EAT & Drink > Birthdays
Best Birthday Deals from Rewards Programs for 2025
Let’s celebrate our birthday with a little help from the companies we love! Many businesses offer enticing birthday rewards to loyal customers, from exclusive discounts and freebies to personalized offers.
To take advantage of these special treats, it’s necessary to sign up for the company’s rewards programs in advance. Yes, you have to tell some personal details and sign up for marketing emails, but these birthday gifts can translate into real savings and unique experiences.
Other lists are more inclusive, but lots of the programs they list aren’t interesting to me or available to me here in the South or in Florida. Like, the Red Robbin in the next town closed down a few years ago, and I’m not about to drive a few hours to get a free whatever from there.
In this article, we’ll explore some of my favorite birthday rewards I received in 2025. helping you maximize these special offers and enjoy a truly memorable birthday.
Publix Supermarkets
One of the best perks of the Club Publix loyalty program has to be the free bar cake or ice cream given out for your birthday (and the 50% discount on bar cakes for your half birthday). It used to be that you could only choose from the classic bars — carrot cake, confetti cake, and red velvet — but now you can even get one of the limited edition bar cakes. Yea!
Sign up for Club Publix ahead of your birthday and you’ll also get $5 off your next purchase of $20 or more. And then, a year later, you’ll get an anniversary gift! This year’s gift is a bouquet of Salsa flowers. I signed up around the time of my birthday, so every year I get two gifts. Whoo hoo!
THE GIFT: Free bar cake or ice cream
Chic-Fil-A
From Chic-Fil-A: Chick-fil-A One® Members will receive their choice of Chocolate Chunk Cookie or Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Chick-fil-A One Silver Members will receive a dessert variety reward, which allows members to redeem a reward from their choice of a Chocolate Chunk Cookie, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Small Milkshake, Small Frosted Lemonade, Small Frosted Coffee, Small Icedream® Cone or Small Icedream® Cup. Chick-fil-A One Red Members will receive their choice of either a grilled or regular sandwich or 8- and 12-count nuggets. Chick-fil-A One Signature Members will receive their choice of entrée. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate substitutions for this reward.
THE GIFT: Cookie, brownie, or more — depending on membership level
Firehouse Subs
We hear that you just need to show up with an ID.
THE GIFT: something…
Hard ROck Resorts / Cafe / Unity
A company called Unity manages the loyalty points program for Hard Rock properties, and if you have ever been to the resort or casino and set up an account, get ready for an annual reminder that you’re another year older.
THE GIFT: $15 off almost any of the Hard Rock Cafe locations worldwide.
IHOP House of Pancakes
One of the best perks of the Club Publix loyalty program has to be the free bar cake or ice cream given out for your birthday (and the 50% discount on bar cakes for your half birthday). It used to be that you could only choose from the classic bars — carrot cake, confetti cake, and red velvet — but now you can even get one of the limited edition bar cakes. Yea!
Sign up for Club Publix ahead of your birthday and you’ll also get $5 off your next purchase of $20 or more. And then, a year later, you’ll get an anniversary gift! This year’s gift is a bouquet of Salsa flowers. I signed up around the time of my birthday, so every year I get two gifts. Whoo hoo!
THE GIFT: Free bar cake or ice cream
Jersey Mike’s Subs
One of the best perks of the Club Publix loyalty program has to be the free bar cake or ice cream given out for your birthday (and the 50% discount on bar cakes for your half birthday). It used to be that you could only choose from the classic bars — carrot cake, confetti cake, and red velvet — but now you can even get one of the limited edition bar cakes. Yea!
Sign up for Club Publix ahead of your birthday and you’ll also get $5 off your next purchase of $20 or more. And then, a year later, you’ll get an anniversary gift! This year’s gift is a bouquet of Salsa flowers. I signed up around the time of my birthday, so every year I get two gifts. Whoo hoo!
THE GIFT: Free birthday sub with purchase of regular sub
Krispy Kreme
More info to come.
THE GIFT: Donuts
Olive Garden
The place Americans go for Italian food gives away a dessert to Birthday Boys and Girls.
THE GIFT: Free dessert
Sephora
Sephora offers its Beauty Insiders a choice of sample-size cosmetics and skincare products. The list of options changes, and right now as of January, Insiders can choose from skinfix, Makeup by Mario, amika, Kerastase and others. You’ll pay shipping if you request your gift online, but it’s free if you go to a Sephora retail location.
THE GIFT: A sample-sized product
sONIC
Home of the shakes and tots served by ladies in rollerskates, Sonic offers a birthday gift to members of its VIP program. The coupon comes in your email a few days before your big day, and the offer is only valid for 30 days.
THE GIFT: Free small shake with purchase
Ulta Beauty
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THE GIFT: 2x points on purchases, choice of free gift, and extra $10 for Diamond and Platinum members
United AIrlines
I’ve been flying with United for over 30 years, and back when I lived in Asia and ‘commuted’ in the area and in the US, I racked up a lot of points. The mile point program isn’t as giving as it used to be, but it’s nice to get a gift from United now that I’m not flying as much.
THE GIFT: United is gifting me with a free Economy Plus seat upgrade
Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to check out my latest video on YouTube!
Jenny Claire is an award-winning educational materials writer, travel journalist, and food critic, formerly based in New York City and Taiwan. She calls a cute cabin in the woods of rural North Central Florida home, but lately she’s been spending most of her time cruising and traveling. She also was a secret travel critic and writer — but her lips are sealed on those details!
Living the Sunshine Life