Growing up, I thought my birthday was cursed. Something always seemed to go wrong.

One year I had a bowling party. The bowling alley gave me a bowling pin, which I promptly dropped on my toe. Another year I had a skating party. Being rather shy, I was mortified when the skating rink (and my parents) made me skate out alone. The disc jockey mispronounced my name, and I fell trying to skate back in.

It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized birthdays are awesome. You mostly get your way. Sometimes there are gifts. Even better, loads of retailers and restaurants give you free stuff, especially if you sign up to get emails from them.

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In fact, I spend most of my birthday running around town collecting freebies – far from a curse.

If you have a birthday coming up, check out our list of free food, desserts, drinks, clothing, makeup and entertainment. It’s enough to keep you busy all day.

Food & Drinks

• Denny’s Rewards members get a free Grand Slam breakfast.
• People who join IHOP’s Pancake Revolution get a free meal.
• Red Robin eClub members get a free burger.
• Join the Warehouse Club and get a free meal at Spaghetti Warehouse.
• Get a free birthday burrito for joining the mailing list at Baja Fresh.
• Hooters eClub members get 10 free wings.
• Join the Steak ‘n Shake eClub and get a free double cheeseburger and fries.
• At Tony Roma’s, Roma Rib Expert Club members get a free entrée up to $15.99.
• Starbucks Rewards members get a free drink.
• Baskin-Robbins Birthday Club members get a free scoop.
• Dairy Queen Blizzard Fan Club members receive a free Blizzard.
• A&W Mug Club members get a free float.
• Those who sign up for Applebee’s Email Club get a birthday special.
• Del Taco offers a free premium shake to members of its Raving Fan Eclub.

Retail

• Aveda members get a free gift.
• Ace Rewards members get a birthday gift from Ace Hardware.
• Designer Shoe Warehouse Rewards members get a $5 gift certificate.
• CVS ExtraCare Beauty Club members get $3 in ExtraBucks rewards.
• Sephora Beauty Insider members get a free gift.
• Get a free brow service (including waxing and shaping) at the Benefit Brow Bar.
• Kmart Birthday Club members get $5 off on their child’s birthday.

Entertainment

• Dave and Buster’s Rewards members get $5 in free game play.
• Join the Medieval Times Birthday Fellowship and admission is free on your birthday.
• IPic Theaters members get a free movie ticket.
• Show your ID to get a free movie or game rental at Family Video.

This post originally appeared on Money Talks News.

More from Money Talks News:

•  9 Best Ways to Get Free Stuff
• The 10 Golden Rules of Saving on Everything
• 23 Tips to Save on Clothing

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