A savvy Brit has revealed how she turns her birthday into a free food bonanza every year – bagging more than £30 worth of treats from major high street chains without splashing the cash.
From burgers and doughnuts to pastries, cake and chocolate, Antoinette Flocel Ramirez says her annual birthday freebie hunt has become a full-on tradition.
The 29-year-old communications executive, from Manchester, spends weeks preparing for the big day by downloading apps, signing up to loyalty schemes and tracking which brands hand out birthday perks.
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And this year’s haul was one of her biggest yet.
Among the freebies she snapped up were a free Whopper from Burger King, a glazed doughnut from Krispy Kreme, a Jammy biscuit from Greggs and a small Chinese meal box from Chopstix.
She also grabbed a tub of chocolate bites from Marks & Spencer, a tiramisu from Caffè Nero, a box of cookies and slice of cake from Morrisons, plus salted caramel puddles from Hotel Chocolat.
Even Gail’s Bakery made the list, with Antoinette picking up an almond croissant alongside another purchase.
Altogether, she estimated the birthday haul was worth more than £30, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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Antoinette said: “I’m quite frugal, so I’m always on the hunt for deals and little life hacks – and birthday freebies have become one of my favourite annual traditions.
“I actually find it really fun researching all the offers, planning ahead, and seeing how many I can collect on the day.”
She explained that many people miss out simply because they leave it too late to sign up.
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She said: “A lot of people don’t realise that many of these deals require you to download the apps and sign up at least a week before your birthday, so there’s definitely some strategy involved.”
Antoinette now keeps a running list of offers every year to make sure she never misses a birthday bargain.
And the tradition has spread beyond her own celebrations.
She said: “It’s become a bit of a birthday tradition now, and we even do the same thing for my boyfriend’s birthday too.”
While the freebies help save money, Antoinette says the excitement goes far beyond the cost.
She said: “I calculated it and the total value is over £30, but for me it’s not really about the money.
“It’s more the thrill of seeing what I can get and making a fun day out of it.”
With household budgets still under pressure, Antoinette believes more Brits are embracing clever money-saving tricks and affordable little luxuries.
Antoinette added: “I think people love this kind of content because everyone enjoys finding ways to treat themselves without spending loads, especially with the cost of living being so high.
“It proves you can still have a fun birthday and enjoy little luxuries on a budget.”
Antoinette’s birthday freebies:
- A small Chinese meal box from Chopstix
- A Jammy biscuit from Greggs
- A glazed doughnut from Krispy Kreme
- A Whopper from Burger King
- A box of cookies from Morrisons
- A slice of cake from Morrisons
- A tub of chocolate bites from Marks & Spencer
- A tiramisu from Caffè Nero
- Salted caramel puddles from Hotel Chocolat with £5 off a minimum £5.50 spend
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