Living Largely on the Cheap

Congratulations! Its a blog! And it is going to tell you on how to cash in on your mother’s distress. It seems moms get all of the fun, what with their free sundaes at ice-cream shops on mother’s day. Well, if you weren’t bitter about it before, perhaps you are now. But not to worry–mom’s don’t get all of the perks from their nine-month gestation and hours-long delivery. I’ve discovered a treasure trove of ways to cash in on your birthday and get some pleasure out of being born, too.

Rewards programs are not as bad as they seem. Sure the government can track you through their networks and they spam your email with enticing coups for stuff you can’t afford, but every once in a while, at a certain time of year, they are super beneficial. I’ll give a couple of examples to peak your interest:

1. Applebees through Wendy’s, here is a list of restaurants that will give you food on your birthday if you sign up with their rewards program. Boo-ya! I’m sure you could feed the entire homeless population in your hometown if you move between the restaurants quick enough. Free philanthropy! (Found at www.mrcheapstuff.com, I’ll do a review in some upcoming blog!)

2. Local golf places often waive fees on a person’s birthday or the week surrounding it. Since I don’t know where you like to golf, I can’t help you out with any specifics, but here is an example of what your looking for.

3. Disney World and Disneyland in 2009! ‘Nuff said. Hope it didn’t pass you by this year. But a word of warning, you have sign up online here before you go. Don’t just try to show up with your driver’s license, or else they’ll have Mickey kick you out. And the kids don’t want to see that.

4. Hollywood Video lets you rent a movie gratis on your b-day. I’d recommend “Sixteen Candles”.

Alright! Sounds like a full day! If you need any more help in finding some free stuff on your birthday, you can always go to www.birthdayfreebies.com (although you have to sign up with them first) or here is a great article about tips and tricks when using your coups and rewards programs on your birthday. Good luck, and Happy Birthday!

You look like a monkey and you smell like one, too!

P.S. If you don’t have a birthday because you are and alien or because you were born on a leap year or something, here is a great site that goes over some guy’s venture into mailing companies trying to get free stuff. If it helps you click on the link, he wrote this sentence: “My wife watches so much television, I sometimes forget that she’s not physically and permanently attached to my couch.” Good stuff.