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Boston on Budget

Find Free Things to Do in Boston on A Budget

Boston Duck Tour Discounts for $25 for the 25th Anniversary

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The Boston Duck Tours are celebrating 25 years with $25 admission when you purchase through Groupon or LivingSocial.

The Boston Duck Tours will officially open for the season on March 21, 2019, but you can purchase this daily deal now as the offer is valid for a limited time.

This Boston Duck Boat Tour daily deal is only valid at the Museum of Science departure location and not valid in June or July and any Saturdays as well as other terms and conditions too.

The LivingSocial and Groupon deal look exactly the same, so I’d pick the deal site you may have an account, credit, or promo code with.

Currently, you can use promo code SAVE at both LivingSocial and Groupon to save 20% on select orders but I didn’t have any luck applying it to the Boston Duck Tour tickets as it doesn’t seem eligible for promo codes. I did get a $10 off $30 off promotional credit from Groupon in my e-mail the other day that expires 3/2 so hopefully you got something similar!

For more information or to purchase a daily deal for the Boston Duck Tours, head here for LivingSocial Duck Tour deal or here for Groupon Duck Tour deal.

Also, there are so many different ways to save on duck tour tickets, so don’t worry if the daily deal isn’t a good fit for you as there’s a few other ways to save on tickets too!

Have you been on a duck tour before? Will you be taking advantage of this deal?

Where to Eat Free on Your Birthday in Boston

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Free Birthday Stuff in Boston

Every year I do a big birthday post of all the deals that I personally received from various restaurants, retailers, and more for being an e-mail subscriber or member and share all the great birthday offers I receive.

Keep in mind that most offers below require a little forethought as you may need to signup for e-clubs, e-mail lists, and other memberships beforehand. I’d recommend doing it before your birthday month since some overs came almost a month before my actual birthday!

However, there are some birthday deals in the Boston area that you simply need to show up to receive and I included those at the end of my post. Please let me know if you know of any free birthday specials that I may have missed in the comments below too!

Most of the free birthday deals are the same every year but there were some additions, substractions, and some changes too! Here are the birthday offers and freebies I received in 2019:

Free Birthday Meals in the Boston Area

Here are the restaurants in the Greater Boston area that offer a free Birthday entrée when you sign up for their e-mail club.

  • Not Your Average Joe’s: Join the Not Your Average Joe’s e-mail club for $15 off your celebratory lunch or dinner, dine-in only (given two weeks to redeem)
  • The Chateau: Join the eClub for a free birthday entrée with the purchase of an adult entrée, dine-in only (given two weeks to redeem)
  • Fire & Ice: Free Birthday meal for e-mail subscribers (given about 10 days to redeem)
  • Bertucci’s: Free small cheese, Bertucci, or Margherita pizza for dine-in only, after 4PM (roughly one month to redeem)
  • Johnny Rockets (Burlington): Free burger with the purchase of an entrée and drink or shake when you join the e-club (given a month to redeem)
  • The Asgard & The Kinsale (Cambridge & Boston): Free dinner entrée (when you purchase an entrée) for e-mail subscribers, valid Saturday-Wednesday (given two weeks to redeem)
  • Papa Ginos: Free small pizza loaded onto account for reward account members (given almost a month to redeem)

Free Dessert on Your Birthday

Here are the restaurants that offer a free birthday dessert when you sign up for their e-mail club. Note: If you’d rather less e-mails, and more singing, a few of these places may offer a free dessert if you say it’s your bday without being a club member.

  • Biagio Ristorante & Bar (Waltham, MA): Free birthday dessert with any party of 2 or more when you sign up for their Birthday Club (given a month to redeem)
  • Ninety Nine: Free dessert coupon for e-mail subscribers (given about two weeks to redeem)
  • California Pizza Kitchen: Free dessert for e-mail subscribers (valid for my entire birthday month)
  • Smokey Bones: Free Dessert for e-mail subscribers (given about two weeks to redeem)
  • Boston Market: Free individual dessert (or regular side) for VIP Club members (roughly 2 weeks to redeem)
  • Uno: Free dessert with entrée purchase (given about two weeks to redeem)
  • TGI Fridays: Free birthday dessert for e-mail subscribers (given over a month to redeem)

Misc. Free Birthday Offers

Here are the misc. free birthday offers I received this year that couldn’t fit into a specific category.

  • Restaurant.com: Free $10 Restaurant.com Gift Card for restaurant of my choice (note: I had an account for years but had to go into account settings to enter my birthday before I got this offer)
  • Kohls: Free $10 coupon for Yes2You Reward Members (whole month of February to redeem)
  • Au Bon Pain: Free coffee and bakery item with birthday coupon and proof of ID (given about two weeks to redeem)
  • Panera Bread: Free birthday pastry loaded onto My Panera account (given one week to redeem)
  • Buffalo Wild Wings: Coupon for $5 off your purchase of $25 or more (roughly two weeks to redeem)
  • Southside Tavern (Braintree): Free appetizer on your birthday when you sign up for their e-mail club (on birthday only with coupon)
  • Swagbucks: 55 SB credit when you redeem your next gift card
  • Omaha Steaks: Free chocolate cake with order for e-mail subscribers

Free Birthday Dinners in the Boston Area (Just Show Up)

Don’t like to plan ahead or give away an e-mail address? Here’s a few restaurants where you just show up on your Birthday to receive a free Birthday meal.

  • Osaka: Free birthday entrée during Birthday week when you dine with a party of 4 or more (just show up and show ID)
  • Abington Ale House, Abington (South Shore): Free dinner entrée with photo ID on your (exact) birthday (just show up on Birthday and show ID) with the purchase of an entrée of equal or greater value
  • D’Ann’s, Abington (South Shore): Get a free entrée (some exclusions) when you purchase one of equal or greater value on your birthday, up to $15 with ID (just show up and show ID)

Even More Free Birthday Stuff

These are the only offers on the list that I did not personally receive in my e-mail or take advantage of but I feel good sharing because they have great information shared and/or you’ve taken advantage of the deal and share it with me:

  • Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Enjoy FREE admission to the Gardner Museum and/or Third Thursdays evening events on your birthday, just show ID
  • Dunkin’ Donuts: Free drink on your birthday (when you have 200 points) for DD perks members
  • JP Licks: Free Ice Cream with registered cow card (Small free sundae with close to a month to redeem, thanks Tyrone!)
  • Starbucks: Free beverage when you register your Starbucks card
  • Sephora & Ulta: Get a free birthday gift for your birthday for e-mails subscribers

Did I miss any great birthday freebies or offers? What’s your favorite Birthday freebie?

Free Film Friday at The Museum of Science!

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Every Friday in March the Museum of Science is hosting Free Film Friday thanks to generous support from Mathworks!

On Friday, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2019, head to the Museum of Science for free shows at the Mugar Omni Theatre for Free Film Friday.

Simply stop by and pick up tickets on the day of the show (only) to receive free tickets. Free tickets are on a first-come, first-serve basis with a limit of two shows per date per person.

However, if you are a museum member, you can reserve tickets up to 5 days in advance with a limited amount of tickets available for reservation.

Keep in mind that you will need to pay admission into the Museum of Science, but there are many ways to get discount or free admission to the Museum of Science! My favorite way is to reserve a free library pass through the Boston Public Library, you just may want to reserve your free pass now!

For more information about Free Film Friday, please head here.

Will you be attending Free Film Friday at the Museum of Science this March?

Cheap Weekend Fun in Boston for February 23-24, 2019!

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free events in boston this weekendHappy (almost) weekend! Here are some fun and inexpensive things to do this weekend in the Greater Boston area! Enjoy!

Chillin’ on D: February 21-24, 2019 at The Lawn on D. Missing summer? The Lawn on D is back for the weekend with the usual fun with a winter twist with ice bars, food trucks, hot cocoa, ice carvings, ice cornhole, and more!

Runaway Bunny: February 21-23, 2019 at Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Based on the book by Margaret Wise Brown, this classic will be performed on stage for all to enjoy. Free tickets (just pay service fees) are available through Goldstar Boston.

Free Frost Fit: Every Saturday in February from 10-11 AM at the DCR Hatch Shell. Enjoy a free winter workout series every Saturday morning for this new series!

MIT Museum: Sunday, February 24, 2019. Enjoy free admission at the MIT Museum the last Sunday of each month, September to June.

ICA Play Dates: Saturday, February 23, 2019 at the ICA in Boston from 10-4pm. Enjoy FREE admission for up to 2 adults per family when accompanied by children ages 12 and under with fun and family-friendly activities to do together.

Harvard Art Museums: Massachusetts residents are admitted free every Saturday morning from 10am to Noon year-round with proof of residency

Harvard Museum of Natural History: Massachusetts residents are admitted free every Sunday morning from 9am to Noon year-round with proof of residency

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology: Massachusetts residents are admitted free every Sunday morning from 9am to Noon year-round with proof of residency

Hope you have a great weekend!

Rare Monopoly Pieces at Shaw’s for 2019

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Shaw's Monopoly Game 2019 Rare Game PiecesAre you looking for the rare game pieces for the 2019 Monopoly game at Shaw’s?

The Monopoly Game is back with over $250 million in prizes and money saving offers. Game tickets are distributed until May 7, 2019 or when all tickets are gone. You will also have until May 28, 2019 to claim your prize(s) at the customer service desk, but online game entries must be entered by May 17, 2019.

Every time you shop at Shaw’s, Star Market, or another participating store you will receive a game ticket at checkout. Look for BONUS items to receive even more game tickets from your shopping trip.

Keep in mind that the game is available at over 2000+ stores in 34 different states (Shaw’s, Star Market, Albertsons, Safeway, Jewel Osco, Acme Markets, and many more) with over ONE BILLION tickets created. Chances of winning are slim so I wouldn’t recommend buying more than you ordinary would just for game pieces.

Below is a list of (suspected) rare game pieces for the Monopoly board. This information is compiled from human players and may not be 100% accurate, but will give you a good idea of what others may have.

The big prizes will have two rare pieces needed but the piece in bold is that harder suspected piece to find, but some pieces are still unknown.

Please leave a comment below if you suspect an error or have an improvement on the list. Thank you!

$1 Million Cash: 335CI, 336DI
$1,000,000 Vacation Home: 341CJ, 343EJ
$100,000 Cash/Boat: 394BW, 397EW
$30,000 Pair of Jet Skis: 398AX, 401DX
$25,000 Home Theater: 403AY, 404BY
$20,000 College Tuition: 408AZ, 411DZ
$10,000 Cash: 416A$, 417A$
$7,500 Family Vacation: 419B#, 420C#
$5,000 Cash: 302BA
$2,000 Fandango Movies for a Year: 315CD
$1,000 Cash: 318BE
$500 Portable Grill & Groceries: 327CG
$300 Wireless Headphones: 391CV
$5,000 Groceries: 308DB
$2,000 Plated.com: 309AC
$1,000 Grocery Gift Card: 321AF
$500 Grocery Gift Card: 332DH
$200 Family Picnic: 388DU
$100 Grocery Gift Card: 381AT
$50 Grocery Gift Card: 374BR
$25 Grocery Gift Card: 372DQ
$10 Grocery Gift Card: 358BN
$5 Grocery Gift Card: 351CL
$100 Cash: 379CS
$25 Cash: 365AP
$20 Cash: 362BO
$10 Cash: 353AM
$5 Cash: 348DK

Please feel free leave comments below about the rare or semi-rare pieces ONLY as it’s very easy to find the other pieces not mentioned here.

If you shop at Shaw’s or Star Market regularly (or even just a few times) you should get all the common pieces by games end, so please don’t leave comments on this post for common pieces, as everyone will have those.

Also, please use caution and do some due-diligence about other rare pieces as this is a public website and PLEASE do not leave your private information here.

For more information about the Monopoly Game, chances of winning, game rules, and more, please head here.

Good luck!

Do you play the Monopoly game? Or do you feel like it’s not worth the effort?

Fun and Cheap Things to Do for February Vacation Week

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Massachusetts February Vacation Ideas on a BudgetHappy February Vacation Week! If you are looking for something fun to do for yourself, kids, and/or family without spending too much money, I compiled a few ideas to share!

Below are a list of suggestions for budget-friendly things to during February Vacation week in Boston and Massachusetts:

What are you doing February Vacation Week? Any fun and free things that I may have missed?

Welcome to Boston on Budget!
Boston on Budget has been helping locals and visitors save money in and around Boston since 2012! Whether you lived in Boston your whole life or visiting Boston for the first time soon, we'll help you navigate how to save money and find local things to do, see and eat!

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