Entertainment
50+ places to get birthday freebies: Treat yourself to all the free stuff on your special day
It’s your birthday? Happy birthday! And in the wise words of Parks and Rec: Treat yourself. But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean spending money. If you, like me, have spent hours online watching people’s birthday freebie hauls, it’s time to do one yourself.
With birthday freebies, you could plan a day that gets you a free breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So, where does one get all these birthday freebies? We rounded up 50 places to collect all your free birthday rewards.
And if you think these are too good to be true, your inclination might be to run. Most retailers and restaurants require you to sign up for their rewards programs to earn your birthday freebies, and some require a minimum annual spend. But with a little planning, you can guarantee yourself a birthday full of free stuff.
Applebee’s: Members of Club Applebee’s enjoy a free dessert on their birthday. Not to mention, you get a free appetizer when you sign up for the club.
Auntie Anne’s: On your birthday, Auntie Anne’s Rewards members enjoy a free pretzel. Keep in mind, you must make at least one purchase annually to qualify.
AMC: AMC Stubs Insiders enjoy a free large popcorn during their birthday month. But for Premiere and A-List members, enjoy a free large popcorn and a large fountain drink during your birthday month.
Baskin-Robbins: Baskin-Robbins Rewards members enjoy a free scoop on their birthday after their first qualified purchase.
Benihana: For members of Benihana’s Friends with Benefits rewards program (which also includes STK Steakhouse, Kona Grill, RA Sushi, Samurai, or Salt Water Social restaurants), enjoy a $50 birthday reward to use toward a birthday meal.
Buca Di Beppo: Join Buca Di Beppo’s eClub and get a free Colossal Brownie Sundae on your birthday.
Burger King: With Burger King’s Royal Perks program, enjoy double rewards during your birthday month and a free item on your birthday. You’ll earn 20 points (or “Crowns” as BK calls them) for every $1 spent, which can be redeemed for even more free stuff.
Buffalo Wild Wings: As a member of Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin’ Rewards, enjoy a free six-piece wing on your birthday.
Cava: For fans of Mediterranean cuisine, join Cava Rewards and get a freebie on your birthday. Members enjoy their choice of a free drink, pita chips, or dessert.
Cheesecake Factory: Join Cheesecake Rewards, and on your birthday, get a free slice of cheesecake or a layered cake.
Chili’s: Sign up for My Chili’s Rewards and enjoy a free molten lava cake on your birthday.
Chipotle: We see free chips and guac in your future. At Chipotle, join the restaurant’s reward program and enjoy a free birthday reward.
Cinnabon: Cinnabon Rewards members enjoy a free 16-ounce cold brew on their birthday.
Cold Stone Creamery: For Cold Stone Creamery Rewards members, receive a birthday coupon. The reward will be sent seven days before your birthday and is redeemable until seven days after your birthday.
Crumbl Cookies: At Crumbl Cookies, Silver Tier and above rewards members enjoy a free single cookie voucher on their birthday.
Dairy Queen: Members of the DQ Rewards get a coupon for a free treat on their birthday, but you must spend at least $1 in the 45 days prior to your birthday, so plan ahead.
Denny’s: Your birthday breakfast is covered at Denny’s. Members of Denny’s Rewards enjoy a free Value Slam on their birthday.
Domino’s: At Domino’s, loyal customers of Domino’s Rewards enjoy a free birthday gift. The gifts vary and may include a free medium pizza, free lava cakes, or a discount.
Dunkin’ Donuts: While Dunkin’ doesn’t give out free drinks or donuts on your birthday, they will give you extra points. Dunkin’ Rewards members get 3x points on their birthday, which you can redeem later for free food and drinks.
Edible Arrangements: If you love sending Edible Arrangements, then you’ll be gifted back on your birthday. Members of its rewards program receive a free box of dipped fruit on their birthday.
IHOP: For pancake lovers, sign up for IHOP’s International Bank of Pancakes rewards and collect points to receive a free full stack of pancakes on your birthday.
Jamba Juice: A sweet but nutritious birthday treat could come from Jamba Juice, as Jamba Rewards members receive a free birthday smoothie.
Jersey Mike’s: How about your birthday served Mike’s Way? Join Jersey Mike’s email club and get a free birthday sub — as long as you’ve purchased a regular sub within the past year.
Jimmy John’s: Join the Jimmy John’s rewards program and enjoy a free sub on your birthday.
Krispy Kreme: Donut lovers need to be in Krispy Kreme’s rewards program, which gets you a free birthday donut.
LongHorn Steakhouse: On your birthday, you deserve a steak dinner, and LongHorn thinks so, too. When you join LongHorn’s eClub, you get a free dessert or special coupon on your birthday.
McDonald’s: Receive a free medium fry at McDonald’s on your birthday by downloading the McDonald’s app and joining My McDonald’s Rewards.
Olive Garden: When you sign up for Olive Garden’s email list, you’ll get a coupon for free dessert on your birthday. Unlimited breadsticks, salad, and free chocolate lasagna certainly sound like the perfect birthday meal.
Panera Bread: Members of MyPanera rewards get a free treat on their birthday: a muffin, cookie, pastry, or bagel.
Papa John’s: For a sweet birthday treat, join Papa Rewards. You’ll be treated to a free dessert on your birthday.
P.F. Chang’s: At P.F. Chang’s, get a free appetizer or dessert as a member of the restaurant’s rewards program. That means your birthday lettuce wraps could be totally free.
Pinkberry: Froyo is making a comeback. Pinkcard members get a free small yogurt with toppings on their birthday.
Pizza Hut: Sign up for Pizza Hut’s reward program and get a reward of breadsticks or cinnamon sticks on your birthday. Just make sure your birthday is added to your profile.
Red Lobster: Go for the cheddar bay biscuits and stay for the free birthday reward. Joining Red Lobster’s rewards gets you a free birthday dessert.
Red Robin: A burger could be on the house when you go to Red Robin on your birthday. To qualify, sign up for Red Robin Royalty and spend $10 prior to your birthday.
Ruby Tuesday: Enjoy a free burger or Garden Bar entree at Ruby Tuesday on your birthday when you sign up for Ruby Rewards. Just sign up in the app or online.
Sbarro: Pizza lovers get a free XL NY Slice at Sbarro on their birthday. To get the reward, you must have a Sbarro rewards account and have the Sbarro app downloaded.
7-Eleven: You don’t have to wait for free slushie day on 7/11. With 7Rewards, get a free small slushie on your birthday, too.
Shake Shack: For a sweet birthday treat, add your birthday to your Shake Shack account and receive a free milkshake on the big day.
Starbucks: As a member of Starbucks rewards, get a free drink or snack on your birthday.
Subway: As a card-carrying member of the Sub Club, you’ll enjoy a free cookie on your birthday, yum!
Taco Bell: Join Taco Bell’s rewards program and climb the tiers throughout the year to get a free birthday surprise. Earn 250 points and get to the restaurant’s Hot Tier, and the birthday reward will be all yours.
TGI Fridays: At TGI Fridays, not only will you get serenaded with a birthday song, but you’ll also enjoy a free birthday dessert. To redeem, you must be a member of Fridays Rewards.
Waffle House: Waffle lovers need to join Waffle House’s Regulars Club. Joining gets you coupons and a sweet birthday treat.
Wingstop: When you sign up for a Wingstop account, receive a free birthday reward to celebrate.
Aerie and American Eagle: For a new birthday ‘fit, join RealRewards by American Eagle and Aerie and receive a $5 birthday reward. Rewards are sent out seven days prior to your birthday.
Bath & Body Works: Start a new year smelling right with Bath & Body Works. Create a rewards account and receive a free birthday surprise.
CVS: If you have a CVS card, your ExtraCare membership will get you a $3 reward on your birthday. Just go to the CVS app to claim.
DSW: Treat yourself to a new pair of shoes. As a member of DSW’s VIP program, you’ll receive a $5 gift certificate to use during your birthday month.
Old Navy: Climb the ranks of Old Navy’s rewards program, and you and a family member could enjoy a reward on your birthday. Core members receive a birthday bonus, while Premier members (who spend $350+ annually) get a birthday bonus to share with a family member. Meanwhile, Old Navy card members get a birthday bonus to share with three family members.
Sephora: Sephora’s birthday gifts are iconic. During your birthday month, Sephora Insiders receive a free gift to redeem in-store or online.
Stanley: For the Stanley Cup enthusiasts, it’s time to sign up for the Stanley Club, which gets you a free birthday gift.
Target: What’s better than a discount on things you already need? Target Circle members get a 5% discount on their birthday.
Ulta: Ulta Rewards members also get some pampering on their bdays. Just sign-up with your email and put in your birthday, and you’ll get a treat when the big day rolls around.
Yankee Candle: For candle lovers, there’s Yankee Candle’s Fragrance Family rewards. When you sign up with your email and input your birthday into your profile, you’ll receive a birthday gift.
Entertainment
How to watch PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final online for free
TL;DR: Live stream PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Champions League final is here. The Premier League champions face off against Ligue 1’s best side in what promises to be an absolutely epic contest.
PSG have been here before. They come into this final as defending champions, but they know they’ll need to be at their absolute best to fend off Mikel Arteta’s determined side. After some moments of doubt in recent weeks, it feels like Arsenal are back in their groove and on course to do something truly special this season.
We’re expecting a fascinating clash of cultures at the Puskás Aréna.
If you want to watch PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is PSG vs. Arsenal?
PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on May 30. This fixture takes place at the Puskás Aréna.
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How to watch PSG vs. Arsenal for free
PSG vs. Arsenal is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.
RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League final for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream PSG vs. Arsenal for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
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Visit RTÉ Player
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Watch PSG vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League final without actually spending anything. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream PSG vs. Arsenal before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
Beats Solo 4 are $88 open box — and the 50-hour battery is no joke
TL;DR: Elevate your commutes and workouts with the Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones, on sale now for $87.97 (reg. $199.99) through May 31.
$87.97
$199.99
Save $112.02
If you don’t just listen to playlists but live in them, the Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones are for you. These re-engineered headphones deliver premium sound with an expansive sound range and an impressive 50-hour battery, so you don’t have to miss a beat.
Right now, you can score a pair of these premium headphones for just $87.97 through May 31.
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Music lovers know that a basic pair of headphones won’t cut it. The Beats Solo 4 deliver audio brilliance, extraordinary clarity, and an expansive sound range thanks to custom-built 40-mm transducers, all worthy of your excellent taste in music.
Personalized Spatial Audio lets you immerse yourself in the tunes, while dynamic head tracking and built-in gyroscopes surround you with sound, giving you the effect of being surrounded by 64 speakers at once, whether you’re in line at the grocery store or on your morning commute.
A built-in Digital-to-Analog Converter also provides high-resolution lossless audio, and if you want more texture, you can connect via a USB-C cable or a 3.5mm audio cable.
Enjoy an impressive 50 hours of battery life and Bluetooth 5.3, which offers extended range and fewer dropouts.
Aside from offering premium sound, the Beats Solo 4 also provide a premium wearing experience that keeps up with that battery life. They’re ultralight, weighing just 217 grams, and the UltraPlush ear cushions and ergonomic design offer unparalleled comfort and fit.
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You’re saving big on these headphones because they’re open-box. That means they were likely excess inventory from store shelves, but have undergone a verification process to ensure they’re still in new condition and are placed in clean packaging.
Score the Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones for $87.97 now through May 31.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 30, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good head on your shoulders.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
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Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Not happening
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Green: Reasonable
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Blue: Keyboard symbols
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Purple: Famous tunes
Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections #1084 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
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“In your dreams”: IMPOSSIBLE, NEVER, NO WAY, SORRY
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Sensible: CLEAR, LUCID, RIGHT, SOUND
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Typographical symbols: BRACE, CARET, PIPE, TILDE
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Song of the Year nominees at the first Grammy Awards: FEVER, GIGI, VOLARE, WITCHCRAFT
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today’s puzzle.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
Shakira Austin, Mystics gain road split against Storm
Shohei Ohtani (6 no-hit innings, homer) carries Dodgers past Rockies
