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Save 20% at Starbucks Every Day!

By Frugaling 7 Comments

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Starbucks Coffee Savings

Search for how to save money at Starbucks, and you’ll find millions of results. People love finding ways to cut their costs at a place they love. Some go to Starbucks to meet friends or to grab a quick pick-me-up at lunch. And for many, it’s a daily habit: wake up, grab a coffee, and drive to work. The company has carefully crafted a strategy of home, work, and Starbucks. Their goal is to have you spending significant amount of time at their retail stores.

Personally, I have a couple cups of coffee each day. Sometimes they’re from Starbucks, and sometimes they’re not. As a frugal person, it’s hard to see any purchased coffee as a thrifty choice. It’s not. To brew a pot of coffee might cost $.40-.50. If you get a tall coffee at Starbucks, that’ll set you back about $1.89 (and that’s just for a plain coffee). Of course, the frugal choice is staying home, but sometimes I like going out and grabbing one on the go. Sometimes there’s just something wonderful about working in a coffee house.

Regardless, my ultimate goal is to save every dollar and dime I can no matter the place. People tend to criticize Starbucks for being “too expensive,” but a cup of coffee is pretty reasonably priced. If I go anywhere else in town, I’ll be looking at about $2 or more for the same size.

It’s been two years since I last wrote about saving money at Starbucks. Much has changed with the company and my wallet since then. Nowadays, I can save 20% or more at Starbucks — every day. Here’s how you can, too.

1. Start with a cash back card (6% savings)

To achieve this level of savings, you must start with a cash back credit card. Personally, I use the Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express. This card is designed to give you 6% at grocery stores, 3% for gas, and 1% for everything else. I only use the card for grocery and gas purchases (bonus tip: the Amex card even works at Aldi to save me an additional 6% on groceries).

Now, you might be wondering how Starbucks could ever be considered a grocery store. How could someone actually net 6%? The answer takes a couple more steps to understand. Stick with me.

2. Buy an eBay gift card to purchase a Starbucks gift card (10% savings)

At a local grocery store, look at their gift cards aisle. If they’re like mine, you’ll find tons of options from Amazon, Chilis, and even Starbucks. But you don’t want to buy a Starbucks gift card yet; albeit, that’d net you a cool 6% rapidly. Instead, we need to buy an eBay gift card.

After buying an eBay card, search on their website for a Starbucks gift card. You’ll find tons of offerings. A good rule of thumb is 10% — that’s the expected discount off the face value of the card. This process takes time. To purchase an eBay gift card, then a Starbucks gift card, and wait for it to arrive at your home might take a couple weeks. For me, it’s worth it because I know I’ll eventually go to Starbucks again; when I do, I want to save.

3. Register for Star Rewards (5% savings)

In the last couple years since I wrote about saving at Starbucks, they changed Star Rewards. The process involved some chicanery, but the bottomline is they devalued their entire program. For every dollar spent, people earn two points. Once earned, you can buy almost anything with a reward (how about a venti fancy-frap or calorie-packed pastry?).

Based on my coffee calculations, it now takes 35 cups to get a reward. Ouch! This miniscule savings does help, though. By registering the card with an established reward account, you’ll save about 5%, conservatively.

4. Bring your own tumbler (5.3% savings)

I bring a reusable tumbler before I ever scan my rewards card. Thankfully, Starbucks provides a hearty 10-cent discount each time.

Want to look like you just got a Starbucks and be frugal, too? Starbucks sells a reusable tumbler for $2 (and I believe it’ll count for Star Rewards as a purchase).

Order a tall coffee for $1.89, and then it becomes $1.79. Ten cents might be laughable, but over time these costs add up. By using a tumbler each time for coffee, you’ll be saving about 5.3% more. If you forget your tumbler, order a short coffee (8 oz) to save about $0.10 off a tall.

5. Take advantage of free refills (50% savings)

Most coffee places don’t offer free refills. For registered Star Rewards members, cups of coffee can be refilled for free. Now, a $1.79 cup of coffee can become $0.90. Or, $0.60 if you really are looking to get your coffee buzz on!

Even without the refills, Starbucks becomes a solid option for those looking to have a cup of coffee while out on the town, crossing the country, or just looking to get a little work done. By combining these strategies, I save over 20% every day at Starbucks.

Do you go to Starbucks? What tricks do you have to save at coffee shops?

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: Cheap Coffee, Coffee, Coffee Shops, Cup, Save Money, savings, Star Rewards, Starbucks

The Difference Between Cheap And Frugal Coffee

By Frugaling 25 Comments

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Photo Russell James Smith on Flickr

I got home the other night and my roommate asked, “What’s the cheapest coffee per ounce?” I didn’t know. That simple question spawned a two-hour search — digital and physical — to find the cheapest possible option.

We scoured Amazon.com for different brands. There were Coffee Bean Direct, 8 O’Clock Coffee, Starbucks, and everything in between online. After some math from elementary school that seemed far too hard to remember, we divided nearly every brand by ounces to find the cheapest price.

The most affordable was about 30 cents per ounce. In the back of my mind, I remembered that I had a coupon for $1 off of Walgreen’s “Nice” coffee. This blatantly huge canister comes in at nearly 33-ounces of pre-ground coffee. After coupon, it came to 23 cents per ounce.

My roommate said, “Let’s go to the Walgreens and try it!” The clock read 9:30 PM. Drinking a bunch of caffeinated coffee didn’t seem smart, but against my better judgment I immediately said “yes.”

We hopped on our bicycles and rode to the store. Headlights ablaze, we were men on a mission. Inside, we quickly walked over to the coffee aisle and found “Nice.” It sat precariously close to Folgers. My roomie was quick to point out that markets regularly pair their generics next to comparable products.

Coffee and eggs

If the “Nice” canister was supposed to be similar to Folgers, it’d be undrinkable at any cost. I had tried Folgers before, and realized that if I ever needed to quit coffee, this would be the perfect prescription. Folgers had perfected the art of throwing unknown substances in large drums — before anyone else. Open any pack, and you find a strange blend of irregularly roasted chips of what they call “coffee.” That diversity of substances is paired with a uniquely acidic taste — like drinking an alkaline battery. But there was “Nice.” Maybe it’d be better?

After purchasing the canister, we rode back to immediately brew a cup. It was just like Folgers. The smell, the taste, the look… Everything about it screamed of substandard quality. I wanted to swig mouthwash and chew soap to clear my palette of this abomination. “Nice” would be returned the next day, as Walgreens’ return policy guaranteed my satisfaction. Two-three cents per ounce were 23 too many.

Saving money has a limit. At some point, frugality becomes cheap to a fault. Every product has a different barrier, and sometimes spending a little more upfront creates a better value. Either way, I have a few takeaways — some rules — that you should follow on your search for a more affordable cup.

1. Search for 100% Arabica

For casual coffee drinkers, scan the package for the source and type of coffee beans. Some popular regions include Central America, Africa, and East Asia. Unlike my “Nice” coffee experience, where the canister read, “100% coffee,” you want to see a bag that says, “100% Arabica beans.” This will help ensure that you are actually drinking real coffee, and not twigs and dirt.

2. Buy whole beans

Whole beans retain their flavor and oils longer then ground coffee. There’s nothing better than some freshly ground coffee. Packaged ground coffee, by any brand, is a big flavor sacrifice. If the goal is to maximize flavor on a budget, stick with whole bean. It usually doesn’t cost any more and assures that you can see what’s going into your hot cup o’ joe.

3. Buy in bulk

But if you can’t buy in bulk and have to buy coffee quick, stick with 12 to 16 ounce packages. While these can’t compete to bulk coffee, you can usually find one brand on sale — exercise strength and resist brand loyalty. Additionally, packages are more frequently purchased, so they tend to be fresher than the metal containers.

4. Stay away from the canisters of coffee

Ugh, I can’t stress this enough. The bulk, pre-ground, canister-style coffees are awful. It’s gas station coffee that’s set out for hours on end. It’s the leftover shards that no other coffee company wants. It might cost a few more cents per ounce to stay away, but I assure you that this is worth it. Just think, you’re saving tons of money over buying coffee out and about!

5. Buy with friends

The best part of about being frugal has nothing to do with padding my own wallet. Frugality is a social starter — something that brings people together and helps them question their values around money. Sharing in this pursuit of the cheapest coffee wasn’t just about saving a dollar here and there, it was about experimenting with a friend. And nothing helps save more than buying in bulk with others. If you can, try to buy whole beans with others — go to Costco or local roasters and ask for deals. There are savings in numbers.

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: affordable, Beans, cheap, Coffee, Frugal, grind

How Do Your Favorite Companies Make Things Right?

By Frugaling 9 Comments

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Last week I prepped and dressed for a major event at my college. Deans and various important people would be in attendance. My energy was waning from a long week, and I needed a coffee first. I ran up the block to the Starbucks and grabbed my regular “short” coffee. That’s when some serious trouble started.

When I left the store, I noticed the cup was leaking. Drips were landing all over the concrete, and despite attempts to avoid my clothes, the coffee stained what I was wearing. I thought, “Great! Nothing better than being around everyone in the college with big stains.”

I decided to snap a shot of the cup and tweet @Starbucks. And surprisingly, customer service asked me to email them. I emailed them last week and did not hear anything for a couple days.

Please @Starbucks!!!! Fix your cups. pic.twitter.com/IwX8OLynIr

— frugaling (@frugalingorg) September 26, 2014

Today, I received a response:

I am so sorry the lid was leaking. I want to thank you for bringing this issue to our attention, and assure you that your feedback has been forwarded to our manufacturing department for further review. This is definitely an issue we need to get fixed. I would like to invite to participate in our bring your own cup promotion that will give you a $0.10 discount on your beverage purchase. I would like to send you a Starbucks Card that you may use towards the purchase of your own personal tumbler. If you would please be so kind to reply to this email with your name and mailing address and I will send it right out. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to fix something that went wrong. [emphasis added]

My head goes in two separate directions regarding large, multinational corporations. On one side, I think about their effects on local communities. Starbucks is notorious for ousting local coffee shops and destroying competition. Many companies (here’s looking at you Wal-Mart) exterminate mom-and-pop stores that can’t buy large enough quantities to lessen consumer prices and maintain margins. On the other side, there are companies that actually try to make things right when your experience is negative. Starbucks is one of them.

Large companies have arsenals of social networking and customer service individuals. Some recognize that an awful social media presence and negative comments can weigh on profits. While motivated to quiet negativity, some actually reach out to correct experiences and leave you happy to come back.

Starbucks isn’t alone. My favorite companies know how to make things right. For example, I’m a big fan of Zappos, the online shoe retailer, because of their customer service. I’ve received incorrect sizes, colors, and flawed objects. Each time that’s happened, I’ve been able to receive next-day replacements and refunds. There was even a time when they accepted a return on running shoes, which had given trouble on my feet but had already been broken in. That secured my loyalty with the company.

As a frugal person, it’s important to consider where I make my purchases. Not every item will work out. When those occasions arise, I want to be able to trust that my goodwill can be returned in kind. Frugality is about more than low prices. It requires an active role in consuming goods — aiming to find long-term value.

Here are some tips for finding companies that respect your choice to shop with them:

  • Do they accept returns without receipts?
  • Will they allow you to return, exchange, or replace without question?
  • How easily can you reach customer service? Are they just a tweet away?
  • How do your favorite companies make things right?

What are some of your favorite companies? How do they make things right?

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: Coffee, Companies, customer service, Make things right, retail, Starbucks, zappos

I Visited The Mall Of America And Only Bought A Coffee

By Frugaling 16 Comments

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Mall of America Consumption Junction
Photo: Cliff/flickr

About a month ago I decided to tag along with a good friend of mine to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Despite traveling through much of America, I’d never been to the land o’ lakes. It was time, and the price was right: free. My friend was going up there anyways and the passenger seat was empty.

I hemmed and hawed, thinking about my budget. In recent months I’ve become a bit mad about saving money. Heck, I’ve come undone by a mere $4 book that I avoided! But that militancy towards my budget has largely paid off. My savings has quickly ballooned.

Nonetheless, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to join in the fun and meet some new people. The drive, about five hours from Iowa City, Iowa to Minneapolis, Minnesota, is through some of the more fertile land in America. This is truly where our food comes from. Always a suburb or city-boy at heart, I quickly displayed my naivete when I incorrectly labeled corn stalks as, “ahhh, look at that, they’re growing soybeans!” Yeah, I was out of my element.

When we finally closed in on the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, I was pumped to be in this new city. Whenever I’m out of my home cities, I feel a powerful urge to be both anxious and excited — all at once. That rush was endless, as around every corner there was something new and different about the Twin Cities. I loved it!

Along the way, my friend said, “Is there anything you want to do in particular? Is there anything you really want to see?” With a wistful, targetless attitude, I suggested that I was open to anything, but had no idea where to go next. That’s when he said, “How about we check out the Mall of America?”

Instantly, this rush of excitement filled me. Think about all of the numerous shops and stores and restaurants! The Mall of America was founded in 1992 and has about 7,900,000 square feet of space, which is spread out between a shocking number of floors and land. Walking into this place, it’s like an amusement park; in fact, there’s one built-in to the mall!

I soon turned to my friend and said the most obvious thing I could think of, “This place is just made for people to consume and buy more stuff.” Clouded and in shock, I decided to walk into a coffee shop and imbibe a small one. The two of us, propped onto some cushy couches and people watched.

There were women barely wearing anything — bursting out of their skintight clothing. There were families battling for the next choice in destination. There were young people and old.

Finally, we decided it was time to go. As we made our departure, a family asked nearby shoppers to take a picture of them. They had one child in their stroller, who was saddled with bags upon bags of new clothing. In the middle of taking another picture — curiously positioned in front of an elevator — the child fell backwards, as the weight of the bags outweighed the young one.

Mall of America Coffee ConsumptionI turned to my friend and couldn’t help laughing aloud. Here we were in consumption central, and someone had loaded this stroller so full of products that the child was no longer safe. Somehow it spoke to me. Why are we buying like this when we know that the environment is suffering and the total U.S. consumer debt stands at a whopping $11.4 trillion? The family, curiously, just propped the kid back up in the stroller and resumed the photos — bags still weighing down the stroller. They certainly put new meaning to the cliche, “Shop till you drop.”

Now, as Minneapolis develops a light rail system to and from the airport and city, those on an airport layover needn’t see the metropolis. Instead, you can just hop on the public transportation directly to the Mall and buy endlessly. You don’t even need to see the local culture!

Like surviving a crazy amusement ride, I feel like I need a t-shirt that says, “I went to the Mall of America and all I bought was a coffee.”

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: Coffee, Consume, Consumption, Mall of America, Malls, Shopping, Travel

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