Financial Friday- Birthday Freebies

I was trying to think of a good subject for today's financial friday post most of the day, and since today (well, 11 mins ago on the 27th) was my birthday why not post about that! One of my favorite things I discovered about 4 years ago was birthday deals and coupons. Businesses and companies want to give you free stuff on your birthday, i'm all about that! A lot of places have free e-clubs or some sort of thing where you sign up your email, birthday, and other simple info (not your credit card though, totally free!!!) and through out the year some will give you coupons and updates or special deals, then on your birthday they will send you something for free. For example- sign up for Arby's email and you get a free 12 oz shake with any purchase for you birthday. It's nice also because some of them expire after your birthday. My birthday is the 27th and most of my coupons expire May 3-5, and a small few the 11th and 27th of May. Which is nice so you don't have to use all your coupons in one day.
I will add a list of places that I know of that does birthday deals, some may be local to Michigan though, so it's a good idea to search 'free birthday coupons' on google.com.
Here's my list:
-Totally Free-

-Houlihans- Free meal (or food item) up to $15. (ex. the Stuffed Rosemary Chicken is $15.99, all you pay is $0.99 with the coupon!) (printable email coupon)

-Red Robins -Free Burger (royalty card)

-Culver's- Free Single Scoop Sundae or Mix your own with 2 toppings (printable email coupon)

-Biggby's -Free Grande Beverage (mail card) (Biggby is a Michigan Coffee Shop business, i'm not sure what their out of state locations are, but their Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie is amazing!)
-Menards- Big Card Members - Free tool of some sort, different every year.(mail card with coupon) This is a little different because it's not a royalty card, but a credit card. Which I don't recommend getting a credit card just for certain perks, but if you need a card or have one, Menard's sends you a tool coupon, last year I got a little flash light, the year before a screw driver set, and this year is a different type of screw driver set. They are worth about $10 and under so it isn't an extravagant tool, but I look forward to it every year.
-Noodles and Company- Free bowl of noodles (printable email coupon)
-NCG Cinema- Free Small Popcorn, value can be used to larger size (printable email coupon)

-Buy one, Get one-
-Applebees- Free Dessert with Entree purchase (printable email coupon)
-Bennigans- Free burger, salad, or sandwich with the purchase of a burger, salad, or sandwich equal or lessor value (printable email coupon)
-Dairy Queen- Free mini, small, or medium blizzard with a purchase of a medium blizzard
-Logan's Roadhouse- Free Peanut Butter Dessert thing with a purchase of an entree.
-Cold Stone Creamery- Free Like it ice cream with a purchase of a Like it ice cream
-Auntie Annie's -Free Pretzel item with the purchase of a pretzel item
-Fire Mountain Grill (Maybe Old Country Buffet too?) -Free adult buffet with the purchase of an adult buffet and 2 beverages
-Aveda- Free sample with $25 purchase online

There is others, if I remember them I will post more, but that's my list for now. Definitely search online for more!
-Jen

Redesign

Hi! Is it bad i'm thinking about doing a blog redesign again? I I've been reading the book: The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin and the chapter I just finished talks about Branding. So i've thinking about my brand and I want my blog to represent my brand, along with my future etsy shop. That's why I may be redesigning and redefining my blog more in the next few days. Also in a few days is my birthday! I was pretty excited, but i've been going through a lot and sometimes I don't feel like celebrating, but the closer it gets the more I want to do something special. Due to work though, I can't do anything too extravagant, yet. I just want to have some fun and be happy again. I will have my usual birthday pie (cherry crisp - yum!) and my favorite ice cream, Death by Chocolate! I feel like the older you get the less important birthdays are, but I don't want to be like that. I loved birthdays as a kid and I still want to celebrate just as much now. I'll figure something out soon. Maybe go on a weekend trip to Chicago, or a weekend trip to Lake Michigan, or even a weekend trip to Mackinaw, that would be fun! Can you tell I love my state! I think i'll plan something now and work on my blog redesign.
Later!
-Jen

Financial Friday: Becoming a CEO

Hey! This Financial Friday isn't really financial advice, but business and self advice rather. I was reading a post by Tyra Banks. I do enjoy watching America's Next Top Model and I find Tyra to be a good business women. So actually all I have for now is just her article. I actually learned and re-learned a lot. I do want to say that owning a business is a great thing, that is if you have a good business idea. I'll post another time about business. But regardless of whether you own a business or not, you are the CEO ( chief executive office) of your life, and I think Tyra speaks on this point well. So here's the link!
http://www.typef.com/tyra/blog-10-steps-becoming-ceo-own-life/
-Jen