For five bucks you get waaaay more than that in food. Not all of the coupons are great. One of them is for a free bottle of water if you buy a salad. There’s always four or five coupons that require no purchase. There’s always a free chicken sandwich, always a free chicken biscuit, always a free Coke.

Most of the coupons requiring a qualifying purchase are good as well. Next month’s coupon is for a free four-count Chick-N-Strips if you buy iced tea — incredible!

As pointed out above, the coupons never expire — I once used one that was five years old — and you can use as many as you want on a single visit.

Here’s something else I just learned last night. When I placed my order at the drive-thru, I told them I had two coupons that were each good for a chicken salad sandwich. By mistake, they gave me two regular chicken sandwiches. When I pointed out the mistake, the clerk at the window said I could have either the sandwiches they already gave me, or I could have chicken salad sandwiches. When I told him I’d be fine with keeping the chicken sandwiches, he pointed out that you can always use your coupon for something less expensive. In other words, the chicken salad sandwiches are more than the famous Chick-Fil-A sandwich, but I prefer the latter and can use the coupons accordingly.

One last thing:

When the 2009 calendars come out next month, you will most likely have the option of paying five bucks or getting a calendar free with purchase of a $20 gift card. The gift card option is great because the gift cards do not expire. Last year I bought 30 gift cards and got 30 free calendars. That’s the best $600 investment I’ll ever make!

Long live Chick-Fil-A (and the calendars)!