All sorts of promotions entice the tax-weary to head out and indulge a bit on Tax Day—perhaps with free Cinnabon cupcakes or free tacos, a discount on your dinner tab or tax-free shopping at a range of retailers.
Of course, no matter if you’re receiving a tax refund or not, the responsible thing to do is to just treat April 15 like any other day and fight the urge to throw money around. But, assuming you did the responsible thing and got your taxes done, you may have had your fill of responsible behavior. It might be time to cut loose a little, and SmartMoney has rounded up a bunch of 4.15 promotions that run the gamut from gimmick to great deal.
For example, your bill could be 15% cheaper at some restaurants:
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro: Dine at P.F. Chang’s on April 15 and get a 15% discount on your bill. Discount does not apply to purchases of alcohol or Happy Hour specials.
The freebies are obviously nice. The only problem is that they’re so limited—with few participating locations, or they’re offered only during tiny time windows—that it’s tough to take advantage. Cinnabon is handing out free cupcake bites on April 15 for two hours (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.), or until supplies are exhausted on the sugar-crazed crowds. Dairy Queen, meanwhile, is giving free mini Blizzards for just one hour (noon to 1 p.m.) at one location (in a DQ van outside the IRS Building in D.C.). It’s much easier to get a free taco from Taco del Mar:
Sign up online for the chain’s “Taxes Suck, Tacos Don’t” promotion, which gets you a print-out coupon good for a free taco on April 15 at participating Taco del Mar, Del Mar’s and Mondo’s locations. Read the online form carefully — you can choose to sign up for the chain’s email list, or get the freebie without forking over personal information.
Less fun but necessary are groceries, and there are Tax Day discounts here too:
Albertsons: Through April 15, buy a gift card for the grocery chain and get up to an extra 10% added onto its value for free. A gift card purchased for $300, for example, would be loaded with $330.
Whole Foods: Stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama will offer a tax-free shopping day on April 15.
Finally, there’s a way to snag a free pick-me-up and feel good that you’re not destroying the environment at Starbucks, which is pouring free coffee on April 15 for anyone who comes in with a reusable travel mug.