Are you as much of a Starbucks addict as I am? The smell of their coffee pulls me in every time. And it doesn’t help that there’s one right at the entrance of my local Kroger. We all know that Starbucks can get expensive, but you don’t have to give up your favorite coffee! You can drink Starbucks on a budget, and here are seven ways you can do so without breaking the bank.
1. Sign up for Starbucks Rewards
If you already have a gift card, I highly recommend signing up! It’s completely free, and you earn 2 stars for every dollar spent at a Starbucks location, as well as receive a free drink on your birthday! You can even find codes for stars on the bags of Starbucks coffee. When you reach the Gold level, which is 300 stars in one year, you get a free drink after every 125 stars. Earning 300 stars in one year can be tough if you’re on a budget, which is why I use some of the tips below to help me earn free gift cards!
2. Look for Groupon specials
Every few months, Starbucks will release a Groupon special, usually a $10 gift card for only $5. As soon as I see it, I jump at the opportunity, because they usually don’t last long! And you can transfer that money to a gift card you already own, which will earn you more stars!
3. Swagbucks
I know I talk about Swagbucks a lot, but seriously, this site has saved my life with all these free gift cards. You can get a $5 Starbucks card for 500 Swagbucks, and that’s easy to earn in one month! You can check out my guide here.
4. Shopkick
This is one of my favorite apps. Certain stores like Wal Mart and Target will let you earn points, or “Kicks”, for doing simple things like just walking into the store, or scanning barcodes of certain items. It’s free to sign up, and incredibly easy to use if you’re already at that store shopping! 1,250 Kicks will get you a $5 Starbucks gift card.
5. Half-Price Frappuccinos days
Every so often, Starbucks will have a special that runs for a few days. Usually between the hours of 2-5 p.m., all Frappuccinos are half price! Another great way to have that awesome coffee without spending a lot of money.
6. RetailMeNot
This is a website/app that shows any coupons/discounts that are happening in your area or online. Right now there are coupons for Starbucks’ online store, but I believe it will show you any specials that are happening in-store, like the half-price Frappuccino days!
7. Clearance section at grocery stores
Seriously, check! I’ve found Starbucks coffee on clearance at both Wal Mart and Kroger. A few weeks ago we were at Kroger browsing, and I saw, in the clearance section, bags of Starbucks coffee for $4.00 each (Usually around $7.00). I checked my coupon envelope (Always bring it with you!!) and I saw a coupon for $2/2! I grabbed two bags for only $3.00, holy cow.
All of these are ways that I personally use to save money on Starbucks! This allows me to get a Frappuccino once every couple months, and even drink their bagged coffee every morning (Each bag lasts a little over a month)!
Are there any other ways you drink Starbucks on a budget? Let us know below!
Jaime is a Nutrition Coach through the ISSA and professional writer. She has 4 years experience coaching and 9 years experience in writing. She enjoys cooking easy meals, running, and learning more about food.
Jaime specializes in helping women with ADHD learn to meal plan and cook healthier meals without getting overwhelmed.
Kate
Monday 30th of March 2015
WOW! So glad I found you on Huckleberry Love's linkup! I just got the Shopkick app and can't wait to get started! Thank you for this post!
Jaime
Monday 30th of March 2015
Awesome! =) Shopkick is amazing.