6 Loyalty Programs I Joined for Birthday Freebies

I was all excited to wake up and go to Starbucks on my birthday this year, but when I opened the app, I didn't have a birthday reward in it.

It turns out that, not only does Starbucks give you a birthday drink that can only be redeemed in the 24 hours of your birthday, but you only get that drink if you have made star-qualifying purchases in the past year.

While this is congruous with the loyalty programs for hotels, I decided that this was the last straw for me since they are also no longer allowing their locations to be used as third places. I probably won't be choosing to go to Starbucks if other options are available to me in the future. The reason that this is probably upsetting me more is that, before this, I had been a gold member since I was in middle school, and there seems to be a lack of reward for years of loyalty.

That being said, I needed other ways to celebrate my birthday, so I decided to do a little research and share some loyalty programs that would help me celebrate with some birthday freebies. There were a few things that I was a little too late to, so what I am sharing you can take advantage of if you sign up for them on the day of your birthday.

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1. Auntie Anne's

The fact that I have loved their pretzels since my mom was a shopaholic and didn't know that they had a rewards program is years of missed opportunity and rewards. In order to take advantage, you must have the app and you must make one qualifying purchase in the span of a year. That is something that I will probably do anyway, with how often I visit the mall.

While it might be hypocritical for me to include it on this list after saying I'm not going to choose Starbucks because of that policy, I believe it is different because of the various policies that Starbucks has started to implement over my time of being a member with them. Plus, the best part of going to the mall is being able to visit an Auntie Anne's while I'm there, and my local mall actually doesn't have a Starbucks inside. Now I'm prepared to plan for a trip to the mall on my birthday next year.

2. Krispy Kreme

Does anyone else get excited when they drive past a Krispy Kreme and see the hot sign on? I can't help it, because I feel like Krispy Kreme shops are so few and far between where I live (or maybe that is a good marketing lure). If I see the hot sign on at a Krispy Kreme, I will typically make the stop to pick up a dozen to share with my family.

For your birthday, you can claim one free donut of your choice. And what makes it better than Starbucks is that, instead of only being able to claim this birthday surprise in the 24 hours of your birthday, you have a month. I literally just signed up, and it's giving me the next month to claim my donut. I'll probably try a coffee when I pick up my free one.

3. BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse

Truth be told, I had a BJ's account before this and just lost the information to access it when I changed phone numbers. But if you are like me, and you love cookies and you love ice cream, and you love the two of them together, then signing up for BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse Rewards is a must.

Even if you sign up and it isn't your birthday, they give you a pizzookie just for signing up (you just have to give it 24 hours to hit your account). So sign up the day before, and you could celebrate with a great meal and a free pizzookie the day of. In my case, I will be enjoying my pizzookie the day after.

4. Culver's

With how many are popping up in my area right now, I imagine that it is an expanding chain, but I don't think I knew it existed before five years ago (especially since I find myself reading about it in books that take place in the Midwest). Moreover, I would say that their custard is delicious, and the new home I have moved into seems to receive coupons on a regular basis, so it is a fast-food chain that I visit pretty often now.

While I couldn't claim the free birthday scoop with one free topping on my birthday, I do think something cool needs to be mentioned here: you can add the birthdays of your family members into your account, and you will also receive a coupon on their birthdays. This leads me to believe that Culver's is a family-friendly company, which is something I believe I can endorse.

5. Cold Stone Creamery

I love ice cream, but I will admit to finding Cold Stone to be ice cream that costs a pretty penny. Luckily, spending that pretty penny can be rewarded if you join their Cold Stone Club Rewards program.

While I joined too late to get my birthday reward, what I did get was a BOGO coupon just for signing up, and 25 points loaded onto my account, which is half the amount of points I would need to receive a $5 off coupon. It's possible that this will lead me to becoming a more regular visitor of Cold Stone, especially if I am getting $5 off on a regular basis.

Grandma Sau's Favorite Birthday Freebie: Ben and Jerry's

Since high school, I have been an advocate for the superiority of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. It's possible that I consumed a pint a day, or maybe once a week if we want to be healthy. It was delicious.

Since I bought my pints from the grocery store, I didn't know they had a loyalty club. A location opened by me within the past five years, and I have only signed up for their loyalty membership now (luckily, I have all month to claim this reward). I can't wait to claim my free scoop on my next visit, which will either be one of the classics that I look for or one of their new flavors.