How to Score $500+ with Fabulous Birthday Deals!
This year, I set off to find the best birthday deals and freebies retail companies had to offer—kind of like my own little birthday scavenger hunt. I scoured multiple articles, company rewards program FAQs, and the primary place where all experts and professionals reside—Reddit.
After countless hours of research and signing up for rewards programs, I was finally ready to complete my mission- get the best birthday deals without breaking the bank. I separated my experience into three shopping categories: clothing, beauty, and other retailers (stores that didn’t quite fit into the other two categories). Out of all of the deals I took advantage of, these were the top three retailers in each shopping category:
Clothing birthday deals: Madewell
Beauty birthday deals: Sephora
Other retailer's birthday deals: Yankee Candle
My mission to find the best shopping birthday deals was a success- and a lot of fun. However, there were ways I could have spent even less if I had wanted. So, let’s break down the deals I got, plus tips for how you can do even better for your birthday!
Planning My Birthday Deals Scavenger Hunt
Before I break down every company I got rewards from, I want to explain a few helpful details about my experiences:
First, nearly all these rewards and freebies were available to me as a first-time customer. I was not previously a rewards program member and had never shopped at most of these companies. So, even if you have never shopped at these companies, you can take advantage of these deals!
Secondly, all of these rewards programs are free to sign up for. While I understand some companies also have paid rewards programs or credit cards, I do not support these programs and only sign up for free rewards.
I only chose rewards programs that send dollar amounts off (for example, $5 off). I did not choose any that gave percentages off of total purchases (for example, 20% off your entire purchase).
For all of these rewards, you usually have to spend more than the amount to take advantage of the coupon- for example, if a company gives you a $5 reward, you have to spend over $5 to use it.
Lastly, my original goal was to spend no more than $30. However, I ended up buying a pair of running shoes at DSW. I also didn't get as good of a deal as I thought I would get at another company- which I’ll explain later.
Best Clothing Birthday Deals and Freebies
Best Birthday Deal on Clothing: Madewell
Out of all the birthday research I did, Madewell's birthday reward sounded way too good to be true. Madewell is a company I didn't have prior experience with because they look too expensive. But Madewell gives you $25 off $26 or more for your birthday month.
This reward works on regularly priced merchandise and sale/clearance. I received the reward on the first of the month and shopped online because shipping is always free for Madewell reward members.
What I got:
A black blouse originally retailed at $88
A blue blouse originally retailed at $82
A pair of gold-plated button earrings originally retailed at $42
Both blouses were 75+% off with a sales price of $19.99. The earrings were on sale for $9.99. I got an extra discount on these prices because of their Labor Day Sale (and still used the birthday reward on top of that- talk about a bargain!) After using the $25 off $26 or more birthday reward, my total was only $5.04 shipped directly to my door.
Join Madewell Insider’s rewards!
J. Crew
Crew is another company I have shied away from because it looked too expensive. But, I got a pair of jeans from J. Crew on my birthday for only $4.00- and they are some of the comfiest jeans I have ever owned.
J. Crew gives you a $10 birthday reward. The reward arrives in your email on the first day of your birthday month. It works on clearance, sale, and full-price merchandise. Like Madewell, they had a deal on clearance for Labor Day Weekend.
What I got:
A pair of jeans originally retailed at $34.99
With the discounts and rewards, my total was $4.00 shipped straight to my front door. Standard shipping is completely free for J. Crew Passport members (which is their rewards program).
Join J. Crew Passport Rewards!
Victoria’s Secret
Victoria's Secret gives their standard reward members $10off for their birthday deal.
Like the previous two companies, this coupon arrived on the very first day of my birth month. Unlike the other two, this reward does not work on clearance products. You have to use the coupon on regularly priced items, and you cannot combine it with other offers.
What I got:
One pair of underwear retailed at $10.50
I only spent $0.50 here, which felt like a huge success. Just two quarters.
I opted to shop in-store since shipping is not free for Victoria's Secret rewards members unless you spend $50 or more.
Join Victoria’s Secret/PINK rewards!
Aerie
Aerie gives you a $5 birthday reward.
I received this reward a week before my birthday. It was usable for a month anytime after that day at either American Eagle or Aerie. I used the coupon in-store at Aerie. The goal was to shop their clearance, but I could not find any clearance in the store- so I don’t know whether the reward is usable on clearance-priced items.
What I got:
One pair of underwear retailed at $8.95.
My total was $3.95.
DSW
DSW gives you $5 off for your birthday month. The coupon arrives on the first of the month and is usable on clearance but not combinable with other deals (i.e., $15 off of $50 type coupons).
What I got:
New Balance Sport Sneakers retailed at $70
The sneakers were on sale for $38.99. With the extra $5 off, my total was $33.99.
I intended to buy something cheaper, like socks or lip balm. However, I wandered back toward the clearance shoes and found some running shoes.
So, you could easily choose to spend a lot less here! I just didn’t.
Beauty Retailer Birthday Deals and Freebies
Best Birthday Deal on Beauty: Sephora
I never ventured inside Sephora until now, but they have a well-known birthday reward I didn’t want to miss. Sephora’s birthday deal is a free miniature beauty set of your choice! Options range from perfume sets to haircare, skincare, or makeup. The choices change every year.
If you shop online, you have to spend $25 to get the item for free- so it’s best to shop in-store.
What I got:
I chose the Moroccanoil Ultimate Hydration birthday set, which included:
1.35 fl oz Hydrating Shampoo (roughly a $7 value)
1.35 fl oz Hydrating Conditioner (roughly a $7 value)
0.5 fl oz Moroccan oil treatment (roughly a $12 value)
0.1 fl oz Scented hand cream packet (around a $6 value)
After comparing the cost of slightly larger versions of the product for sale at Sephora, the total value of this item is around $32. You’ll have to go to the counter in-store to ask for these birthday items, but it was completely free.
Join Sephora’s Beauty Insider loyalty program!
Ulta
Ulta gives you a coupon for a free item out of a list of around five beauty travel-sized items.
However, despite being a member of Ulta’s rewards program, I never received the coupon in prior years. So, this year, I set out to change that.
If your free birthday deal is not showing up on your account, you can contact support- which is what I had to do. A specialist will generously check your account for your birthday details and send you a reward code to use online or in-store. Shipping won’t be free, so I recommend scoring this item in-store. You’ll want to go as early in the month as possible because they tend to run out of freebies.
But the birthday party with Ulta didn’t stop there.
Closer to my birthday, I browsed the website again out of curiosity. I found an additional $10 birthday reward had randomly appeared.
I don't know the exact details of how to earn this $10 reward. It could be automatic, or I may have gotten it because I had already purchased something else that month (I bought a $5 three-wick candle I found while perusing clearance when I went in for my free item). But it’s worth checking your account closer to your birthday or in the middle of your birthday month! Either way, you can get your free item and 2x points at Ulta for your birthday!
What I got:
The free item: Tarte Maneater Mascara valued at $15
Two sets of Dashing Diva nails, one set cost $8.99, the other was $9.99
My total spent between these items was only $8.98.
Bath and Body Works
I have been shopping at Bath and Body Works since I was 8 but never signed up for rewards. Bath and Body Works' birthday deal is a free item of your choice (up to a $9.95 value)- but you have to buy something else.
What I got:
Hand sanitizer, costing $1.95.
Free item: a travel-sized shea butter body lotion for $8.95.
I opted to buy the cheapest item in the store: a $1.95 hand sanitizer. Then, I set off to pick out my free travel-sized birthday item and chose the shea butter body lotion.
When will the coupon show up? The coupon did not arrive for me until the exact day of my birthday. Since most of my birthday rewards showed up on the first day of the month, I was concerned I wouldn't receive this freebie.
While checking out, the sales associate informed me that customers said the birthday coupons arrive at random dates sometimes, so be on the lookout for your coupon throughout the month. I would guess it should arrive on your birthday, but if it doesn’t, don’t be afraid to reach out to Bath and Body Works to ask!
Join Bath and Body Works Rewards!
Other Retailers' Birthday Deals and Freebies
Best Birthday Deal at Other Retailers: Yankee Candle
I was very excited when I found out about the Yankee Candle birthday freebie. For your birthday, Yankee Candle gives you a coupon for a free candle! The coupon arrived the day before my birthday and was usable for thirty days after.
What I got:
A small tumbler candle (4.3 oz) regularly retailed at $13.
The size of candle you can get for free depends on your rewards system tier- whether you’re a Fragrance Fan or Fragrance Lover. As a new rewards member, I was a Fragrance Fan (a customer with 0-999 rewards points). Fragrance Fan rewards members can get a free small tumbler candle of any available scent for their birthday.
Hot Topic
Hot Topic gives a $5 reward for birthdays! The reward is usable on clearance items or regularly priced merchandise.The only limitation is that you have to spend more than $5 to use the birthday deal.
What I got:
A Strawberry Shortcake Pop! Figurine regularly retailed at $12.90.
My total was $8.42 with tax.
So, my goal at Hot Topic was to only spend, at most, $2 over the $5 reward if I could help it. But then I saw a Strawberry Shortcake Pop! Figurine, and well… I collect red-haired Pop! Figurines and she was my favorite childhood cartoon. So, this store wasn’t as cheap as I hoped for my mission, but I walked away happy, and sometimes that’s what matters!
BoxLunch
Hot Topic owns BoxLunch, but they are different stores with different products (albeit slightly similar at times).
Similarly to Hot Topic, BoxLunch sends a $5 birthday reward. The reward is redeemable on clearance products and regularly priced merchandise.
What I got:
A Winnie the Pooh Eeyore enamel pin regularly retailed at $9.90 (on sale for $5.94)
A Loungefly Disney Candy Boxes Blind Box enamel pin regularly $9.99 (on sale for $4.99)
What I spent after using the birthday deal: $5.93
I could have gotten just the Eeyore pin and only spent $0.94 (plus tax). However, I wanted the other pin more than the Eeyore one, and I had to buy something else to get that pin since it was less than $5. These are helpful things to consider if you're looking to get the most while spending the least for your birthday shopping scavenger hunt.
Claire’s
Claire's sends you a $5 coupon for your birthday if you sign up for their rewards.They also give you a $5 reward for signing up for their rewards program. In total, that's $10 of rewards.
Or so I thought.
Let's break down what I got and spent, and then I’ll fill you in on my mistakes- and how you can do better than I did.
What I got:
A set of golden leaf hair pins, regularly $9.99
A claw clip, regularly $12.99
A ribbon scrunchie, regularly $9.99
A set of 2 claw clips, regularly $12.99
Another claw clip, regularly $9.99
A birthstone necklace on sale for $1.49
My total was $33.02 (including tax).
I wanted the birthstone necklace, but it was less than $5, and I had to spend at least over $5 to use one of my coupons. So, I picked out a full-priced claw clip.
When I went to the register, the cashier (a little aggressively) told me that all hair and jewelry items were "buy three, get three." She strongly encouraged me to keep looking and informed me I could use my rewards and shop clearance with the deal. It seemed like a great deal!
My first mistake was that I should have stuck with my original purchase or grabbed more clearance.
My second mistake was not knowing that my birthday coupon wasn’t available on their system. I was confused when the cashier told me I only had $5 in rewards. I probably should have mentioned it was my birthday and that I also had a birthday reward while checking out, but I didn't because I felt intimidated.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. The total cost and value of these items was around $533.55. I paid less than a fifth of that (my total was $105.91). Considering that I got a pair of running shoes, two nice blouses, jeans, beauty items, accessories, a candle, and more - it wasn’t too shabby birthday deal-wise. But I hope that with all this information at your fingertips, you can do even better than I did this year!
If you choose to get any of these rewards and make a birthday shopping scavenger hunt of your own, I would love to know what you score!
Check out my top 10 tips for planning the best birthday freebie shopping day to make sure you’re ready!
If you're interested in more great birthday deals, check out my article on the best ACTUALLY free birthday food freebies!
