Birthdays mean presents! And if you're not happy with whatever your friends and family got you (you ungrateful. just kidding, I get that) there are a few spots around Aotearoa that have you covered. Food, coffee, clothes and beauty products can all be had for cheaper or even free on ya bday, just bookmark this article for your special day.
Mecca Mecca gives you a whole gift on your birthday if you're signed up for the 'Beauty Loop' (their membership programme). They have different levels of their membership programme (levels 1 through 4) so I'm guessing the quality of the gift varies depending on which level you're in.
Burger Fuel If you sign up to Burger Fuel's loyalty programme, you get a free burger on your birthday! Their loyalty programme is named such that you become a Very Important Burger Connoisseur or VIB once you sign up, which is kind of slay and kind of okaayyyy?
Denny's The American diner spot lets you have a free birthday meal if you eat with someone else. You get one menu item and it has to be an equal or lower price than your mate's meal. You also have to bring a photo ID to prove it.
Starbucks Again, you have to sign up to their reward programme (the more aptly named 'Starbucks Rewards) to get the birthday deal, which is a one free handcrafted tall standard beverage. Once you're signed up, you get the coupon on the first day of your b'day month and you can use it just once throughout the month.
Cosmic Cosmic, the store for the counter-culture, offers a $10 gift voucher for your birthday, the catch being you must spend a minimum of $25. It's only on offer to people in their loyalty club, which has the spectacular name: 'High Rollers'.
Columbus Coffee You can get a free Colombus coffee on your birthday when you sign up to their rewards programme, 'Colombus Coffee Rewards'.
The Body Shop Sign up for The Body Shop's loyalty club (The Club) and get a $10 reward voucher.
Mama Brown's (Wellington) Mama Brown's is an American diner kinda restaurant in Wellington only (sorry non-Welly folk). They offer a free meal and drink when you dine with someone else who also orders a main and a drink. It's eligible within 5 days before and after your birthday. You gotta bring your ID. Shoutout Mama Brown's - a great spot in Welly for a nice burger and fries, sundaes are unreal too.
Dr Rudi's (Auckland) Rather than signing up for a loyalty programme, you can download the 'New Zealand Venue Co.' app on your phone and get $20 off on your birthday at a few spots. Dr Rudi's is not a bad b'day spot at all, and they're one of the venues that'll give ya the $20 off.
Jolly Octopus Tattoos (Christchurch) If you're feeling the need to ink it up to celebrate another year around the sun, Jolly Octopus Tattoos in Christchurch gives you $50 off on your b'day. A good tattoo is a bit more expenny than that but $50 goes a long way, maybe just get something small and silly anyway!