46 birthday freebies and discounts

Got a birthday coming up? You could be in line to get bombarded with free stuff on your special day – provided you're signed up with the right places.

Even if your friends aren't generous enough to shower you with gifts, you can count on the offers below to spoil you rotten when your big day comes around.

All you have to do is sign up to a few newsletters or loyalty schemes here and there (or sometimes just turn up with ID to prove it's your birthday) and you'll be able to go on a seriously cheap shopping spree on your birthday, whilst being well-fed and a bit tipsy from all the free birthday prosecco!

Just make sure you set up a separate email account to sign up for all these birthday freebie deals, so you can avoid being bombarded with all the spam (a small price to pay for all the birthday freebies, right?).

TRIVIA: How many people do you need in one room before it's probable that at least two people have the same birthday? Find the answer at the end of the guide once you've signed up for your freebies!

Free birthday food

Credit: Daria Minaeva – Shutterstock

The kind of free food you can get on your birthday ranges widely, from a small celebratory snack to a full-blown meal free of charge!

Play your cards right and you could literally be eating your breakfast, lunch and dinner on the house for about a week before and after your birthday. It's all about doing your research and hatching a plan well in advance!

With that in mind, these are the best places to get free food on your birthday:

1. Frankie & Benny's

   

   Freebie: Free main meal

   How to claim your freebie: Sign up to Frankie & Benny's Rewards and you'll be sent a voucher 10 days before your birthday

   T&Cs: Free main meal available with the purchase of another main meal. Can't be used in conjunction with other offers and discounts.

2. Shepherd Neame

   

   Freebie: Voucher for a free main meal

   How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the Shepherd Neame Birthday Club

   T&Cs: Voucher will be emailed to you two weeks before your birthday and is valid for six months from the date of issue. Free meal only available with the purchase of at least one other main meal.

3. Zizzi

   

   Freebie: Main course and bottle of prosecco

   How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the Zizzi mailing list and you'll receive a voucher a month before your birthday

   T&Cs: Free main course when two or more people order full-priced main courses. Free bottle of prosecco when four or more people order full-priced main courses. Main course and prosecco offer can be combined with one another, but not with any other offer or voucher.

4. Greggs

   

   Freebie: Free cupcake, cream cake or doughnut

   How to claim your freebie: Download the Greggs app and check the 'rewards' tab on your birthday

   T&Cs: Valid for one month after issue.

5. Barburrito

   

   Freebie: Free burrito

   How to claim your freebie: Join their loyalty card scheme 'La Familia' by picking up a card in-store and registering it online

   T&Cs: Your card needs to be registered at least four days prior to your birthday to qualify for your free burrito.

6. Tasty Rewards (Cookhouse + Pub, Table Table and Whitbread Inns)

   

   Freebie: Free main meal (no price limit)

   How to claim your freebie: Join the 'Tasty Rewards' scheme by picking up a card in the restaurant and registering it online

   T&Cs: Only one voucher can be used per party.

7. Krispy Kreme

   

   Freebie: Free doughnut of your choice (plus a free doughnut for your significant other on their birthday)

   How to claim your freebie: Get the Friends of Krispy Kreme app (you also get a free doughnut just for signing up!) and you'll be sent a voucher to show in-store

   T&Cs: Valid in Krispy Kreme stores only, not concession stands that you may find in Tesco and other shops.

8. Las Iguanas

   

   Freebie: Free meal

   How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the Las Iguanas newsletter and you'll be emailed a voucher at the relevant time

   T&Cs: You must buy at least one other main, and voucher can't be used in conjunction with any other offers.

9. Beefeater Grill

   

   Freebie: Free main meal

   How to claim your freebie: Sign up to a Beefeater Grill Rewards card. Around your birthday, you'll be emailed a voucher that you'll need to present either printed or on your phone

   T&Cs: At least one other main meal must be purchased from the main menu.

10. Pizza Hut

    

    Freebie: Cookie dough dessert

    How to claim your freebie: Register for an online account with Pizza Hut and you'll be emailed a voucher around the time of your birthday

    T&Cs: The offer only extends to an individual cookie dough dessert – not a sharer.

11. Toby Carvery

    

    Freebie: Ice cream sundae

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the Toby Carvery newsletter and you'll be emailed a voucher on your birthday (as well as one for £5 off a £15 food spend when you sign up!)

    T&Cs: Freebie is valid for four weeks after your birthday. Can't be used in conjunction with other offers.

12. Hotel Chocolat

    

    Freebie: Box of chocolates

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up for a Hotel Chocolat VIP card and activate it online (you'll also get 15% off your next purchase when you sign up!)

    T&Cs: Reward voucher will be sent via email at the start of the month of your birthday and will be valid during that month only.

13. Patisserie Valerie

    

    Freebie: Cupcake

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the Patisserie Valerie Cake Club (you'll also get 10% off your next visit to a Patisserie Valerie cafe just for registering!)

    T&Cs: None!

Free birthday drinks

Credit: BBC

What better way to celebrate your birthday than with a bottle of chilled fizz? Oh wait, how about some FREE birthday fizz?!

These are the best deals for getting free drinks on your birthday (just remember to drink responsibly!):

14. Pizza Express

    

    Freebie: Bottle of prosecco

    How to claim your freebie: Join the My Pizza Express newsletter mailing list and you'll be emailed a voucher for a free bottle

    T&Cs: Your voucher needs to be redeemed two weeks before or after your birthday date (bring ID to prove when that is!). Only valid with the purchase of at least two main meals.

15. TGI Fridays

    

    Freebie: Any standard cocktail or mocktail

    How to claim your freebie: Download the TGI Rewards app or sign up for their newsletter and you'll receive the code three weeks prior to your birthday

    T&Cs: Offer does not include 'ultimate cocktails' and is only valid with the purchase of a main meal.

16. All Bar One

    

    Freebie: Bottle of prosecco

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the A-List newsletter and they'll email you a voucher (you also get £5 off a £20+ bill when you sign up!)

    T&Cs: Only valid for parties of four or more people dining in.

17. Cafe Rouge

    

    Freebie: One glass of prosecco each

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the Cafe Rouge Birthday Club

    T&Cs: Valid for four weeks from the date of issue. Each person must purchase at least one main meal.

18. Strada

    

    Freebie: Bottle of prosecco

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the newsletter and they'll email you a voucher

    T&Cs: Must spend over £30.

19. Hungry Horse

    

    Freebie: One drink (alcoholic or soft – scroll to the bottom of this page for the full list)

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the Hungry Horse newsletter (you'll also get a voucher for £5 off a £15+ spend when you sign up!)

    T&Cs: You need to sign up at least 21 days before your birthday.

20. Ed's Easy Diner

    Freebie: One milkshake

    How to claim your freebie: Become an Ed's Club member (you'll also get a voucher for a free starter or dessert when you purchase a main meal!)

    T&Cs: None!

21. Brewhouse & Kitchen

    

    Freebie: Pint of beer

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the mailing list and you'll be emailed a voucher around the time of your birthday

    T&Cs: None!

22. Kaspa's

    

    Freebie: One milkshake or slice of cake

    How to claim your freebie: Bring in a valid photo ID (display your date of birth) on your birthday

    T&Cs: Can be any medium-size milkshake, excluding those under the VIP section of the menu or any limited-edition shake.

23. Nicholson's

    

    Freebie: A pint of Nicholson's Pale Ale or a 25ml Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to Nicholson's newsletter (you'll also get a voucher for 25% off your food bill, valid for 28 days after you sign up)

    T&Cs: Can only be used with eat or drink-in orders, and isn't valid with any other offers. Must be used within 30 days of receiving the email.

24. Loch Fyne

    

    Freebie: Bottle of Joseph Perrier champagne

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up for a Friends Card

    T&Cs: Must be in a party of four or more diners.

25. Miller & Carter

    

    Freebie: Bottle of champagne/prosecco

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to their newsletter (you'll also get a free bottle of wine for doing so!)

    T&Cs: Four or more people must order main meals.

26. La Tasca

    

    Freebie: Bottle of cava

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the La Tasca loyalty card or download the app

    T&Cs: Must spend at least £30 when ordering from the main or party menu.

27. Boost

    

    Freebie: Juice of your choice

    How to claim your freebie: Pick up your Vibe Card in-store, register it online and bring it in with you on your birthday

    T&Cs: Can only be redeemed on your birthday. The date of birth on your Vibe Card must match your actual date of birth.

Free birthday beauty treats

There's nothing more fun than pampering yourself on your birthday – and the companies mentioned below know this all too well.

Nab yourself a new nail polish and a free brow wax and you're ready to begin the celebrations!

So without further ado, here are the best beauty birthday treats from all the top brands:

28. Space NK

    

    Freebie: A gift to pick up in-store (gift changes monthly)

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to their N.Dulge loyalty scheme and you'll be emailed the voucher

    T&Cs: You'll need to sign up to the loyalty scheme at least six weeks before your birthday.

29. The Body Shop

    

    Freebie: £5 voucher to spend online or in-store

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the Love Your Body loyalty scheme and they'll put £5 on your card on your birthday

    T&Cs: Valid for one month after your birthday, and there's no minimum spend.

30. Elizabeth Arden

    

    Freebie: Oxygen blast facial worth £15

    How to claim your freebie: Pick up a Debenham's Beauty Card in-store or register online and visit a Debenham's with an Elizabeth Arden counter for your free facial

    T&Cs: Must be redeemed within two weeks of your birthday.

31. blow LTD

    

    Freebie: Nail filing and painting

    How to claim your freebie: Pick up a Debenham's Beauty Card in-store or register online and visit a Debenham's with a blow LTD counter for your free facial

    T&Cs: Must be redeemed within two weeks of your birthday.

32. Cult Beauty

    

    Freebie: 15% off

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up for a Cult Beauty account and you'll be emailed a voucher in the month of your birthday

    T&Cs: One use per customer, minimum spend of £25 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers.

33. Superdrug

    

    Freebie: No freebies, but triple points up for grabs!

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up for a Superdrug Health & Beautycard and you'll get triple points on your birthday

    T&Cs: Valid for 14 days after your birthday.

34. Boots

    

    Freebie: No freebies, but double points up for grabs!

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up for a Boots Advantage Card and load it onto the Advantage Card app. At the start of the month of your birthday, you should see the offer under 'My offers' – click 'LOAD' and then get shopping!

    T&Cs: Valid for the calendar month of your birthday. We've heard reports of some members not getting the offer, so there's a chance it may not be for all users.

35. House of Fraser

    Freebie: No freebies but bonus points up for grabs!

    How to claim your freebie: Pick up a House of Fraser Recognition Card in-store or online and shop in-store anytime during the month of your birthday to receive bonus points

    T&Cs: Card must be registered online.

Birthday clothing discounts

Credit: Warner Bros

Ok, so the following birthday freebies aren't technically freebies – more like partial freebies.

If you're on the hunt for some new clothes to sport when you go out for your free birthday meal, start collecting your birthday discount voucher codes and treating yourself!

Just make sure you sign up to these well before your birthday so you give them enough time to send you out your code/voucher, as well as leaving yourself enough time to go shopping.

36. Topshop and Topman

    

    Discount: 20% off at Topshop, 15% at Topman (both when you shop online)

    How to claim your birthday discount: Sign up to the Topshop newsletter/Topman newsletter and a code will be emailed to you at the relevant time

    T&Cs: Can't be used in conjunction with other offers, including student discount.

37. New Look

    

    Discount: 20% off

    How to claim your birthday discount: Sign up to the newsletter and you'll be emailed a unique code to use online for your discount (plus 20% off your next purchase just for signing up!)

    T&Cs: Valid for up to two weeks after your birthday, and can't be used alongside other offers.

38. Nike Store

    

    Discount: 25% off

    How to claim your birthday discount: Sign up to the Nike Store's newsletter and in the month of your birthday they'll email you a unique code that's valid for the whole month

    T&Cs: No minimum spend, but there's a maximum spend of £450 and it's not valid in conjunction with other offers.

39. H&M

    

    Discount: 25% off one item

    How to claim your birthday discount: Sign up (for free) to the H&M Club (which also gets you 10% off each purchase and free delivery!)

    T&Cs: Valid for two weeks after your birthday.

40. Oasis

    

    Discount: 10% off online or in-store

    How to claim your birthday discount: Sign up to the Oasis newsletter and you'll be emailed a unique code (plus £10 off a £75 spend when you sign up!)

    T&Cs: Valid up to two weeks after your birthday, and can't be used alongside other offers.

More free birthday stuff

Credit: 20th Century Fox

The following offers are a bit hard to categorise, so we made the executive decision to lump them together as 'free stuff'. Here's the best of the rest of the free stuff you can get on your birthday:

41. Paperchase

    

    Freebie: £5 voucher

    How to claim your freebie: Pick up a Treat Me card in-store, register it online and they'll pop a fiver on your account on your birthday

    T&Cs: Valid for 14 days after your birthday, no minimum spend.

42. IKEA

    

    Freebie: £5 voucher

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up for an IKEA Family Card and you might get a voucher around your birthday. Not all members get one, so check your emails around the big day!

    T&Cs: Valid for 28 days, no minimum spend.

43. Hobbycraft

    

    Freebie: £5 voucher

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up for a Hobbycraft account and you'll be emailed the voucher at the relevant time

    T&Cs: Valid for 14 days from the date of issue.

44. Pets at Home

    

    Freebie: Treats for your pet

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the free Pets at Home VIP Club and you'll receive a voucher on your pet's birthday

    T&Cs: Remember this is on your pet's birthday, not yours!

45. Lovehoney

    

    Freebie: 30% off

    How to claim your freebie: Create a Lovehoney account (you'll also get £15 worth of vouchers and points when you sign up!) and become a Lovehoney Unlimited member (full details here)

    T&Cs: Minimum spend of £40 required.

46. Swagbucks

    

    Freebie: 55 free Swagbucks (SBs)

    How to claim your freebie: Sign up for a Swagbucks account and they'll send you a 55SB rebate on a Gift Card redemption

    T&Cs: Must be redeemed within 30 days of your birthday.

TRIVIA: Turns out you only need 23 people in a room for it to be likely that at least two people have the same birthday! We won't pretend to understand why, but this Wikipedia article explains it.

If you are willing to fork out for a pressie but are on a tight budget, take a look at our handy list of gifts for under a fiver!