Looking for free things to scoop up on your birthday? If you’re willing to provide your email and plan in advance, there are plenty of customer loyalty programs in Champaign-Urbana
Birthday rewards can vary based on purchase history, franchise policies and many more variables, but we have a pretty comprehensive list of the different programs out there in C-U
Birthdays are always going to bring a little extra excitement to the day, week or month, depending on how much you love your birthday (and the birthdays of the people you love). The odds are good you have at least one customer loyalty program you are signed up for that has rewarded you with something free on your birthday (we’re looking at you, Starbucks, and your awesome free drink on your birthday reward).
Did you know that we have more than twenty establishments in Champaign-Urbana that reward their loyal customers with a birthday treat? These rewards can vary quite a bit, and we want to make sure you know that inclusion on this list does not guarantee that said reward will show up in your inbox on your birthday. But here are some tips and tricks to enjoying birthday freebies around Champaign-Urbana to the fullest, if you so desire.
A few things to cover before we begin
- Make sure you plan ahead! We saw programs that required you sign up ten or more days in advance of your birthday to be eligible for the birthday rewards. We did the bulk of our signing up about six days before the big birthday, and most of the rewards did pan out in time.
- Be prepared for lots of emails. We realize this is a deal breaker for a lot of people. But, if free things are your goal here, you need to be willing to accept messages from each business.
- Review each of the rewards individually, so you know which ones have to be redeemed ON your birthday, and which ones last a week, a month or indefinitely.
- Last but not least, thanks in advance for treating all of the employees at all of the establishments below with the utmost respect and appreciation. If something goes awry with redeeming your reward, please remember that the person you are talking to likely has no control over you being able to enjoy another cookie (or not), and it is something on the back end of some large corporation’s website that is mixing things up. We love our fellow neighbors in Champaign-Urbana and appreciate every one of them that helps make our birthdays special!
Remember, you must sign up for the loyalty program for each business you are interested in ahead of time and agree to receive emails!
Our closest to complete list of customer loyalty programs with birthday rewards or deals (confirmed)
If no minimum purchase is noted, we are under the assumption one can enjoy their birthday reward without any strings attached.
Food
- AMC Champaign – free large popcorn
- Baskin Robbins – free 4 oz. scoop
- Chipotle – free guacamole with a $5 minimum purchase
- Crumbl – free single cookie
- Edible Arrangements – free sweet treat (we had a chocolate covered apple slice)
- Espresso Royale – $5 reward added to wallet
- Insomnia Cookies – free classic cookie
- Jersey Mike’s – free sub with purchase of a regular sub sometime in the past year
- Jimmy John’s – free sandwich
- McDonalds – free fries, other options may be available depending on location (cheeseburger, six piece McNuggets, etc.)
- Noodles & Co. – free crispy or cookie
- Nothing Bundt Cakes – free bundtlet
- Panera – free pastry
- Portillo’s – free slice of chocolate cake
- Red Robin – free burger and side with a minimum $4.99 purchase
- Silvercreek – free dessert up to $10 during your birthday month
- Starbucks – free drink of your choice (on your birthday only)
- Subway – free cookie
- Tropical Smoothie – free birthday smoothie (on your birthday only)
- Watson’s – 15% off one visit during your birthday month
Non-food
- Bath and Body Works – free item up to $9.99 with any purchase
- Kohl’s – $10 Kohl’s Cash
- Sephora – stop in for a free gift any time during your birthday month
- Target – $5 Target gift card redeemable on your next visit
- Ulta – free gift
Other programs we heard have birthday deals, but have not personally confirmed
- Applebee’s
- Arby’s
- Auntie Anne’s
- Bibibop
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Coldstone
- Culver’s
- DQ
- Dunkin’
- Houlihans
- Kung Fu Tea
- Moe’s Southwest Grill
- Qdoba
- Paris Baguette
- Red Lobster must sign up ten days before
- Smoothie King
- Steak and Shake
- Taco Bell
- Texas Roadhouse
