Coupon calendars: A great way to save all year long

January 5th, 2009, 2:01 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Emily Lawrence, Staff Writer

It’s five days into the new year but many of us are still without calendars.

The best part about waiting to buy is that most of them are on sale. Borders and Barnes and Noble have them marked down by at least 50%. I got a really cute “Water Color a Day” desk calendar for around $5 at Borders last week. The cute calendar comes with a small paint set and, fingers crossed, by the end of the year maybe I’ll improve my water color skills.

I am a firm believer that one can never have too many calendars. I have one in my pantry for meal planning, one in my bedroom for referencing plans and birthdays, one at work and another in my purse to track advance gift purchases. But by far my favorite calendars are the ones that help me save money.

Many local eateries give calendars away this time of year that are full of monthly coupons.

My two favorite coupon calendars are listed below and available at local locations while supplies last:

Chick-fill-a: Every year the fast food chicken sandwich/nugget chain that campaigns with a Cows pleading consumers to “Eat more Chicken” releases their “Cow”lender. Each year the calendar has a different theme. This years is themed around Cop Movies. The “Bovines in Blue” calendar is more than just a hilarious collection on cow puns, each month has great coupons. The “cow”lendar retails for $6. But check with your local franchise for better deals, because last year I got mine free with a $20 gift card purchase.

Ruby’s: Anyone who has seen my kitchen decorated around my bright red Kitchen-Aid mixer and Coke memorabilia could assume that I love the campy ’50s burger joint. In fact as teeenager I tried several times to get a job at as a host or waitress for the join just so I could don the adorable diner getup. But aside form my personal addiction to nostalgia, the best part about the adorable one page Ruby’s calendar is that it’s free! The large card-stock calendar that resembles a pinup page from the ’50s makes a great year-at-a-glance reference and includes great freebie coupons for each month of 2009. Be sure to ask the hostess for the calendar. When I went, I didn’t see any promotional info on it in the restaurant. Deal tip: Before you head down to your local Ruby’s to pick up the free calendar, register online and you’ll be emailed a coupon for a free shake. And if you’re looking to meet up with friends there, you can send free e-vites by clicking here.

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