The Best (Birthday) Things in Life are Free!

It's been said that there's no such thing as a free lunch, but then, that's where you're wrong — at least, if it's your birthday. In that case, there's not only a free lunch, but also breakfast, dinner and dessert! Birthdays are just about the best excuse in the world to indulge oneself and thanks to the largesse of a number of nationwide eateries, there's lots of places to make your birthday even happier.

No matter what number is attached to your birthday, big or small — celebrate on the cheap and reap the freebie rewards on your birthday. Start off your birthday at IHOP and get a free meal  — or, in some locations, a sundae. But don't stop there because there's a whole-lotta-food-and-fun ahead of you and the best part is, it's recession–proof because it's free.

Join the Black Angus Steakhouse Prime Club and your birthday will be spent brimming in beef, not to mention the complimentary dessert just for signing up. And the offer is good for two weeks before and two weeks after, just in case you want to spread out the celebrating. Just be sure to bring your I.D. along. When you visit Taco Bell on your special day, you get a free combo meal of your choice (check for availability). And being seated on your birthday at Applebee's will get you a free dessert and complimentary song! TGI Friday's will send you a coupon for a free appetizer on your birthday when you sign up for Friday's E-Club. And Bennigan's is definitely Birthday-igans because if you visit there on your natal day, it's a buy-one entree, get-one free guarantee.

And a bday isn't really a birthday without ice cream so if you want your cake and eat it too, remember there are lots of ways to scream for ice cream. Coldstone Creamery, Baskin Robbins and Dairy Queen all promise to help you chill on your birthday with free frozen treats. So Happy (Freebie) Birthday to you!

Photo by jessica.diamond via Flickr.