Love drinking at Starbucks? Hate how you don’t get compensated for being a loyal addict?
(FYI: We addicts know all about The Latte Factor — we can save the $4 and just drink tea at home or whatever else, which is what I do sometimes, but if we can afford it, why not? I see it as a treat.)
Well enter the STARBUCKS CARD!
If you register it you can get some small Starbucks Rewards:
- You get a free drink on your birthday (WHUT!? :D)
- General savings on soy and syrup, and free refills
- If you live in the U.S. or Calgary you can earn Starbucks Stars which will then unlock secret levels of deliciousness
STARBUCKS STARS in the U.S. & Calgary
1 Star = 1 Visit
5 Stars = Everyone starts here
My Cost = $20 ($4 per drink)
- All Welcome level benefits
- Free select syrups and milk options such as soy
- Free refills on brewed coffee or tea
- Free tall (12 fl oz) beverage with one pound of whole bean coffee purchase
- Special exclusive offers and coupons
30 Stars = You’re an Addict
My Cost = $120 ($4 per drink)
- All Welcome and Green level benefits
- An exclusive, personalized card (unavailable in stores) and Welcome Packet
- The ability to earn a free drink after every 15 Stars which means I spend $60 to get a $4 drink (6.67% return)
How to get these rewards:
- Get a Starbucks card.
- Use it to buy Starbucks drinks.
- Refill the card when your balance runs low.
- Wash, Rinse, Repeat.
- Get free shizz.
OTHER TIPS ON HOW TO GET GREAT DEALS AT STARBUCKS (STARBUCKS HACKS)
Original Article here found via Mainstreet:
Not including this whole post on the Starbucks Rewards program, here are some choice tips:
- “If you and a friend are out and want a Frappuccino, ask for a Venti split into two tall cups. Iced venti cups are 24 oz. Tall are 12. Voila. Two talls would cost you about six bucks, a venti, four.”
- “If you want espresso, avoid the options already on the menu board. Americanos cost just a little more than a cup of brewed coffee, but packs more of a caffeine punch because it’s espresso and hot water. It tastes like coffee and you can sweeten it just like you would your normal cup of coffee … If you want an extra shot, don’t ask for one. Ask for a “grande Americano in a tall cup.” That way, they charge you an extra 30 cents, instead of an extra 70 cents, for the shot of espresso. This works because Grande Americanos get three shots. Same would work for a Venti. My manager tells all his partners to do this by default, whether the customer asks for it that way or not, but other stores may not be so nice.”
Some of the other tips are kind of shady, like asking for a cheap coffee and making your own latte concoction by using up all the “free” milk on the counter.
But if it’s too much coffee to drink, it kind of makes sense to split the drinks with a friend.
Personally, what I drink is not to be shared 😉
It’s this:
Starbucks Soy Chai Latte
*_* <— Me
In case you don’t know this, I am addicted to soy Chai Lattes (see above). I like soy because it tastes better to me than milk.
Here are my calculated regular savings seeing as I don’t live in Calgary or the U.S.:
- $0.50 charge per soy swap out instead of milk
- $0.10 savings if I bring my own mug instead of getting a cup
= $0.60 per cup, and if my drink is around $4, we’re talking a 15% savings. If I get a larger drink, then the savings drop.
Add on top of that the free birthday drink and I’m thrilled!
Note: I am not being paid by Starbucks nor to endorse them. I wish. Starbucks, if you’re reading this, and want to give me free deluxe drinks for the rest of my life for being such a loyal bloggess, call me.
Speaking of treats, how about some blogs & articles?
I’ve been liking some of these posts lately:
- If you are a woman, please consider filling out this survey on your personal finances by Gail Vaz-Oxlade
- Lianko – For all the Wrong Reasons (living with parents)
- Money Reasons – Upgrading to a McMansion!
- The Single Supplement – 2 countries, 10 days, 1 carry-on only
I was totally inspired by The Single Supplement (above), and I’ve just started taking pictures and mapping out what I’m bringing to Asia for a month and a half, going to 4 countries with 1 carry-on. I’ll post it on my other blog — The Everyday Minimalist.
Enjoy your day!
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year.
Now I am self-employed, and you can read more about 
Oh no, as if I needed more reason to drink lattes! Thanks for the info — def gotta order a grande SF Vanilla soon 🙂
My recent post Where to Find Work at Home Jobs
Get the Starbucks Red card. They donate $0.05 to Project Red when you use it.
These are all great tips, especially since I'm definitely addicted to Starbucks. I go there at least once a week even though I can't really afford to. And it's not like I'm a big spender because I don't splurge on anything else. I have a Starbucks card, but I haven't gotten around to registering it yet. But now that I've read your post I will so that I can get those deals you described.
And if you get the Starbucks Red card, they donate $0.05 cents to Project Red in Africa!!!
oh yes… I also love how you featured the (starbucks)red card — if you choose that card (as opposed to the ones that say happy birthday or have other designs) then every time you use the card, starbucks makes a $0.05 donation to project red in africa for aids —- free of charge to you! It’s a little known program starbucks does, but just another reason to feel good about your latte habit!
It\’s why I chose the Starbucks Red card 🙂 To help donate $0.05 to Project Red. I mean, a card is a card.
I love soy chai lattes to! they are my regular drink. though at Christmas time I'm also a fan of the peppermint mocha. My husband and I split ventis on the occasions that we go for a weekend treat, because we are cheap 🙂 (hence my appreciation for this site!)
I actually registered for the starbucks card a year or two ago (when I got a gift card) and it is great to have the soy discount, but I definitely forget to reload the balance so I don't use it very often. And I've never gotten a free birthday drink coupon??? If I get any gift cards for Christmas I will definitely be checking on this again!
My recent post this day
LOL! Because we\’re cheap.
Yeah, BF and I are sometimes cheap, but we do overspend on where we want to (Starbucks for me).
I think it isn\’t an actual coupon but if you use the card and say: hey it\’s my birthday, they give you the drink for free.
I have a card…. and forget to reload money on it. And when I do have money on the card, I forget to use it. Dork!! Maybe I can work this in to my New Year Resolutions…. to better utilize my Starbucks card 🙂
My recent post Saturday Morning
I JUST used my card yesterday and smiled at the \”NC\” (no charge) on my soy milk sub 😛
Yup, I'm a gold card member!
My recent post Havent posted in a while so
Addict 🙂
A friend sends me Starbucks cards he earns through surveys 🙂 I then transfer all the balances on my one main card. I registered it a couple years ago and got the birthday coupons in the mail… it's good for a couple weeks (not just on your birthday if you can't make it there that day) and it's good for any drink, any size (at least at mine).. Yum. I love caramel lattes!
My recent post My Christmas tree and favorite ornaments
Ooo! That\’s handy to know re: birthday time frame. I was worried I\’d have to go ON THE DAY which would be annoying.
I recently just got myself a card too after reading it on some other blog about the benefits. I passed the entry level, and am just waiting for my card.
It\’s worth it I think!
I love SB! Yum! I have a lot of food allergies though, so all I ever get is plain ole' black coffee with a small side of cane sugar! lol!! I do love the Christmas Blend though.. delicious!
My recent post HST Rebate…
No soy or milk? I can\’t drink anything black!
I actually just bought a Keurig which has cut my spending on coffee down by about 90%. Even though the little cups, cream and suger end up costing about .50 a cup that still beats a $4 latte any day, now to just make back the $100 I spent=)
My recent post Cabela’s CLUB Visa Card Review
Good point but I don\’t drink it often. Doesn\’t make sense to make it at home when I\’d need to stock soy and chai. Also doesn\’t taste the same!
Yummmmm. I have to walk by a Starbucks every day on my way in to work. The force is strong. I’m a caramel latte girl myself.
*LAUGH*
The Starbucks Force. I can just imagine them using it on you as you walk past.
I would drink real coffee lattes but I can\’t take that amount of caffeine.
Glad you enjoyed my packing post. Carry on only is rocking this trip! From my experience in Asia it would be very easy. And laundry there is cheap. Can´t wait to see what you pack!
🙂 I am posting it in January (my carry-on post for Asia that is)
Thanks for the mention!
I’ve never thought to ask to get a Chai Latte at Starbucks (I love the drink!!!). I’ll have to try it there! Mostly I just get the regular plain old regular latte…
Great article, I hope Starbuck see your article and reciprocates!
You should get it there. It\’s the best out of all the coffee shops I\’ve tried. There\’s something in that syrup….
I hope Starbucks gives me stock! 🙂
Ooh, chai lattes are my favorite. What's silly is I have a card, but I haven't been using it because I never put money on it! Makes me sad to think of what I could have gotten out of all the Starbucks I bought during the last few weeks (Starbucks/caffeine is my stress-reliever when school gets tough). On the other hand, I tell myself not to put money on it so I won't be tempted to buy Starbucks when I shouldn't. 😛
Perhaps Christmas will bring some Starbucks money my way.. I love that you can transfer card balances online, so if you get a gift card, you can move the money straight to the card you use for rewards. (Because you do have to register the card for the second-level of rewards, I think.) Also according to the website, it looks like you can do the free birthday drink and a couple other things with a registered card anywhere in Canada, you just can't rack up stars for any extra rewards.
No kidding I like the idea of transferring balances.
And yes I know, being anywhere but in Calgary I cannot do stars 🙁
Our Aussie Starbucks are not offering this card, which is maybe just as well.
My recent post We Have Oprahitis Over Here
*laugh* Perhaps it\’s best not to get addicted.
I think David Bach over-demonized poor Starbucks with that latte factor (which should have a trademark on it, I believe). Whiling away time in a coffee shop has–for centuries–been a loved activity. So enjoy your treats.
The coffee shop in my grad student days was called Two-Bit Rush. The coffee was a quarter.
My recent post Poetry and Manly Meatballs
Agreed 🙂 Chai Lattes = Wonderful.
Now with the card, I\’m SAVING on my vice so I feel good.
Niceeeee 🙂 I’d generally get the tickets with the stamp things on it, but I don’t go frequently enough, so that I’d get to the free drink part. 🙁
So not sure how useful such a card would be for me, then again I do like the look of it (I’m superficial like that) – thought it was a cake at first glance 😛
Those advices though… kid of the “cheap” kind for me. I don’t share my yummy stuff, rather buy someone an extra cup but mine is mine 😛
Thanks for the link. 🙂
Starbucks doesn\’t have those stamped cards, but this is their next best thing. If only they had Starbucks Stars in all of Canada and not just in Calgary 🙁
Oh really? That's interesting. I always thought that in more "western" places, Startbucks would have that AND other stuff…. so maybe they have different marketing strategies for different countries/regions.
My recent post For All the Wrong Reasons
"Stamp cards" for loyalty are a pain to deal with in comparison to credit-card style cards, and big chains have phased them out. Stamping them wastes time, and there's a lot of opportunity for fake stamps and other fraud. Most big chains' reward systems (Borders Rewards, Sephora, and Arden B. are three I have…) use barcode or credit-card style cards now, like Starbucks.
Agreed. I much prefer the barcode style, or at least having them ask me my name, and I have an \’account\’ there based on a phone number or something.
I really should do this. I live on a college campus and can see starbucks outside my window as I type. Grande soy hazelnut latte. all the time. ugh, I can see the money I am not saving! I get offered the damn card most of the time too, not sure why I've never done it.
Me neither. I was thinking: IDIOT! You could have had a free drink all this time on your birthday and you PAID FOR IT.
Now I\’m spreading the word!
I have to ask – is it ANY drink on your birthday, or only coffee/tea type drinks? I particularly enjoy their strawberries and cream frappucino, and it's really the only thing I go in for. Is that considered a birthday drink too?
I think it\’s any drink. That might be a seasonal drink though, so if it isn\’t in season you may not be able to get it. Like with Pumpkin spice only being in Autumn > Winter.