At 9:00 am on my birthday, I was riding the TTC subway and scrolling through my apps, which were loaded with tons of birthday freebies.
My goal for the day? To collect as much free stuff on my birthday in Toronto!
Follow along my journey as I walk you through how I collected the highest value birthday rewards throughout the day.
The strategy I used to maximize my birthday rewards
A month before my birthday, I signed up for the retailers' reward programs that offer birthday freebies. I made sure to add my birthdate to every account.
Then, I mapped out the places I wanted to visit. I was able to get over ten items for free because I planned out strategically. I mapped the store locations, timed the store hours, clustered locations, and maximized value per stop. Essentially, I treated it as an experiment to maximize value from these loyalty programs.
Stop #1: Denny’s
I started the day with a full sit-down breakfast. This was the highest-value freebie of the day. I showed my ID and ordered a green tea ($3.99) to get my Denny's free breakfast on my birthday.
From their menu, I chose two sunny-side-up eggs, two slices of turkey bacon, roasted potatoes, and buttermilk pancakes. I sampled some of it and packed the rest to go. After all, I had to save my appetite for more delicious treats!
What I got: a Build Your Own Grand Slam breakfast
Value: $14.59 + tax = $16.58
How to get it: Check the list of participating Denny’s diners to see which locations offer this birthday reward. On your birthday, inform the server before ordering and present your valid Photo ID. It’s dine-in only, and you need to purchase a regular-priced beverage to get the Grand Slam meal.
Pro tip: If you’re close to an IHOP, you can get free pancakes on your birthday when you join IHOP Rewards.
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Stop #2: Tim Hortons
As a proud Canadian, I visited a local Tim Hortons to pick up a warm, toasty sausage breakfast sandwich on an English muffin.
What I got: a breakfast sandwich
Value: $4.59 + tax = $5.18
How you can get it: You can choose either a beverage or a breakfast sandwich. It’s valid two days before your birthday, up until the morning after your birthday. You need to download the Tim Hortons app and create an account. You must make a qualifying purchase (a minimum of $0.10 CAD) to get the birthday reward.
Stop #3: Paris Baguette
Their display case of cakes was mouthwatering. I selected a mango coconut cake slice that came in a cute box. I couldn’t wait, so I ate it right away. It definitely satisfied my sweet tooth!
What I got: a slice of cake
Value: $9.49 + tax = $10.72
How you can get it: You need to sign up for their PB Rewards program and download the Paris Baguette app. A prior purchase is required to get the birthday reward. You have seven days to redeem your reward.
Stop #4: Chatime
I went for a mid-morning bubble tea break at Chatime, where I enjoyed a roasted milk tea.
What I got: a regular-sized bubble tea drink
Value: $5.70 + tax = $6.44
How you can get it: You’ll need to create an account through the Chatime Societea rewards app. A minimum purchase of $2.50 (before tax) is required at least seven days prior to your birthday. You’ll receive the birthday reward in the app, and you’ll have seven days to redeem it.
Stop #5: Booster Juice
In an attempt to balance out all the additional sugar intake, I chose the Açaí avalanche smoothie, which had a mix of berries, spinach, and whey protein.
What I got: a regular-sized smoothie
Value: $9.69 + tax = $10.95
How you can get it: To receive your Booster Juice free birthday reward, you must sign up and enter your birthday at least seven days before your birthday. You also need to make a qualifying transaction through the app within the past year. When you receive your birthday offer, you have seven days to redeem it.
Stop #6: Subway
By noon, I had already collected over $60 worth of food. The biggest lesson is that it’s worthwhile to plan ahead so that you make the most of your time and avoid disappointment.
The free birthday reward I got from Subway was a cookie. As a chocolate fan, I chose the double chocolate chip cookie.
What I got: a cookie
Value: $1.35 + tax = $1.52
How you can get it: The birthday treat is a surprise. Based on my research, it’s usually a cookie or a 6-inch sub. Be sure to download the Subway app and sign up for their Subway MVP Rewards.
Stop #7: Boston Pizza
At this point, I was getting quite full. Good thing I made it a walking freebie food tour to burn off all the calories! From the dessert menu, I went with the most popular and most expensive option, the Chocolate Explosion cake slice.
What I got: a free dessert
Value: $10.49 + tax = $11.85
How you can get it: Once you download the Boston Pizza app, you will need to sign up for the MyBP loyalty program. On your birthday, you’ll get a free dessert, and you have two months to redeem it.
Stop #8: Marble Slab
One of the most memorable experiences was at Marble Slab. At this store, I chose coconut and taro ice cream topped with shredded coconut, Oreo cookie crumbles, and sprinkles, served on a vanilla sugar cone. It was fun watching the server mix all of my ingredients together on the slab to make my custom dessert.
Item I got: an ice cream cone
Value: $9.49 + tax = $10.72
How you can get it: Sign up with the Marble Slab app and register at least 7 days before your birthday. On your birthday, you will receive a sweet surprise: a free regular ice cream cone (including up to 2 flavours and 3 toppings, with a choice between a cup or a sugar cone).
If you want more frozen desserts, you could also visit Dairy Queen. On your birthday, you could receive an offer of either a BOGO deal, a free Blizzard, or a free cone. DQ Reward members need to make at least one purchase 45 days in advance of their birthday to receive this reward.
Another popular option is Baskin-Robbins. By joining Club 31, on your birthday, you will receive coupons for a Buy One, Get One (2.5 oz. cone or 3 oz. soft serve cone) FREE and $3 off any ice cream cake (with a minimum purchase of $25).
Stop #9: The Night Baker
If you’re looking for a high-quality cookie, look no further. One of my favourite local businesses is The Night Baker. Although Ooh Bae (ube or purple yam) is their best seller, my personal favourite is their Coco Pandan cookie.
What I got: a cookie
Value: $4.25 + tax = $4.80
How you can get it: The Night Baker has three locations in Toronto. You can sign up to join the rewards program at any of their bakery locations. Once you’re a member, you get a free cookie on your birthday. No prior purchase is required.
If you’re in downtown Toronto, you can get a free birthday cookie at Crumbl. But you need to be at least a Silver level member to get the reward. That means you’ll need to make at least $50 (500 Crumbs / 10 Crumbs per dollar spent = $50) in purchases at Crumble prior to your birthday.
Stop #10: Starbucks
As I was nearing the end of my route, I had already consumed two beverages. Instead of getting a third drink, I decided to get a turkey pesto ciabatta sandwich, which was perfect since it was lunchtime.
What I got: a sandwich
Value: $7.95 + tax = $ 8.98
How you can get it: You can get a free Starbucks birthday drink, food items or bottled beverage. You need to be a Starbucks Rewards member at least seven days before your birthday. On your birthday, you’ll receive the reward in the Starbucks app. You also need to make a qualifying purchase before your birthday.
Stop #11: Freshii
At my final stop, I ordered the Oaxaca bowl through the app and picked it up in store. I felt like I ended on a high note since this was the second-highest-value item I received. Plus, I felt better knowing that I was eating something healthy for the day!
What I got: a Freshii bowl
Value: $13.49 + tax = $15.24
How you can get it: Download the Freshii app. Then sign up for the ViiP loyalty program. The reward is usually a free bowl that you can customize with your preferred toppings.
Total value of freebies I collected
Here’s a breakdown of how much the goodies I collected were worth on my birthday:
After completing my birthday reward journey, I collected over $100 worth of free goodies. The highest value items were from Denny’s ($14.59) and Freshii ($13.49). The lowest value item was the cookie from Subway ($1.35).
How you can get free stuff on your birthday in Toronto
If you want to collect freebies on your birthday, here’s how you can do it:
- Sign up early for the rewards program (ideally 2 to 4 weeks before your birthday).
- Add your birthday to each app. Half the retail stores provided the rewards several days in advance. While others didn’t send me the offers until the day of my birthday.
- Check the redemption period. Some apps give you only the actual day, whereas others let you redeem within 7 days or within your birthday month.
- Map out a route so you optimize your time. Find the locations and store hours, then figure out the most efficient route to visit all these places in one day. Start early to avoid crowds., Some stores, like coffee shops, open in the morning.
- If you’re redeeming an item online, you may have to spend a certain amount to get free shipping.
- Bring photo ID and have the apps ready on your phone to redeem your rewards.
Lessons I learned from this ultimate birthday freebie experience
Don’t assume that all birthday rewards have no strings attached. You may need to make a purchase to qualify for the birthday freebie.
Personally, I focused mainly on food and beverage items, with stores located across Canada. But it’s a matter of personal preference and depends on what’s available to you in your area. If you’re collecting many items, it’s handy to bring a backpack and plastic containers in case you have leftovers, as I did! This way, I was able to save the items I wanted to enjoy at home.
Remember, you need to figure out which freebies are most important to you, given the time and effort involved. You’re also giving away your contact information in exchange for marketing promotions. However, you can always unsubscribe from the emails after your birthday.
Don’t forget to bring a friend so you can enjoy the treats together! Otherwise, you’ll get full very fast. By the end of the day, I scored multiple meals, sipped on drinks all day, and enjoyed decadent desserts! It just took time to prepare ahead of time, but I didn’t have to spend much money at all to get the free birthday rewards.
