If you’re celebrating a birthday today, you’re not alone – the 26th September officially the most common day for people in England and Wales to be born, according to data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
Analysis of 20 years’ worth of birth records shows a dramatic spike in the number of children born in late September, with the highest peak on the 26th – perhaps not coincidentally, exactly 39 weeks and two days after Christmas day.
Now, everybody loves a freebie, so whether your birthday falls today or another time of year, here’s a round up of the best birthday freebies and discounts you can use to help celebrate and make a saving too!
Free birthday sweet treats
These free treats are a great way of satisfying your sweet tooth and making a saving on your birthday.
Get free Krispy Kreme doughnuts
If you join the Friends of Krispy Kreme loyalty club, you’ll get a free doughnut, normally priced £1.35 – £1.75, for your birthday.
This can be done online or by downloading the Friends of Krispy Kreme rewards app for Apple or Android.
You’ll also get a free doughnut for signing up to the scheme and can claim a free glazed doughnut on the birthday of your significant other or child.
Get a free cookie at Millie’s Cookie
Signing up for the Millie’s Cookies Cookie Club newsletter will entitle you to a free cookie, usually worth 99p, on your birthday.
You’ll get a voucher emailed to you, for your birthday, when you register.
Get a free Greggs sweet treat
Downloading the Greggs rewards app will get you a free sweet treat to help you celebrate your big day.
You’ll get a voucher on the app which must be shown in-store to claim a free cupcake, cream cake or doughnut!
Get a free cupcake at Patisserie Valerie
If you sign up to the Patisserie Valerie ‘Cake Club’ you’ll get a a voucher for one free cupcake, usually priced £2-£3, sent to your inbox for your birthday; you’ll just have to show your email in-store to claim it.
Once you’ve registered you’ll also get 10% off of your next visit to any Patisserie Valerie cafe.
Get a free vegan cupcake from Ms Cupcake
Ms Cupcake, based in Brixton, will give you one free cupcake on your birthday, usually around £3-4.
All you’ll have to do is show ID such as a passport or driver’s license to prove your date of birth.
You’ll get to choose from the cupcakes available in-store that day, which are all vegan.
- Find out more: 50 ways to save money
Free birthday meals
Heading to one of these restaurants could help cut the cost of your birthday meal.
Get a free main meal at Beefeater
Registering for the Beefeater Reward Club will get you one free meal on your birthday, normally £9 – £21, when at least one other main meal is purchased from the menu.
Beefeater will email you a voucher which must be shown in the restaurant, either printed or on your phone.
Your voucher will be valid at all participating restaurants but can’t be used with any other offers or discounts.
Get a free birthday meal at Las Iguanas
Signing up to the Las Iguanas newsletter will get you a free meal – usually priced £9-£18 – when you buy at least one other main meal.
Your voucher will be emailed for you to show in restaurant.
This offer excludes ribeye on the bone and you won’t be able to use it with any other discount, for delivery purchases or on Valentine’s Day.
Get a free main meal at Coast to Coast
If you’re 18 and over, you can get one free meal, worth around £12-£20, when at least one other main meal is purchased from the menu, by signing up to the Coast to Coast Birthday Club.
Be sure to register at least one month before your actual birth date, as Coast to Coast sends out the vouchers at the beginning of the month.
Get a free birthday meal at Brewers Fayre
Joining the Brewers Fayre Bonus Club loyalty card scheme will get you one free meal, normally around £7-£12, on your birthday when at least one other main meal is purchased.
You’ll get an email with your voucher to show in the pub which can’t be used with any other offer or discount.
Get a free birthday main meal at Frankie & Benny’s
You can get one free meal, priced around £9-£15, for your birthday when at least one other main meal is purchased if you register for the Frankie & Benny’s reward scheme.
A voucher will be sent to your via email a month before your big day, which needs to be shown in the restaurant.
Like with the other promotions this deal cannot be used with any other offer or discount. It also excludes Frankie & Benny’s or Little Frankie’s restaurants at airports.
- Find out more: 50 ways to make money
Free birthday drinks
From super juices to a bottle of fizz, these offers can help you save on birthday drinks to celebrate your big day.
Free birthday drink at Boost
If you register for the Boost Vibe loyalty card you’ll get one free drink, usually around £3-£5, for your birthday.
You’ll need to bring your loyalty card and some ID to claim your freebie.
The loyalty scheme allows you to collect one point for every drink you buy – once you collect nine points you can claim a free drink.
Free milkshake at Ed’s Diner
You can get a free milkshake, worth around £4-£6, for your birthday at Ed’s Easy Diner when you register for the Ed’s Club loyalty card.
The scheme allows you to collect 10p worth of points for every £1 you spend which can be redeemed on a future visit.
You’ll also get a voucher for a free regular burger or hot dog when you purchase any drink once you’ve registered.
Get a free bottle of prosecco from All Bar One
Signing up to the All Bar One newsletter will get you a free bottle of prosecco when four or more people dine on your birthday.
When you sign up, you’ll also get £5 off your bill when you spend £20 or more.
Free bottle of prosecco at Pizza Express
If you sign up to the Pizza Express newsletter, you can get get a free bottle of prosecco when you purchase two main meals.
You’ll need to bring in ID, such as a passport or driving license, to prove it’s your big day.
Get a free bottle of prosecco at Strada
Strada are offering a free bottle of prosecco when you spend over £30 on your birthday once you sign up to their newsletter.
- Find out more: 8 smartphone apps that make you free money
Free beauty and pampering
There are birthday savings to be made on your next shop for beauty products and services
Free £5 spend at The Body Shop
Signing up to The Body Shop Love Your Body loyalty card will get you £5 to spend in-store or online with no minimum spend.
Your £5 discount will be valid for up to one month after your actual birthday.
Triple points with Superdrug loyalty card
You can earn triple points at Superdrug on your birthday if you sign up to the Health & Beauty loyalty card.
There’s no minimum spend and the offer is valid for 14 days after your birthday.
Free Benefit brow wax
Signing up to the Debenhams Beauty Club loyalty card will get you a free brow wax, worth around £14.50, at the Benefit counter of participating Debenhams stores.
You’ll have to bring your Beauty Club card and proof of your date of birth to claim the freebie, which must be done within two weeks of your birthday.
Due to demand, Benefit suggests booking in advance to make sure you get the slot you want.
Free Elizabeth Arden Facial
Here’s another birthday treat you can claim if you sign up to the Debenhams Beauty Club loyalty card.
Once registered, you can get a free oxygen blast facial, worth £15, at the Elizabeth Arden counter.
You’ll need to bring your Beauty Card and proof of your date of birth to your appointment and it the offer must be claimed within two weeks of your birthday.
Free £5 spend at Space NK
If you sign up to the Space NK Ndulge loyalty card, you’ll get £5 to spend online or in store for your birthday as well as a free gift which you can pick up in-store.
To get this offer you’ll need to register for the the loyalty card at least six weeks before your birthday.
The Ndulge loyalty card allows you to collect one point per £1 spent, when you reach 100 points, you’ll get a £5 discount automatically loaded onto your card.
- Find out more: cashback sites explained
Clothing and fashion discounts
These offers will help you towards a birthday splurge at clothing stores and online.
Get a £5 voucher at M&S
You can get a free £5 voucher on your birthday if you sign up to the M&S Sparks rewards scheme.
Get 25% off at Nike store
Signing up to the Nike Store newsletter will allow you to get 25% discount for your birthday using a unique code sent by email.
There’s no minimum spend and your discount will be valid for the entire month of your birthday.
Your total purchase must be under £450 and the offer isn’t valid with other offers, sale items, Apple products, NikeLab or on store gift cards.
Get 20% off at Topshop and New Look
Registering for the newsletters for Topshop and NewLook will get you a 20% discount on purchases on your birthday.
Your Topshop discount will be valid for 30 days after your birthday whereas your New Look voucher will only be valid for two weeks after your big day.
Get 15% off at Asos,
Asos shoppers are automatically enrolled in it’s A-list loyalty scheme after their first purchase.
Once you’ve reached 400 points you’ll be emailed a 15% discount code for your birthday.
Throughout the year, the A-list scheme allows you to collect 5 voucher points per £1 spent, once you collect 500 voucher points, you’ll get a voucher for £5 off your next purchase.
Get 15% off Topman
For 15% off your birthday shop at Topman, simply register for the online newsletter.
There’s no minimum spend but the offer won’t be valid with any other deals or to buy a gift card.
Get 10% off at Oasis
Registering for the Oasis newsletter will get you 10% off online or in-store on your birthday.
Your unique discount code will be emailed to you and is valid for two weeks after your birthday.
Find out more: getting a great deal
Home and Pet freebies and discounts
Free £5 spend at Ikea
If you sign up to the Ikea Family loyalty card you’ll get £5 coupon sent to your inbox.
There is no minimum spend and your coupon will be valid for 28 days.
Free treat at Pets at Home
Registering to be a member of the Pets at Home VIP club loyalty card will get your pet a free treat on its birthday.
All you’ll have to do is bring your card and show a copy of your email with the barcode in-store to collect your pet’s treat.
Free £5 spend at Hobbycraft
Members of the Hobbycraft loyalty card scheme will get a £5 voucher to spend online or in-store.
This offer will be valid for up to 14 days after your birthday and there is no minimum spend.
Free £5 spend at Paperchase
If you sign up to the Paperchase Treat Me loyalty card, you’ll get £5 to spend online or in-store.
There’s no minimum spend for the offer and it can be used up to 14 days after your big day.
Free £5 spend at Hotpod yoga
Signing up to Hotpod yoga, at least one day before your birthday, will get you £5 off your next booking.
Classes start at £12 each and you’ll have state your date of birth when sign up.
Find out more: planning a budget
Birthday treats for kids
There’s plenty of savings on fun and treats for your child’s birthday too.
20% off at Early Learning Centre
If you sign up to the ELC Big Birthday Club you’ll get a 20% discount on your child’s birthday if they’re aged six or under.
You’ll need to sign up at least two months before your child’s birthday to make sure you receive the discount in time.
20% off toys at Mothercare
Signing up to the Mothercare MyMothercare loyalty card will get you 20% off of toys on your child’s birthday if they’re aged six or under.
You can add the birthday’s of up to four children on the scheme.
15% off at Disney
Disney fans who register for the ShopDisney newsletter can get a code for 15% off for the month of their birthday.
You have to be 18 or over to sign up but could buy something to keep for your child’s birthday too.
The discount excludes delivery charges, limited editions, media (DVDs, CDs, games), electronics and theme park tickets.
Free Playmobil birthday card and badge
Members of the Playmobil Birthday Club will receive a free birthday card and badge for their children on their birthday.
You’ll also be updated on competitions and offers during the year as well as receiving a Christmas card.
Free Peppa Pig Birthday pack
If you sign up to the Peppa Pig Muddy Puddles Club you’ll get a birthday pack with cut out hats, party games, a cake recipe and other colour-in decorations which can be printed at home.