Hey guys,
I have a confession: I am obsessed with Starbucks. I love everything about that place. My Starbucks journey started at the age of 11 when my beverage of choice was a grande blended strawberry lemonade, with whipped cream and now, even though my drink of choice has changed, my passion for Starbucks has not.
But alas, it’s this passion that has led to me dropping a LOT of cash over the years at this place. And at some point, I started slowly digging into the little hacks that I could use to save a buck or two here and there. So, I’m sharing some of my best money saving tricks right here on the blog and if you’re a Starbucks lover like me, you’ll find these helpful.
1. Join The SWEET Rewards Program:
If you open an account and register a Starbucks Gift Card, you are automatically enrolled in Starbucks Rewards at the Green Level, which has some sweet benefits including a free drink on your birthday, access to sweet events and coupons sent straight to your inbox.
If you earn at least 300 stars within the 12 month period following your enrollment date, you qualify for the Gold Level.
You earn Stars based on how much you spend so 2 Stars for each $1.00 you spend at Starbucks stores using your registered Starbucks Card (you can also register your card on the app).
Then, you get 1 free drink or food item after every 125 additional Stars earned after reaching the Gold Level. So, essentially after $150 in a year, you can be on Gold Level which means you’re eligible for one Double-Star Day once each calendar month which gets you closer to rewards. Also, Starbucks will also send you (this is the best part I think)a personalized Gold Card with your name on it! And they’ll kindly remind you on their website that the “the Card is gold-colored only….not made with gold metal,” which always makes me laugh.
2.Take Advantage of The Free Refills:
So, this is probably the biggest perk of the rewards program. You get FREE, yes I said FREE refills on hot or iced brewed coffee, cold brew, or hot or iced tea that was purchased with your registered Starbucks Card or Starbucks Mobile app during the same store visit. So, know you’ll need coffee later? Sip up and spend a few extra minutes at the store then have ’em ring up your gold card for a free refill (or show them your app) and then take some free coffee with you for the road. What I do to really maximize this is the following: I ask them for no ice in my coffee and put it in the fridge for the following morning. It’s my way of getting two for the price of one.
3. Create your own latte:
If you order two or three shots of espresso, either hot or over ice and add your own milk or cream, you can literally have it your way (thanks, Burger King for the catchy slogan) without having to pay the price. It definitely saves you a buck or two and if you’re a Starbucks lover like me, that adds up over a week.
4. Bring your own cup:
If you’ve ever felt guilty about buying a new Starbucks mug or cup, now you can rejoice! You can snag
$.10 off every time you go there if you use your own cup. And in two weeks, if you go there every work day, that’s roughly $20 a year
Alright friends, go forth and conquer. I hope this post helps you save a little bit of money at a place that can bring you happiness. Use one of these tips and save some cash? Drop a line in the comments below and let me know!
