Have you noticed that coupons have become a major part of our lives? There are always coupons for restaurants or stores in most of the newspapers these days. And it seems that every day, we receive an email about a deal at a local store, but it requires a coupon.

Last month was my birthday month, and I received a multitude of coupons from restaurants. During the first week alone, I received coupons for a free lunch or dinner at five restaurants—including one of my favorites, Red Robin. My birthday wasn’t until the 30th of March, but that didn’t stop the coupons from appearing like magic.

There are also coupons or discounts if you are a AAA member or a member of AARP. But trying to remember all the discounts and the expiration dates can sometimes become crazy. We have a pack of coupons in our car, and I have placed expiration dates on the coupons. Does that sound anal? Well, I guess it is!

Now when it comes to using a coupon, one must remember to follow the rules. Some restaurant coupons are not valid on Saturday or Sunday. Some require that you buy a beverage. For me, I drink water at our meals, and that counts as a beverage in some cases, which means there is a about a $3 charge for the H₂O.

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