Birthday FREEbies

Yay birthdays! I celebrated my birthday a couple of days ago - *sigh* another year older and hopefully wiser this time (I mean I have this blog now right?). I loved getting a free dessert when dining out to restaurants for my birthday. Now I found the next best thing - Rewards Programs! I checked out retailers (these are mostly food places) that you usually frequent to see if they have any birthday rewards. Also, most of them have coupons throughout the year!

Starbucks -  FREE Drink

The coupon is set to you by your phone app and it usually shows up a week before your birthday. To claim it, you will need to let you barista know that you have a reward available. I don't really get all fancy with my orders - I got my go-to Grande skinny vanilla latte with soy which is usually $4.65

Grab a Starbucks card and register it here

Rubio's - $7 off any meal

The coupon is sent to you by email. I received mine a week before my birthday. Its a simple email - no bar codes or anything. I claimed this coupon for lunch. It was very straight forward. I gave them my order which was the California Bowl with Shrimp and showed the cashier my phone with the email/coupon.

I ended up just spending $1.07 for lunch that day.

Sign up on their website and become a Beach Club member 

Einstein Bagels - FREE Breakfast Sandwich with purchase of any drink

This coupon is also sent to your email around the week of your birthday. I ended up just spending $1.99 for a medium coffee and a FREE bagel with cream cheese as part of this rewards program. I know I should've ordered the expensive sandwich, but I just knew I wouldn't be able to finish it.

I just showed the email to the cashier - who was super sweet and kept saying Happy Birthday. The email did not have any bar codes, but just a number that the cashier will need to enter.

Sign up on their website and join their birthday club 

Benihana - $30 Dinner Certificate

You will receive your coupon on your mailbox, but make sure you print the coupon out. We went here the night of my birthday with the whole family (I cant believe Benihanas was still rockin it - there was a line out the door on a week night!). Anyways, I really do not remember anymore the last time I was here, but they will be serving you a 4 course meal that consist of Soup, Salad, Appetizer, your main Entree and a dessert! I got the Samurai Treat as my main entree which was a Filet mignon and colossal shrimp grilled to perfection with lemon and butter - yum! The chef was super entertaining as well as the server. You also get a picture with the whole group at the end of the meal.

Sign up for the Chefs Table here

El Torito (Real Mex Rewards) - One FREE Entree

We kind of had issues with this rewards program, so I am not quite sure how to claim this one. We went to El Torito Grill which is a higher end El torito. I told the waiter about the Real Mex Rewards free entree that I was supposed to get for my birthday. He said he was not able to see it under my account, but still told me to order and he will go ahead and give me the meal for FREE. I got the Chile Relleno minus the beans. Its a pretty big portion for lunch! Plus, they also sang and gave us a FREE flan. Yum! PS. They also give your table warm tortillas which are my favorite things to munch on while waiting for our entree.

You can sign up here

Have you gotten any perks on your birthday? Did you know about these birthday rewards?

I love food too much!

Did you watch the hot dog eating contest this past weekend? Glorious... Welcome to America !!!!

Now that I am on my debt payoff journey, I have tried to look for ways to cut back on spending. I think one of the major culprit is eating out. It's not because I am lazy to cook (maybe a little), but I am not the type who cant "Meal Prep" the week (or month) and just expect to be satisfied with the same old food every day.... I need variety! Most of my meals are a 'game day decision' - which means, I usually do not plan my meals and just go after my gut (or stomach).

Also, I think I eat out more when I am stressed. I just feel so deprived on everything else that I just dont even look at the refrigerator and just go out. This week was a major test and a major fail on my part - not only on the shopping department, but also on the food department. We were out and about the whole time trying to do last minute shopping (since this whole week will be busy with work) - we ate out... A LOT! I have been trying for a couple of weeks on cutting back with eating out and I need to get back to this since this is a major fail this week.

Below are a few reminders of what I have done to cut back...

Cook for a group - Depending on your living situation... if you live alone or live with your SO - I would usually cook a bigger portion so I can bring it to work the next day.

Order the dinner portion - I cant usually finish them, so I am able to save half of it for lunch tomorrow or dinner the next night. You can usually tell by the type of food if its a good option to have as a leftover the next day.

Sharing is caring - It's hard to hang out with friends without spending a lot. I know most of the PF communities would tell us to learn how to say NO, but I think in moderation its good to meet up with friends or coworkers (keep my sanity also) and stay under budget by sharing. Just do your research in your neighborhood - There are a lot of places that offer food and drinks for under $5 under a certain timeframe on weekdays (happy hour menus)

Special Offers or Deals - If its a place that you go to almost everyday - you can check to see if they have a member deal or gather points everytime you go there (ie. Starbucks Card). There are also places where they give you a stamp card where you can get your 5th or 10th meal for free.

I still have a couple more days and I will really try my best not to spend anymore money on food

Great Maple

I love me a good meal. My favorite would probably be breakfast/brunch – I can eat breakfast the whole day if I can. Jay doesnt care much for brunching - he's more of the Dinner portion kind of guy, but he takes me out to brunch most of the time. We checked out this place close to his condo since it had great reviews on Yelp and was brought up by his roommate.

Lets start with these lovely babies - these are the best Maple Donuts I have tried. Dessert before brunch.... don't mind if I dig in!

Their drink menu looked awesome, but I didn't order any since we were up for a hike later that day. However, I will be back for their cute Mules. Its served on a Bear mug/glass – so Hillcrest. Love it!

I ordered --- tea =)

and Jay ordered a latte, which came in this glass – weird! but it was good when he let me try some.

Its best to come hungry when you go here..... Their portions were huge! I got the chillaquiles

This is such a cute and good place for Brunch nerds like me. I would love to come back for their Dinner.

 If you're ever in the area check it out...

Great Maple 
1451 Washington St,
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 255-2282


This was not included in the weekly budget because Jay paid for the tab. Thanks Jay!

Dark horse coffee

My friend and I found this after having lunch around Normal Heights. There were a couple of coffee places a block or two off Adams St., but since we always frequent Starbucks and we have been to Lestat's -We wanted to check out something new. 

Something new and different actually - They do Pour Over (which I've only had once - super good), Cold Brew (see below) or French press. They also have a selection of fresh vegan donuts - we SHARED the Chocolate. It wasnt as bad as I thought knowing that they were vegan.

The word Latte has quotation marks around it because they do not have espresso machines. I never thought I would enjoy a Cold Brew, but I would totally go back to this place.

I made a huge OOOOOPS and spilled the coffee though. What a klutz... but before I managed to spill my coffee, at least I was able to capture it and had at least half - before the pavement got a taste of it.


















Dark Horse Coffee Roasters
3260 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116

I scream, you scream...

I love to eat and I love to check out new places around my area. So I am also going to be featuring a couple of restaurants/food places that are fairly reasonably priced - or not!

We found this place searching for an ice cream place around the area. We have been waiting on Hammonds ice cream to open - which I have already tried at the North Park Festival of Arts. I cant wait until I can try the rest of their selection. Anyways, this place was tucked away inside a 76 gas station food mart... it was so out of place!

... But I think their cookies can compete with good ol' Uncle Biffs and The Cravory (almost!). We had their chocolate chip, s'mores and snickerdoodle cookie - but I would totally go back for their ice creams. They are currently running a special of 4/$5 cookies.

I think this place deserves a chance. Definitely check this place out to satisfy your sweet tooth on a budget

 Zooies Cookies And Ice Cream

3010 Market St
San Diego, CA 92102