My coupon efforts have fallen off my radar as I took care of my surgery-recovering daughter, get ready for a new school year, etc, etc.
But I was reminded of something that really cool. Yesterday an email coupon for a free ice cream cone arrived from baskin Robbins and a mailed coupon from Starbucks for a free coffee came also--both because it's my birthday. Not really but I figured I do have one every year and so when I sign up for emails I pick a date.
Anyway, these were in response to having signed up for emails. I set up an email account specifically for signing up for restaurants' emails and newsletters.
We were going out to eat recently and because we'd planned it ahead I was able to sign up for the restaurant's newsletter and get a coupon for a free dessert to welcome us to their restaurant. They sent it out the next day. Some places take weeks to send their initial coupons. Some rarely send. Some tie it to your "birthday". I like Noodles & Co because you get a free dish on your birthday. There's a restaurant near where I live that gives kids under 12 a coupon for a free meal on their birthday and you can even get it to go.