8 Ways to Save Money at Starbucks

I confess: I am addicted to Starbucks.

Admitting it is the first step… right?  Now I don’t mean that I have to have have it morning, noon and night….. but if I’m at Target doing important research work for the blog I need to have a freshly made caramel macchiato close by.

I know Starbucks is not THAT frugal… 

That being said, I’ll be the first to say I’m not perfect – and since I don’t use credit cards or finance cars I think this little vice works out okay in the grand scheme of things.  

That doesn’t mean I don’t try to not save money when I can though – there are several ways that I save at Starbucks, and they work GREAT for me.

Divert Some of your Ibotta Earnings

I love Ibotta, and I love it even more when I take $20 and buy myself a Starbucks Gift Card to reload the one I have linked up to the Starbucks app on my phone.   This way, my savings in other things the household uses helps keep Mama’s coffee card funded.

Register your Starbucks Card & Join the Starbucks Rewards Program

You need to go to Starbucks.com and register your card.  You can choose to reload it through them, too, but I usually buy a new card via Ibotta and use that to reload the one I have hooked up to my phone app.

Once you’ve done this, you can join their reward program.  There are 3 levels in their program.

After just five purchases, you’ll earn a free drink or food item on your birthday, plus get free iced or drip coffee refills while you’re in the store.

If you make 30 purchases in a 12-month period, you’ll earn “Gold” status, which entitles you to a free drink after every 12th purchase.

This is very feasible since let’s say you splurge twice a week, that’s 8 purchases in one month.  The free coffee is important if you are going to be buying coffees anyway.   Also…. My Starbucks Rewards® members at Green and Gold levels are eligible for free refills on brewed or iced coffee or tea beverages of the same size (some restrictions apply), regardless of the original beverage purchased, while they are in a participating Starbucks ® or Teavana® stores.

Once you leave the store, your visit has ended and any subsequent coffee or tea refill thereafter would be considered a new purchase.’

Also, keep an eagle eye on your email.  Starbucks sends out special discounts and freebies often.  

Bring your Own Cup/Mug

If you can, try to bring your own Mug or Cup — it’ll score you $.10 OFF (which might not seem like much but every little bit helps!)

Groupon

Every so often there is a deal on Groupon where you can get a $10 Starbucks Gift Card for $5.  You can be sure I’m all over that .. we always mention that deal on the blog so you can take advantage of it, too.   

My husbands account that I created for times of need (like needing to buy more than one Groupon) comes in handy on these occasions. You buy the Gift Card and use it to reload your registered card to rack up those rewards.

Take Advantage of Grocery Store Deals

My husband doesn’t like to go to Starbucks but he does like Starbucks brand coffee so we do purchase the bags.  Every so often there is a screaming deal at Target where you get a Starbucks Gift Card back when you buy a certain amount of bags.  The awesome thing about this that not only do you get a free card to reload your registered card but you also get more perks!  

Most bags come with peelies with a code in the back to earn stars for your Starbucks account  (Yes ….I know that people steal them and I hope their next cup of coffee is bitter… just sayin’!).  

Stores also have offers to get eGift cards when you buy qualifying product like this one that’s good through January 2016.

Order Light Ice or No Ice

Starbucks milk is cold enough for me and light ice works wonders.  You can also skip the ice all together and get it just cold no ice and depending on your relationship with the barista (yes we are on first name basis and talk non-coffee stuff) they will fill it up .   Sometimes I will bring it home and split it or save ½ for the next day.

Treat Receipt

Keep an eye out because these promotions roll around a few times a year.

A treat receipt is a wonderful thing.  Usually when you  make a purchase in the morning (anytime before 2 p.m.) and bring the receipt back the same day after 2 p.m., get any Grande cold beverage for just $2.50.  Get it without ice and save it for the next day.

Order a Tall in a Grande Cup

I love my coffee… and I MUST have milk… so I always order my Tall in a Grande – it gives me room to add the milk (without sacrificing the coffee!)