sephora: Sign up for the free Beauty Insider program and you’ll get to choose a sample-sized beauty product set. No purchase needed if you redeem in-store. Options when I visited included a Makeup by Mario lip combo, Kérastase hair care, Laneige skincare and Burberry fragrances.
Starbucks: Get a free birthday drink. That’s any drink, any size. You must sign up for Starbucks Rewards in advance, and make at least one purchase in the previous year. The Starbucks birthday reward must be redeemed on your actual birthday.
TravisMathew: Join the free TM Rewards program and get a $10 birthday reward.
Victoria’s Secret: Sign up for the free VS & PINK Rewards program and get a $10 birthday reward to spend in-store.
Wetzel’s Pretzels: Download the Wetzel’s Pretzels app, and get a free original or sinful cinnamon pretzel for your birthday. The treat is valid for 30 days after your birthday.
More special treats for moms: |
