A Charlotte guide to birthday freebies 🎂

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by Lindsey Banks

Thursday was one of my favorite days of the year. Not necessarily because I was turning 26 (yikes!), but because of what it unlocked at businesses across the city. It was the day I spent cashing in on all of those rewards programs I’ve signed up for over the years. 

In this economy, nothing free can be left on the table, so I took the day off from work and made a plan to collect the gifts, drinks and food items in Charlotte that I get simply for being born and willing to give out my name, email, phone number and birth date. Some are chains; some are local, Charlotte-specific stops. 

Here’s how to treat yourself without opening your wallet. But first, some minor disclaimers:

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If you’re an Amélie's rewards member and have the Toast Local app, you get a $5 gift card to redeem within a 10-day window around your birthday. And, something I learned this week at the NoDa location, if you go to Amélie's on your actual birthday, you also get a free vanilla eclair or salted caramel brownie. I went for lunch and used the gift card toward a chicken salad croissant, followed by my free brownie. There are six Amélie's locations across Charlotte.

Chick-fil-A’s app rewards you with a free dessert on your birthday. (A milkshake usually qualifies as a free dessert!) Yes, you have to have the app, but they have a solid rewards program and point system. It’s the app that keeps on giving year-round!

With the app, you get a free scoop of custard with two toppings on your birthday at Culver’s. It doesn’t have to be redeemed on your actual birthday, but a midday birthday snack of vanilla custard, chocolate syrup and maraschino cherries was calling my name. I went to the location in University City near IKEA. 

I’m lucky enough to live within walking distance of the NoDa Jeni’s ice cream shop, but even if I didn’t, this reward would be worth it. You have to have the Jeni’s app, but on your birthday, you get a free birthday scoop, which includes your choice of two flavors AND a waffle cone if you’d like, with no upcharge. You typically have about a month to redeem this one. 

I love a bundt cake, and if you have Nothing Bundt Cake’s app and are signed up for the loyalty program, you get a free bundlet (a cupcake-sized bundt cake). My favorite flavors are red velvet and white chocolate raspberry. I went to the midtown location near Mama Ricotta’s. 

Another Charlotte-specific freebie: Pinky’s Westside Grill gives you a free full serving of its famous banana pudding on your birthday if you have your ID with you. No app or loyalty program required. It’s dine-in-only and has to be on your actual birthday. (I didn't realize the deal was dine-in-only, but the restaurant let me take my pudding to go, after my meal of the white trash burger, waffle fries and wasabi ranch.) Pinky’s is in west Charlotte, just outside of uptown, and in Huntersville. 

Start your birthday off with a free side pancake from Snooze. Sounds boring? Snooze has some of the best flavors of pancakes in town, in my opinion. My go-to is the sweet potato pancake, but a close second is the pineapple upside-down pancake. This reward gives you a generous window to redeem. 

Charlotte has three locations — Plaza Midwood, SouthPark and South End — and as a loyal member of its rewards program for the past four years, I can attest that it’s a great one. You have to download the app and be somewhat active to qualify for a birthday freebie, but points add up quickly at Snooze, and I often find myself redeeming a free entrée every other time I go. 

I woke up on my birthday to a text from SolarShine that a free shine wash, normally worth $25, was waiting for me. It expires two weeks after my birthday, but with the pollen build-up, I’ll be going this weekend. (Note: we’re in a drought, but the city says that if you need to wash your car, go to a car wash versus washing it yourself at home.) 

This is a universally known fact: Starbucks gives you a free drink on your birthday if you have and use the app. Tip: iced beverages have an additional size called “trenta,” which qualifies for the free birthday drink. On Thursday, I ordered a venti (Starbucks’ equivalent of large), but when I got to the window and presented my birthday reward, the barista asked: “Why didn’t you get a trenta?” I had no idea such a size existed. It was probably a nearly $8 drink — free!

(I’ve also been told Summit Coffee gives you a free birthday drink with its loyalty program. I’ll save that one for next year.)

Firehouse Subs, Jimmy John's and Jersey Mike’s all give free sub sandwiches if you’re a loyalty member. However, one thing to note that I failed to this year: You have to be semi-recently active to get the free sub, meaning, you had to have purchased something with your loyalty account within the past six to 12 months, depending on each sub shop’s policy. With that being said, I did not get my free sub this year, but I won’t make the same mistake next year. 

I’m a rewards member for both Ulta and Sephora. The great thing about these programs? You don’t have to download an app. Every year, both makeup stores have a different line-up of four to five sample-sized products from which you get to choose. At Sephora, just give them your phone number. At Ulta, present a bar code sent to you via email. I’ve gotten some pretty high-end beauty products in the past, and the sample size lasts longer than you think. 

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If you’re feeling ambitious — and hungry — you could try to redeem all of these freebies in one day. What is your birthday if not the ultimate cheat day? But I would recommend paying attention to the reward expiration dates and spacing them out accordingly. 

So dear frugal readers, get out your phones, download some apps and start racking up. And happy early birthday from The Ledger!

Did we miss any Charlotte birthday freebies? Let Lindsey know at [email protected].

On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.