Monday, January 3, 2011

Enjoy your handcrafted beverage without breaking the piggy bank


Do you jumpstart your day with a cup of gourmet Joe or fragrant tea? If so, you may be feeling a pinch from your caffeine habit. After all, coffee and tea prices are rising, even in this economy.

How do you balance your checkbook AND have your beverage of choice? The answer is simple; join a coffee shop’s loyalty program. Let’s say that Starbucks (SBUX) is your favorite store, you need to perform the three steps listed below.

1: Buy a SBUX gift card.

Bonus: To earn more savings, you can redeem your credit card rewards for a SBUX card. For instance, you can cash in $45 of your Discover credit card rewards for a $50 SBUX card. You get an extra cup of beverage just for doing that.

2: Register the card for the loyalty program on the SBUX company website.

3: Use your card for all your purchases at SBUX.

Once you bought five drinks using the card, you qualify for the green level. This means that you get free syrups, refills on brewed drinks, and many more goodies. That is a saving of up to $4!

To earn the highest level of the loyalty program, you have to buy 30 drinks using your SBUX card. Once you have earned the gold status, you get a personalized gold card, a free drink on your birthday and with every 15 drinks you buy, as well as special offers in addition to the green level perks for one year. Assuming that you buy three SBUX drinks a week, you will earn a free drink in five weeks, and save up to $60 in a year!

With the coffee rewards deal, you get your beverages and earn sweet rewards. You may not even feel that pinch from your caffeine habit anymore.

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