Last year, I got all contemplative over turning 25 years old, exploring some of the common issues associated with a quarter life crisis. Now that I’m another 365 days older, I’m not completely sure if those issues have been resolved, but I’m certainly getting more comfortable with my lot in life and I’m happier than ever that I can run my own freelance writing business and make a decent livable income from it.
Yup, today is my birthday and I’m turning the ripe old age of 26. It’s one of the stranger times in your life where everyone who is older than you sees you as “just a kid”, but teenagers and kids see you as a grumpy old “grown up”. Then again, some people never really grow up. I also learned the other day that my birthday is only a couple days after that of Zac Johnson. Happy belated birthday, Zac!
The best way to celebrate a birthday is with good food, good booze, and good company. You’ll have to provide the latter two items yourself (though the good company will probably supply the good booze too), but I can help you out with the first one. Well, it’s arguable whether it’s good food, but at least it’ll be free. Get ready to gorge yourself.
Free Breakfast
First, you’ll want to get your free breakfast at Denny’s Restaurants. All you have to do is show up with valid identification and they’ll supply you with a meal on the house. The catch is that you have to come with someone else (who orders a meal of their own) and both of you have to get a beverage of some kind (like coffee). Alternatively, you can scarf down on two meals and two drinks yourself, but that’s pretty gross. A Grand Slam breakfast with pancakes, bacon, and sunny side eggs really hits the spot.
Free Lunch
After letting that breakfast digest, you can go to Red Robin to get a free gourmet burger and fries. This requires pre-registration with their online eClub, but the process takes all of 30 seconds and you’ll get an email voucher every year for your free burger. Although you won’t find a $60 foie gras burger, you will be able to find ones with bacon, cheese, mushrooms, guacamole, fried onions, guacamole, and other interesting toppings. Better still, there is no obligation to get a drink or to force your companion to buy a meal of their own. The burger is straight-up free.
Free Dinner
Before you party hard for the rest of the night, Boston Pizza could be the place to go. Again, if you sign up online with their (free) birthday club, you will be sent a coupon that treats you to either a free gourmet pasta or a free dessert. If you don’t sign up beforehand and just show up, they’ll still give you a free cake on your birthday. Personally, I’d rather get some baked lasagna or jambalaya fettuccine than a slice of chocolate cake.
I also hear that you can get a free Blizzard from Dairy Queen if you join their online birthday club, so you can just head there afterwards. Also, the free vouchers from Boston Pizza and Red Robin last for about a week, so you don’t have to go on your actual birthday. If you’re feeling a little evil, it probably isn’t hard to redeem multiple certificates at multiple locations too.
Do you have any favorite birthday freebies that you’d like to share with the Beyond the Rhetoric community? Let us know through the comment form below!
Happy Birthday!
Some Denny’s will only give you a free meal if you’re a child. I tried this morning.
Happy Birthday Michael! Hope you had a good one in Edmonton. Did you get a snow cone birthday cake? 😉
Hi Michael!
Happy Birthday! Yeah, you’re still a kid 😉 Thanks for sharing all the great spots to get a free meal!
WORD….:D Happy Birthday Michael and glad you celebrated it with free food 🙂
-Mike
Happy birthday Michael!
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday Michael!
And thanks for the suggestions on free food 😀
Happy Birthday! No jinxing your chances of getting to your next one by riding something with two wheels 😉
Happy Birthday!
This is what happens when I don’t login for a while. Happy 26th from someone who will turning that same age in just over a month.
I already said my birthday wishes in the mail..although I will say it again..happy belated…..I am laughing so much right now with your story of free breakfast, lunch and dinner on your birthday…nice!!!!!
Thanks for all the birthday wishes! 🙂
Gary: No snow cone. No cake. Just booze. 🙂
Maria: I knew it! I’m still a young’n.
Stephen: Two wheels = bad.
Jason: I always thought you were older than me! I guess I was wrong.
I get that a lot. I don’t know why. It worries me though, lol.
Don’t worry about it too much. I always get the opposite.
Hey, happy belated birthday.
I never knew there was so much free food available on a birthday! I find it amusing how you have to sign up to get emails from so many places in order to get the free food…almost like having to sign up for an email newsletter in order to download a free ebook!
Happy belated birthday dude!
Belated b’day greetings, Mike.
I might have to try these tips next year. Free food is the best kind!
I’ve recently started a blog, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Michael,
Well….I was looking for some free food birthday sites for a friend of mine, and I found yours !
Thank you very much! Guess what..
We share the exact same birthday ! I was born on October 26, 1958. I too love writing and would love to earn a living from it. Thank you so much, and I hope all goes well with you !
Nick M.