How to get a lot of free (and reduced-price) stuff on your Birthday

Today I celebrated my 34th Birthday with a free caramel soy latte for breakfast and free sandwich for lunch, and no one had to open their wallet. These were all perks I received because I signed up for email updates from Caribou Coffee and Planet Sub.

If you have an email address, a printer, and the ability to leave the house, you too can enjoy free stuff and discounts on your birthday. All you have to do is put up with a bit of clutter in your in-box. (Planet Sub, by the way, doesn't send me email except on my Birthday.)

This year was an all-time record for freebies and discounts on my Birthday. Here's what I got:

A free Birthday Burger of my choice at Red Robin.
A free drink of my choice at Caribou Coffee.
A free six-inch sub of my choice at Planet Sub.
25% off one item at Borders Books and Music. (I also have a $5 Borders Bucks coupon to use with it.)
$10 off a pair of shoes at DSW. (I combined this with a $5 coupon I already had, getting my wedding shoes for 35 bucks!)

Doing a little research in the bloggersphere, there are websites and blogs devoted to finding where you can sign up for free stuff on your birthday. Here's a top ten list on about.com. This website is dedicated to Free Birthday Treats. This writer for the Star-Tribune has discovered the joy of free Birthday stuff, too.

See? Now your friends don't have to shell out any bucks for your Birthday dinner. Hell, you don't even NEED friends at all! (This blog does not endorse friendlessness, however).

Whenever your birthday is, have a good one, and a free Blizzard on me.