The Food Scout

It’s my birthday and I don’t have much time to work today, because I’m running around town redeeming all the free food that I’m getting for my birthday. Buffalo Wild Wings sent me a gift card for $15 (and I’ve never spent a cent there). Fortunately it’s right next door to Coldstone Creamery, where there’s a “Love It” custom creation of my choice waiting for me (if I show them the coupon with the one-week expiration date). Then just a few doors down is Qdoba, which is giving me a free burrito. I don’t think I can eat $15 worth of food at BWW and a big burrito at Qdoba at the same time, so I’m going to have to come another day. Then, somewhere I have to fit in a visit to Red Robin, which is giving me a burger for my birthday (they’re hoping I bring some people with me to celebrate, I suppose. Suckers!). Then later this week I want to stop by McAlister’s ($5 off birthday coupon), San Francisco Oven for a Buy-An-Entree-Get-The-Second-For-50%-Off (hmm, that will cost me money), and Sonic for a free medium drink (cheapskates).

Then NEXT week, even though my birthday is over, I don’t have to despair, because Starbucks gave me a Brewed Coffee Card for a free tall coffee every Wednesday until late May, to introduce its Pike Place Roast (found in USA Today magazines); and coincidentally, McDonald’s is offering free sugar-free iced coffees every Monday in our area, so I’ve got coffee covered for a lot of the week if I give up some of my frequent-drinker stamped cards from Panera. There’s always free office coffee, I suppose.

Now, if I could just hold on until Free Donut Day at Krispy Kreme, which is on June 1, about a week after the free coffee days go away, the free ride can continue. I’m feeling very loyal to visiting all these places. The trouble is for them, I haven’t spent a cent yet!