As you get older, birthdays aren’t about the toys and gifts that you receive from friends and family anymore. Through my experience, what matters more is with whom and how you spend those special days of the year. This past Monday, I celebrated my 20^th birthday. After my first year of college, I was a little bummed I wouldn’t be around my school friends for my big two decade celebration. However, I decided to gather my friends from home to celebrate in our own way. Instead of gifts that would either get worn once or returned, I asked my parents for a weekend in the great city of Boston. My mom then planned a weekend extravaganza, and although it was 2 days before the actual date of my birthday, it was one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had. Although birthdays are obviously better than any other day, here are a few of the added perks on the celebration of your birth:

1. You have the power over everyone else to make all of the decisions.
2. You have an excuse to put extra effort into your appearance that day.
3. You also have an excuse to smile oddly throughout the day.
4. Oh that new shirt you want just went on sale?... Why not splurge, it is your birthday.
5. If you do your research, TONS of places give out free stuff for you if you just ask. Baskin-Robins gives you a free scoop, Sephora gives you free samples, and Starbucks gives you a free coffee.
6. Those guys from your past that you always hope will someday randomly text you, actually do text you on this day.
7. You hardly have to spend any of your own money, whether your parents give you some or it’s your friends treat; it is YOUR special day, you shouldn’t be spending your own money.
8. Diets mean absolutely nothing.
9. You are reminded of just how important and wonderful you really are.
10. You can get as drunk as you want without feeling bad.