A savvy student has revealed how to score free full-size items from high street shops as a birthday treat – including luxurious hand wash and boxes of chocolates.
When Courtney Franklin’s birthday rolled around and she received copious emails from her favourite shops offering freebies, she was very pleased with herself.
The 27-year-old “hustler” from Liverpool, instantly checked to see if the offers were too good to be true – but finished celebrating her big day with complimentary and discounted doughnuts, chocolates, and bath goods.
Now, the PhD student is sharing her savvy hack on TikTok to spread the word, where two videos have racked up over 30,000 views and over 900 likes.
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“I think in the current financial climate, things are getting pricey,” Courtney told What’s The Jam.
“A small gift from yourself to yourself can be that little extra positive vibe in your day, especially at your birthday!
“If you have already experienced being a student, you’ll know how savvy we can get with a good bargain.
“There should be no reason to stop as you get older.”
So, how did Courtney get her freebies?
The method is actually ridiculously simple.
Ahead of her birthday, she registered for loyalty schemes and added her birth date.
On the big day, she then went through her email offers one by one, securing treat after treat – either discounted or for free.
From Starbucks, she got a free drink of choice, as well as a freebie pastry and hot drink from Greggs and Costa.
Meanwhile, Albert’s Schloss, a German bar, gives birthday-goers a free round of drinks with any reservation.
And it’s not only food on offer, with Oliver Bonas giving her a £5 voucher.
Other treats included two doughnuts, with an extra free one for her first time using the Krispy Kreme app, and a free full-size hand wash from Rituals with a £10 purchase as a birthday present.
Courtney added: “All of these discounts and freebies were reasonably easy to find information about online -–maybe I’m just the only bargain hunter with too much time on their hands.
“I think there are more of us now looking to stretch our money further, and with that, find some extra treats.”
