Starbucks

What You Actually Get When You Win Free Food for Life

Damian Davila — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 08:30:10 +0000

Some people say that there's no such thing as a free lunch. However, there are plenty of retailers promising you the chance to score free meals, ranging from pizza to ice cream, for life! Are these contest prizes too good to be true, though? Let's find out what you actually get when you win "free food for life."

1. McDonald's Free Soft Serve for Life

In honor of National Ice Cream Day, McDonald's offered a free vanilla cone and a chance to win free soft serve for life for customers who downloaded and used the Mickey D's app to redeem their vanilla cone on July 16 between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. While the promise of a cool treat for every day of your life was quite nice, the actual prize was even better: a $312 McDonald's Arch Card and a check for $4,680. Hey, nothing is as refreshing as cold, hard cash! (See also: Never Miss Free Ice Cream Again: Complete Calendar of Annual Free Stuff Days)

2. PizzaRev's Free Pizza for Life

Pizza tastes so good that some wish they could eat it every day. Banking on that idea, the chain PizzaRev ran a #BeRevolutionary contest to win pizza for life. So, what does that mean? According to the contest's official rules, California resident Haley won a maximum of one pizza per week in 2017. That's 52 pizzas a year for the rest of her life!

3. Undz's Free Pizza for Life

The definition of "for life" can vary a lot across retailers. Take for example, underwear online retailer Undz, which offered the chance to score free pizza for life. The catch? It specified one large pizza each week for 20 years. If you do the math that translates to a total 1,040 large pizzas.

4. Circle K's Free Soda for Life

During hot days, a tall cold glass of the fizzy stuff can quench your thirst and hit the spot. Convenience store chain Circle K offered U.S. residents one grand prize of free Polar Pop for Life and 35 first prizes of the same soda for one year. The grand prize was actually a $10,950 Circle K gift card, and the 35 first prizes were awarded as $365 Circle K gift cards. With such a gift card, winning "free soda" also meant you could get anything from coffee to hot dogs to snacks at this convenience store.

5. Starbucks' Free Coffee for Life

Caffeine lovers, rejoice! The promise of the bitter, black elixir for free for life is just too titillating and was brought to life by the biggest coffee chain in the world. For the grand prize winner, Starbucks For Life meant a daily credit for 30 years for one free food or beverage item redeemable at participating stores in the U.S. The daily credit would be delivered through a registered Starbucks smartphone app or registered gift card. Alcoholic beverage menu items were off limits to the grand prize winner.

6. Vehicle City Tacos' Free Tacos for Life

So far, we've reviewed free-food-for-life offers that were subject to luck. Here's one that required you to actually go on a dare. Flint, Michigan-based Vehicle City Tacos grants one free taco every day for life to customers who tattoo a taco saying "VCT" or "Vehicle City Taco" on their bodies. The tattoo must also be at least 3-by-3 inches and be located somewhere that can be shown in public.

7. Burger King's Free Whoppers for Life

In the U.S., the King is very selective about who he selects to hand out the coveted BK Crown Card — which grants you free Burger King menu items, such as the whopper, for life. There are 12 famous BK Crown Card holders, including Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Hudson (former Burger King employee), and George Lucas.

But instead of limiting itself to well-known celebrities, Burger King chose a different route in Argentina (where it's been for over 60 years) and gave average Janes and Joes with a unique feature a chance to get free food for life. All Argentina residents with last name "Parrilla" (which translates to "grill" in English) would be eligible to get free whoppers for life after registering at a local store and providing their government-issued ID number.

With about 12,000 Parrillas living in Argentina, that was a bold move for Burger King! In the end, an estimated 300 Parrillas took Burger King up on the offer. "Free Whopper for Life" meant one free Whopper per month at any Burger King store in Argentina for the entire life of the registered Parrilla.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Damian Davila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Big Brands Making the World a Better Place

Emily Guy Birken — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 11:00:08 +0000

We tend to believe that big retailers are only interested in the bottom line. But many large retail companies do want to make the world a better place, and they are happy to put their profits and influence to work in order to do so. The following big retailers are working to create a better world, which means you can feel great about spending your money with them.

1. Patagonia

This outdoor clothing giant has long been a supporter of grass roots environmental groups. Back in 1986, the company pledged to donate 1% of its daily global sales to environmental organizations, which amounted to a donation of $7.1 million in 2015. But this year, Patagonia decided to step up its game by pledging to give away 100% of the sales it brought in on Black Friday, and shoppers responded. The company made $10 million in sales on Black Friday, and every single penny of it will be given to various environmental organizations all around the world.

Though the Black Friday initiative is over, shoppers looking for outdoor gear can still feel good about spending their money with Patagonia, since 1% of their sales will still go to helping the environment.

2. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Who doesn't love ice cream, especially when it comes with a side of social, economic, and environmental values? The Ben & Jerry's brand is about more than just funny ice cream names and unique flavor combinations — founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield created a three-part mission to guide all of their decision making.

Their product mission drives them to make fantastic ice cream using the best ingredients while promoting business practices that respect the environment. Their economic mission asks them to manage their company for sustainable financial growth that respects the needs of all employees. That means offering their lowest-paid workers more than twice the national minimum wage. And their social mission compels the brand to operate in a way that initiates innovative ways to improve quality of life.

And 7.5% of the company's pretax profit is given away each year to philanthropic endeavors through Ben & Jerry's Foundation. This extraordinary level of giving was set way back in 1985, and has continued since the sale of the ice cream label in 2000 to Unilever.

All of this together means you can feel great anytime you dig into a pint of Cherry Garcia.

3. Starbucks

The coffee giant is committed to corporate social responsibility and ethical business practices. When it comes to their product, Starbucks focuses on the sustainable production of coffee. This is why everyone's favorite purveyor of pumpkin spice lattes created Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices, a set of guidelines to achieve product quality, economic accountability, social responsibility, and environmental leadership in the coffee production business. In terms of their employees, Starbucks has always been a leader in providing outstanding benefits, including health insurance to part-time baristas, and tuition reimbursement for part- and full-time workers who wish to continue their educations.

On top of these ethical business practices, Starbucks makes a point of giving back through investments in alternative loan programs to help small businesses. As of 2015, Starbucks has invested $21.3 million overall in such programs.

The company works to support many communities, including veterans and military, farming communities, youth, and underserved and marginalized groups through their diversity and inclusion initiatives. They are also committed to helping the environment through their business practices by focusing on reducing waste, conserving energy, and by working to bring all of their stores up to LEED certified building standards.

Starbucks is truly committed to making sure your morning coffee is something you can feel good about.

4. Zappos

The online shoe (and clothing) retailer has long been known for its excellent customer service. The company believes that happy employees mean happy customers, and they focus on the well-being of all of their employees to ensure great service.

If Zappos were simply a great employer, that would be enough of a reason to shop with them. We do need to support businesses that want to provide excellent jobs to their workers. But Zappos also takes their role in the community very seriously. Each Thanksgiving, the company feeds over 1,000 Las Vegas families in its headquarters, and gives away shoes and socks to anyone needing a new pair. In addition, the e-tailer donates Zappos goods, as well as money, to a number of charitable organizations, including Operation Glass Slipper, which provides dresses and accessories to girls who could not otherwise afford prom clothing, and Project WE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of young people through participation in arts in athletics.

Ordering a new pair of kicks or some new clothes at Zappos will give you both phenomenal customer service and an opportunity to support a company that does a great deal of good.

5. Lowe's

Recently, a photo of Lowe's Home Improvement employee Clay Luthy and his service dog Charlotte made the rounds on social media. Luthy is a disabled vet who needs to have Charlotte with him, and because of that he found it difficult to find a job, until the home improvement retailer hired him and welcomed his service dog on the sales floor.

For many people, this viral photo was the first indication that Lowe's had a social conscience, but it has long been committed to helping people "love where they live," which includes everything from helping customers with home improvement, to helping make communities stronger, to helping protect the environment.

The Lowe's Toolbox for Education, which was launched in 2005, has benefitted nearly 8,000 schools. The home improvement retailer has focused on bringing better products to the market, working with suppliers to remove ortho-phthalate plasticizers from residential flooring, and committing to phasing out the sale of products that contain chemicals that can harm pollinators.

Lowe's is also committed to providing an excellent working environment to its employees, as Clay Luthy's story has highlighted. It has launched a mentoring program that pairs minority and female store managers with market directors to help grow their leadership skills, and it works to build diversity within the company through its recruiting efforts.

Make the World Better With Your Shopping Choices

Big retailers can make a big impact, and these five companies use their resources to improve lives, communities, and the environment. Spending your hard-earned money with them will not only offer you great products, but also a better world.

This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Stocks to Dump Before the New Year

Tim Lemke — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 10:00:08 +0000

We here at Wise Bread are big supporters of long-term investing. Therefore, we don't really advocate selling stocks just because they aren't trading where you want them to be at any given moment. That said, there are times when selling some securities at year's end makes sense.

In some instances, it's time to sell an investment because they are stinkers, plain and simple. In other instances, it may be time to cut ties because there's little good news on the horizon to suggest they will grow in value in the coming year. But in other cases, it's a matter of selling at a loss in order to offset capital gains elsewhere, thus saving on your tax bill. (You can always buy these stocks back if they are still trading at low prices, as long as you wait more than 30 days.)

Here are some notable stocks and other investments that may be worth selling before the calendar turns.

1. Nike [NYSE: NKE]

Nike used to be the king of everything athletics, but it's been facing some stiff competition in recent years from Reebok, adidas, and the new biggest player, Under Armour. Nike is still a huge brand, but shares are down 17% in 2016. Sales growth has been uninspiring, margins have been shrinking, and no one really knows how low Nike will go.

2. Starbucks [NYSE: SBUX]

Starbucks is a solid company, so there's an argument to be made that you should never sell shares once you own them. But the company had a less-than-stellar year, with shares falling more than 2% in 2016, and some analysts have argued that the company is no longer in a position to see massive growth year after year. The American market is a bit saturated, and it may take time for some of the company's investments overseas to bear fruit. Starbucks could be a bargain for those who don't already own shares, but if you bought shares early in 2016, you may be able to use some losses to offset gains elsewhere in your portfolio.

3. Coca-Cola [NYSE: KO]

Yes, we know Warren Buffett, America's #1 Coke Lover, would probably have something to say about this. But the reality is that Coca-Cola hasn't had a good year, and faces continued headwinds as it looks to sell products to a populace that is growing more health conscious. Coke shares are down more than 4.5% in 2016. Sales are expected to decline next year after the company spun off most of its bottling operation. Dividends from Coca-Cola are still solid, but some say they have come at the expense of growth. All of this comes at a time when the company's CEO announced he would resign next May.

4. Anheuser-Busch InBev [NYSE: BUD]

Shares of the big beer maker are down nearly 18% in 2016 as the industry faces stiff competition from craft breweries. A-B InBev did complete its takeover of SABMiller, but it will take a while for that merger to have a positive impact. Long-term investors will probably still want to hang on to this stock, but anyone looking for a rebound in price in the short term shouldn't hold their breath.

5. The Walt Disney Co. [NYSE: DIS]

On one hand, Disney owns some very profitable theme parks and a humble movie franchise called Star Wars. But questions surround its television offerings, as cord cutters have led to declining subscriptions of its channels, most notably ESPN. Shares are down more than 1.6% in 2016 and 6% in the last 52 weeks. Disney has made some investments to take advantage of the shift from cable to streaming, but it may take time before we see if they pay off.

6. Monster Beverage [Nasdaq: MNST]

There was a time when Monster, a top maker of energy drinks, was one of the hottest stocks available for trade. But like Coke and Starbucks, the story for beverages wasn't great in 2016. Shares of Monster have fallen 13% in 2016. Some analysts say Monster will see strong sales growth as the overall market for energy drinks expands. But with a price-to-earnings ratio that's nearly 40% higher than the national average, Monster is hardly a bargain.

7. Biotech and Pharma

It just hasn't been a good year if you invested in biotech or pharmaceuticals. Companies including Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Bristol Myers-Squibb have all posted losses in 2016. And a look at the biggest losers among ETFs and mutual funds will include a large dose of biotech and pharma. These investments are known for their volatility, so if you knew that going in, perhaps you have the stomach to ride the wave and see if things rebound in 2017. Otherwise, it may be time to cut your losses.

8. Automakers

Major car manufacturers here in the U.S. and abroad had mediocre years at best. Shares of Ford [NYSE: F] are down about 7.5%, while Toyota and Honda are also in negative territory. Auto sales aren't bad, so there's no massive risk in holding on to some of these stocks. But a tough market in Latin America and uncertainty about trade agreements under the incoming Trump administration are making investors wonder when the growth in share prices will return.

This article is from Tim Lemke of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Starbucks Savings Hacks That Actually Work

Kyle James — Mon, 16 May 2016 09:30:18 +0000

Frugal folks like us tend to have a love-hate relationship with Starbucks. We love the tasty goodness of their beverages, but hate the high cost of something we can often do at home for pennies on the dollar. But I'm here to tell you that Starbucks doesn't have to be expensive if you can incorporate some clever money-saving hacks into your coffee routine.

The best thing about these tips is they won't make you look cheap, and more importantly, they won't make the barista hate you.

1. Order a Tall in a Grande Cup

When ordering a regular cup of brewed coffee at Starbucks, and not a $5 milkshake, consider ordering a Tall coffee in a Grande cup. Not only will the barista happily oblige, but once they're done filling your cup, you'll often end up with close to a Grande serving size of coffee. Then you can add your milk or cream and end up with practically a full cup for less money. This obviously works for other sizes, too. For example, you could order a Grande coffee and ask for it in a Venti cup.

So if you like to add cream or milk to your coffee, this is a great hack as you'll never have to make room for it by dumping out some coffee into the garbage can. Because no matter how much "room" you ask for, it never seems to be enough as Starbucks coffee is quite strong and many like it with a good amount of the white stuff.

2. Score Free Refills

A great hack that'll score you more coffee for less is to take advantage of Starbuck's free refill policy. To make it happen, simply sign up for their Rewards Program and get free in-store refills on hot or cold brewed coffee or tea. Be warned, once you leave the Starbucks location, you can't come back in later and get your refill. I started taking advantage of their free refills last year and instead of drinking it, I'd refrigerate the second free cup for later. Then when I needed a pick-me-up in the afternoon, I'd use it make a tasty iced beverage.

3. Ask for "Half Ice"

The next time you order an iced beverage, consider asking for "half ice." If you've ever seen a barista add ice to your cup, you know just how much frozen water they put in there. So by politely asking for less ice, you'll often end up with the next size beverage for free. While you might not always get half as much ice, must employees that I've seen will definitely add a little less to your cup.

4. Get Your Caffeine Fix With a "Short"

Most loyal Starbucks enthusiasts know the main cup sizes to be Tall, Grande, Venti, and Trenta. But are you aware that there is a fifth size called a "Short?" It's smaller (8 oz.) and cheaper than the 12 oz. Tall and an excellent way to get your caffeine fix on the cheap. For example, a Short cappuccino has the same amount of espresso as the Tall size. So if a caffeine pick-me-up is your main objective, ordering a Short is the cheapest route to go.

5. Split and Save

If you've ever ordered a "Venti" anything from Starbucks, you already know what an enormous size it is. Heck, it's so big, you can use the empty cup as a gas can if you like. So if you're driving through a Starbucks with your spouse or friend, and you're both craving the same cold drink, just order a Venti and politely ask if they can split it for you. While they'll typically not divide it for you, they'll always give you an empty cup so you can do it yourself.

Let's do the math on this hack. A Venti Cold size comes in a 24 oz. cup. So if you split it, you each get 12 oz., which is just a bit smaller than the 14 oz. Grande. A Venti iced coffee will cost you around $2.95 where the smaller Grande will cost you $2.45. So after you've added a little creamer, you've essentially gotten two Grande sizes for about $1.50 each by splitting a Venti.

6. Bring Your Own Cup

If you bring in your own cup to any Starbucks, you'll get $0.10 off your beverage, any size. They'll do the same thing if you bring in a competitor's cup, except they'll replace it with one of their own. Definitely not a huge savings, but it will add up over time, plus you keep a bunch of cups from ending up in the landfill.

7. Drinking With Friends?

The next time you're meeting up with friends at your local Starbucks, consider ordering a French Press to share. It usually comes in a 32 or 45 oz. size and the coffee beans are ground, poured, and plunged before being delivered to your table. You can typically get 6-8 normal sized cups of coffee out of a single press. Aside from the delicious fresh taste, the cost makes it a very attractive choice if everyone is drinking coffee. Expect to only have to pay in the $3.50 to $5 range, depending on the size of the press and the particular Starbucks location.

How do you save money at Starbucks? Or do you just stay home and brew your own?

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

4 Starbucks Drinks You Can Easily Make Yourself

Ashley Eneriz — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 10:00:09 +0000

Does it seem like most articles on saving money say things like this?

"Cut out your daily Starbucks latte to effortlessly save $40 a week."

While that advice is effective and accurate, it forgets one major thing. What about those of us who can't make it through the week without our favorite caffeinated beverage? Yes, cutting Starbucks from your budget cold-turkey will save you a noticeable amount of money, but these easy, DIY Starbucks drinks will keep your budget in check.

Iced Tea and Iced Tea Lemonade

Let's start with the easiest of the Starbucks drinks to duplicate at home — the teas and tea lemonades. Starbucks used to use the Tazo brand tea for its teas, but switched to Teavana. As an avid Starbucks tea drinker, I don't notice a huge difference, which means you can stick with Tazo's Zen, Passion, or Awake tea bags for your DIY brew.

To get the right tea brew, pour 3-4 cups of boiling water over four tea bags. Green and black teas will steep about 3-5 minutes, and Passion tea and other fruity teas will steep a minute or two longer. Add three cups of cold water on top and store your pitcher of tea in the refrigerator.

To make your tea or tea lemonade Starbucks-style, a shaker cup is key. The shaking method that baristas use isn't just to mix everything together, it actually aerates the tea and makes the drink taste better. I have been drinking Starbucks teas for almost a decade, and I can tell you that there is a noticeable difference in taste between a shaken and a non-shaken tea.

A shaker cup like the Blender Bottle works perfectly for shaking your teas. For sweetened teas, use six pumps of sweetener or save even more money an make your own with sugar and water. Then fill the shaker with one-third tea, one-third water or lemonade, and add ice to the top. Shake and enjoy.

Iced Coffee

The secret to Starbucks iced coffee is that it's brewed very strong. It's important to start with a strong ground coffee, using your favorite brand. In my experience, the more affordable brands, like Folgers, don't brew strong or deep enough, but go with your preference.

Once your coffee is brewed, allow to cool and store in the refrigerator. You can sweeten it with a homemade classic syrup or another DIY flavored syrup, such as white mocha or vanilla syrup. Add half-and-half or milk, and then top off with ice. Yum!

Caramel Macchiato

It's no secret that Starbucks uses an espresso machine to pour their shots. If you have an espresso machine, then you will have an easy time being your own barista. However, for those of us working with just a coffee maker or coffee press, it is still possible to get close to the espresso taste. I recommend brewing Starbucks espresso ground coffee, which are the same beans Starbucks baristas use in their machines. Brew your coffee stronger than usual.

For a caramel macchiato, start by squirting 5-6 pumps of vanilla syrup in your cup. You can buy a bottle of vanilla syrup or make your own by boiling two cups of sugar with two cups of water, and adding a 1-2 tablespoons of vanilla extract. For hot drinks, fill your cup with ¾ cup of warmed milk.

If you have a milk frother, froth a little bit of milk to make a foam to go on top. Pour strong coffee on top of your foam and milk, then drizzle a caramel syrup in a hashtag pattern. You can use an inexpensive caramel sauce, like Smucker's caramel sundae sauce, or make your own with heavy cream, butter, and brown sugar. (See also: Don't Tell Anyone: 11 Secret Starbucks Saving Tips)

Caramel Frappuccino

Starbucks Frappuccinos are more like milkshakes than coffee, but man, are they tasty! To make the popular caramel frappuccino at home, brew strong coffee. Try brewing your coffee with two tablespoons of ground coffee per cup of water for stronger results.

Then you will blend one cup of low-fat milk, one cup of coffee, and two cups of ice, just like this copycat recipe suggests. Instead of blending in caramel sauce or sugar, I recommend making simple syrup and add caramel extract to it. Then blend 5-6 tablespoons of that syrup into your frappuccino with a teaspoon o xantham gum or glucomannan powder for a frothier, thicker frappuccino. Finally, top your drink with whipped cream and caramel sauce.

As long as you have strong coffee and the right flavored syrup, you can technically make any latte or frappuccino. Even though Starbucks has a large menu, as a former barista, I can tell you that majority of the drinks are the same, just with different syrups. For example, the only difference between a white mocha and a vanilla latte is the syrup used.

What's your favorite Starbucks drink and have you tried a DIY version for it? Share with us in the comments below!

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Housing Values in Relationship to Proximity to Certain Stores

Kyle James — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 10:30:11 +0000

Finding a home in the right neighborhood can be a daunting task, especially if you're on a strict housing budget. But according to recent studies, you should also add the proximity to specific stores into consideration when looking for your next home. Having these stores in your neighborhood can actually boost your home's value.

Starbucks

According to Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate, ever since 1997, homes located within a quarter-mile of a Starbucks appreciated in value at an average rate of 21%, while homes within a half to quarter-mile rose in value by 17%. In contrast, homes located within the same distance of a Dunkin' Donuts, and not a Starbucks, only appreciated in value by 15%.

Zillow makes the argument that a Starbucks in the neighborhood isn't the result of higher home prices, but in fact, is the cause. Whether home buyers see a Starbucks as a sign of an up-and-coming neighborhood, or a testament to a sense of community where people meet and interact with each other, there's no arguing the data that shows a nearby Starbucks to be something to look for when house hunting.

Whole Foods

The proximity to a Whole Foods grocery store is another excellent thing to look for when shopping for a new home. Zillow discovered that between 1997 and 2014, a strange phenomenon occurred when a Whole Foods announced they were coming into a new neighborhood.

At first, median home values within one mile of the future Whole Foods grew slower than other homes in the same city. But as the grand opening grew nearer, that trend started to reverse dramatically. Once the store opened, homes within one mile appreciated much faster than other homes in the area. While Zillow can't fully explain this phenomena, they point to an overall increase in a neighborhood's desirability as the root cause.

Trader Joe's

Similar to Whole Foods, the proximity to a Trader Joe's is an indicator of a neighborhood with growing home values. Whether it be the perception of a healthy lifestyle or a safer neighborhood, Zillow also found that homes within a mile of a Trader Joe's had appreciated by 10% more than other homes in the area during the two years after a location's grand opening.

According to Zillow CEO, Spencer Rascoff, "the grocery store phenomenon is about more than groceries, it says something about the way people want to live — in the type of neighborhood favored by the generations buying homes now. Today's homebuyers seek things in neighborhoods that weren't even in real estate agents' vocabularies a generation ago: walkability, community, new urbanism — and maybe we should add words like 'sustainable seafood' and 'organic pears.'"

When comparing homes near a Trader Joe's to those near a Whole Foods, TJ's appears to be the clear winner. According to a recent RealtyTrac study, which analyzed the values for 2.3 million homes, they found that houses near a Trader Joe's location "have a higher value on average: $592,339, 5% more than the $561,840 average value for homes near a Whole Foods." Also, homes near a Trader Joe's have appreciated by a whopping 40% on average, while similar homes near a Whole Foods have only appreciated by 34%.

While it should be pointed out that causation does not always imply correlation, I think it's safe to assume that looking for these stores in a neighborhood is worth adding to your arsenal of factors when shopping for a new home. This is especially true when you consider the amount of money and effort that these corporations put into scouting new neighborhoods for potential store locations that will be profitable.

Have you ever used the proximity to these stores as a way to determine the desirability of a neighborhood?

This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Ways to Save Money on Your Cup of Coffee

Carrie Smith — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 15:00:22 +0000

I love a good cup of coffee. In fact, I drink a cup on a daily basis — and I'm not alone. More than half of the U.S. population drinks coffee every day. We fuel our cars with gas from the pump, and we fuel ourselves with caffeine.

If you're a regular coffee drinker, here's how to indulge in your daily cup of coffee while saving money.

1. Make Brewing Coffee an Experience

My mid-morning brew is my favorite time of the day. I look forward to the smell of grinding coffee beans, and sound of a fresh cup brewing in the coffee pot. Then I get excited about mixing up my perfect cup of joe just the way I like it.

This ritual is my mid-morning pick-me-up and something I miss when I'm not at home, or don't get the chance to brew my own cup. Turn brewing your own coffee into a sensory experience by investing in a quality coffee maker, and experimenting with your own coffee style.

From a basic French press to a more expensive Keurig, it's completely up to you how much you spend on a coffee maker. The point is to take your time and brew your own cup. It will save you loads of money, and make getting caffeinated one of your favorite times of the day.

2. Find Deals Online

Doing a quick online search for coffee deals will yield some great results from sites like Groupon or Google offers. You can often find discounted gift cards, coupon codes, and other two-for-one deals for local coffee shops or major chains.

Another way to find exclusive savings is to follow your favorite coffee chain on Twitter or Facebook. They usually offer giveaways, coupons, and gift cards for free coffee — especially around the holiday season. Plus, you'll be able to stay updated on their latest offerings and flavors.

3. Opt for Alternative Creations

If you're a Starbucks drinker, you know how quickly a Grande speciality drink can add up to a pretty penny. Instead, opt for a Misto, which is coffee with steamed milk. Otherwise known as cafe au lait, a Misto won't taste as strong as a regular latte, since it's not made with espresso, but it's still pretty similar, and will allow you to indulge in a daily cup without breaking the bank.

If a Misto isn't your thing, try an Americano for more flavor. It's the opposite of a Misto in that it's made with espresso and hot water, which makes it much stronger in taste. It's more expensive than a regular cup of coffee, but still cheaper than a speciality latte.

4. Order Smaller Sizes

If you're not keen on giving up your favorite speciality drink, consider ordering a smaller size. This will give you the chance to indulge in the same quality caffeine while still being able to save a few bucks. If you order coffee from a local shop on a daily basis, this small savings can really add up in just one month's time. And you won't be missing out on your favorite cup of coffee.

During the summer season especially, places like Starbucks offer limited-time smaller alternatives for their best-sellers. Be sure to take advantage of this! If the price difference isn't significant enough, consider splitting a cup with a friend.

5. Become a Loyalty or Rewards Member

This may be a basic tip, but it's an important one that deserves repeating. Places like Dunkin Donuts, Panera, and Caribou Coffee offer rewards programs for loyal coffee drinkers. I'm a Starbucks Gold member, so every 12 cups of coffee I drink means I receive one free cup. I also get a free cup on my birthday once a year. For a frequent coffee drinker, this adds up to a handful of free drinks (and loads of savings).

These rewards programs also yield member-only savings, discounts, and chances to win free coffee throughout the year. And the best part is; they're free! So there's seriously no risk to joining and earning rewards with every purchase.

6. Bring Your Own Mug

Many local coffee shops, and even chains like Starbucks, reward drinkers with a small discount when they bring in their own mug. Usually the savings are only $0.10–$0.20 but over a period of a month, this adds up to a few dollars, which essentially means a free cup of coffee.

Plus, you're helping the environment by avoiding additional waste. Nothing beats being green — and saving green — while enjoying a cup of coffee.

7. Up the Flavor for Free

As a culture we're obsessed with coffee flavors, additives, and spices. There are literally hundreds of different types of coffee beans, syrups, creamers, and sugars to improve your drink's flavor. (Most of which are free at the barista counter at your local coffee shop.)

Infuse your cup of coffee with cinnamon, cocoa, nutmeg, vanilla, and experiment with other tastings and flavors. You may find a new way to take your coffee that you like even more than your current craving. And as a bonus, it could be a more cost-effective alternative.

8. Try Natural Energy Fixers

If you're just looking for a midday energy boost, consider other energy alternatives to just drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee. Green superfoods, like spinach and kale, provide a healthy energy fix and will give your body some much-needed nutrients.

Try tossing some greens into a smoothie, or munching on dark chocolate, fresh fruit, or ginseng tea. These alternatives will give your body that natural "high" you get from caffeine, that lasts much longer, without the crash in energy later.

9. Join a Coffee Club

Monthly subscription boxes are all the rage right now, and that includes coffee clubs. For around $20 a month you get access to fresh coffee grounds and flavorings from around the world. This allows you to save a lot of money on your daily cup of coffee without sacrificing taste or quality. Plus, you'll be able to test out lots of different styles of coffee, from light to dark.

How do you save on your daily cup of coffee?

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Carrie Smith of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: How to Save at Starbucks

Amy Lu — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 20:00:07 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles with tips on saving money at Starbucks, handling annoying coworkers, and unique ways to save on groceries.

Best Money Tips: Starbucks Hacks That Will Save You Money

Ashley Jacobs — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:00:03 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on Starbucks hacks that will save you money, money mindsets to adopt today, and starting a business you love.

Don't Tell Anyone: 11 Secret Starbucks Saving Tips

POPSUGAR Smart Living — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 14:08:16 +0000

Don't despair if store-bought coffee is your biggest spending vice. Help is on its way, in the form of these smart saving tips that will work at your local Starbucks. Don't thank us — just drink up!

RELATED: How to Save at Target

1. Get Creative

Don't limit yourself to the standard drinks. There are plenty of options that are well under $4, such as iced coffee. If you think that spending less means boring drinks, think again. Check out some the most creative Starbucks mystery menu concoctions under $3.

And if you must go the latte route, try the caffe misto, which is made of of half coffee and half milk. It is not only cheaper, but also has less calories!

2. Refills for 50 Cents

Sometimes one cup just doesn't cut it. Any time throughout the day and on any size, you can refill your cup with brewed coffee for just 50 cents during the same visit. Not a bad price for an extra pick-me-up.

3. Bring Your Own Cup

You'll save 10 cents on the price of your drink when you bring in your own reusable cup, mug, or travel tumbler.

4. The Water Secret

You don't have to reach for bottled water in Starbucks, as the water at Starbucks may even be cleaner. The ice and water used in Starbucks is triple-filtered!

5. Order in Bulk Via Coffee Press

Another way to save money is to order a coffee press pot of coffee, which serves a few cups of coffee. It will be cheaper than ordering the drinks individually. Share with friends or hoard it if you plan on staying at Starbucks for a while, and enjoy the caffeine buzz.

6. Ask for "No Water" With Your Tea

According to one barista on Quora, "Iced Teas are double-strength in pitcher and watered down for your final recipe."

To get more a bang for a buck, request "no water" with your tea, and it won't be watered down.

7. Take Advantage of the Birthday Treat

If you sign up for the Starbucks reward program (registration is free), you're entitled to a free drink when your birthday comes around. Keep in mind that you'll have to redeem it in the 30 days after your birthday.

8. Get a Starbucks Card

If you're a frequent Starbucks customer, there's no reason not to get a Starbucks Card. At no cost to you, a registered card will get you lots of freebies. Here's what you can expect:

Welcome level (which you attain after using your card once)

Free drink or food on your birthday

Green level (which you attain after using your card five times)

Free refills in store
Welcome level rewards
Specialized email offers

Gold level (which you attain after using your card 30 times in 12 months)

Free drink or food reward after every 12 purchases
Welcome and green level rewards
Personalized offers and coupons
Personalized gold card

9. Order a Short

There's an even smaller size than "tall," and it's called "short." It's smaller than a "tall," but it's also less expensive. The "short" cappuccino will have the same amount of espresso as the as its "tall" version, says Slate.

10. Brew It at Home

Be your own barista at home by buying beans at Starbucks stores — they'll even grind the beans for you. Or, you can pick a bag up at the grocery store.

There are even recipes you find online that show you how to make more of its complicated drinks like this frappuccino recipe.

11. Fido's Freebie

Don't forget, your furry pal gets his own freebie, too. Order a puppy latte or puppycino, and your best friend will get a sample cup full of whipped cream.

It can be fun to indulge in a coffee at Starbucks — and with these surprising tips, you can get your coffee fix for less.

Guest Post Blurb:

This is a guest contribution from our friends at POPSUGAR Smart Living. Check out more useful articles from this partner:

This article is from POPSUGAR Smart Living of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Get out the Vote and Grab a Tall Starbucks Coffee for Free!

Linsey Knerl — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:26:29 +0000

Voting anxiety is kickin' in big time. With only a couple days left until the final vote, many are more than ready to make their voices heard – and then head back to life as normal. In an effort to reward those who vote on Nov. 4, Starbucks is pouring free coffee.

Their ad (airing on YouTube and at their website) makes it clear. Come in on Nov. 4^th, say, “I voted,” and grab your tall coffee, no money required. It's a simple gimmick to get people to vote. I think there's a bit more to it than that, however.

It's been three long months of listening to my closest friends, clients, and family Twitter and email non-stop about how important my vote is (as long as it's for their choice of candidate). I'm ready for the vote to take place, and our new Pres to emerge (however disappointed I may possibly be at the results.) This means perhaps we can start getting back to a time when I was less a Party member and more a gal you used to have coffee with.

Starbucks is facilitating a step in the right direction. Free coffee just might get everyone sitting down together, regardless of affiliation. The marketing guys have also figured that a few of us may also buy an over-priced (but delicious) scone, and out of our gratitude for free coffee, we may leave a killer tip.

As with most free promotions, this is about money. Thankfully, it may turn out to be about something more. This promotion runs all day on Nov. 4, at participating Starbucks locations. Get out your vote, pull up a chair next to that voter on the other side of the partisan aisle, and drink one for free.

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Going Short at Starbucks: Worth It?

Joann Hong — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 21:48:50 +0000

News about the "secret" Starbucks short cup is now over a year old, but people still don't believe me when I tell them about this little treasure.

For those who may not have heard yet, the 12 oz. tall cup at Starbucks isn't actually their smallest size. Starbucks has an unadvertised 8 oz. cup, otherwise known as the short, which supposedly works better with certain drinks. Baristas say they've known about it forever, but it really wasn't after this Slate piece that forums abounded with chatter on this subject.

People say different things about why Starbucks doesn't advertise this smaller size. Some Starbucks workers on this forum say it's because America is now XL, and the short cup was squeezed out of the menu for the more popular, bigger venti cup. Starbucks says it's because they just don't have room on their menu.

The short cup doesn't cost remarkably less than the tall (about thirty cents less), but there are different reasons why this smaller size may work for you.

If you're anything like me you like to stick to the simple stuff that gets the trick done. A tall cup of straight coffee from Starbucks is much too strong for me and gives me the shakes. If you're sensitive to caffeine the short cup can give you the boost you need without making you feel cracked out. Also with portions so big nowadays it just feels good to finish something for once. Why pay for something you're going to end up wasting half of anyway?

And if you think this size may not be potent enough, think again. According to the Energy Fiend website the short cup of plain coffee packs in more caffeine than all those horrible tasting energy drinks! Want proof? Click here . It takes way more cans of Monster energy drink than Starbucks short cups to kill you from caffeine overdose.

But the best bit of advice can be learned from the Olsen twins. Did you ever notice how they are always carrying around the hugest cups from Starbucks? Lesson to be learned: too much caffeine isn't good for you! Short jokes aside, trust me, sometimes less can be a lot more.

This article is from Joann Hong of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Stop Being a Slave to Starbucks - How to Quit Caffeine

Andrea Karim — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:42:00 +0000

I finally quit drinking coffee three weeks ago.

It's not something that I particularly wanted to do, but I did it. And now that I have, I'm actually really happy about it. I feel liberated, I feel healthier, and I have already saved myself quite a nice sum of cash — cash that used to go towards black gold of the Starbucks variety.

Now, I'm not one to advocate for a boycott of caffeine or anything. But, if you're already thinking about quitting caffeine, here are some reasons, and methods, for doing so.

Let's get something straight

OK, let me first address some of the accusations that will doubtlessly be thrown at this post:

No, I don't think that there is anything WRONG with drinking caffeinated beverages.
No, I do not hate Starbucks. I actually quite like Starbucks. I know that the title of this article sounds like I want Starbucks to go down in flames, but that's not the case at all. I still occasionally go to Starbucks, and I like their breakfast quiche.
Yes, I realize that caffeine has been shown to have some positive health benefits.
And no, I'm not advising anyone to quit. I'm just offering advice for people who already know that they don't want to consume caffeine anymore.

We good? OK.

Why would anyone want to quit?

Well, there are a number of reasons, but everyone has a different one. Some people freak out when their teeth start to stain. Some people want to save money, others have health reasons. For me, it was sort of a combination of all of these. I have stomach problems, and caffeine only exacerbates them. One cup of coffee in the morning felt like I was drinking a cup of lemon juice. The burning pain was simply too much to deal with.

Also, drinking coffee just got to be a pain in the butt. Traveling somewhere where good coffee is scarce was a hazard (small towns in Nevada, especially). Oddly enough, I have never dated anyone who drinks coffee, so those cute couples that stumble down to Cafe Vita on a weekend in their PJs to share foamy lattes over the Sunday Times? That was never me. Solitary trips to Starbucks aren't nearly as fun as the ones you can take with a fellow caffeine addict.

But most of all, I really hated being a slave to caffeine. I hated the fact that I had to consume at least a cup of coffee within an hour of waking up to stave off a splitting headache. I have a lot to do in the morning — dogs to feed and walk, gear to prepare — it takes me a good hour and a half from bed to door, and that's without much fussing about appearance. A trip to Starbucks made my morning routine that much longer.

Sure, I could brew a pot of coffee, and I often would, but then I'd just drink that much more.

For me, the decision was clear, but it took me a long time to make it, because DAMN, I really love coffee.

Oh, I like other caffeinated beverages as well — Diet Coke is SO good with Indian food. But I could give those up fairly easily, and besides, they don't offer the energy and mental clarity that coffee does. Not even Red Bull has as much caffeine as a cup of drip coffee. Everyone knows that caffeine is a drug, but its effect is so useful, and its side effects so mild that we don't really care. A little nervousness here, some heartburn there, maybe some insomnia — but the sheer energizing potential of a cup of joe makes it seem worth any little needling problems.

Usually. But for me, it simply got too bad. Stomach pain was a major factor, but there were others as well. In any case, once I realized that I had very little choice other than to quit, quitting was fairly easy.

How to quit

I have quit drinking coffee (and other caffeinated beverages) twice, but the first time didn't last. Interestingly enough, the first time I quit, I did it gradually, by simply drinking a little less coffee every day until I was just drinking decaf, and then slowly reducing the amount of decaf that I drank. I managed to stay away from caffeine for a few weeks, but eventually fell off the wagon, as it were.

This most recent time, I quit cold turkey. Just plain stopped. I let myself have a cup of decaf if I was feeling like I might crack and go back to swilling espresso, but mostly I just soldiered through the withdrawal symptoms.

Here are some tips for quitting:

Start on a Friday

It takes anywhere from 4-11 days to be free from caffeine cravings. If you start on a Friday, by the next Monday, you'll be at least 1/3 of the way through.

Drink plenty of water

The faster you cleanse your body of caffeine, the better off you will be. Drinking clean water will purify your blood, help cleanse your liver, and make your body function better. If you want, you can drink some detox tea, but you don't have to. It'll just clean you out a bit faster.

Get the extra sleep that you want and need

Plan ahead and realize that you'll probably need 2-4 more hours of sleep per day while you adjust to a caffeine-free life. You can take it in the form of naps, or just get to bed earlier. But if you don't set aside this time, you will have a very difficult time quitting — you'll be dragging along at 1 p.m. and just NEED a cup of coffee. I know it's difficult, especially with a busy schedule, to find a way to sleep more, but it's an important step.

Get those painkillers ready

Have a headache from withdrawal? Take some ibuprofen or whatever it is that you normally take to get rid of the pain. An ice pack on the forehead or the back of your head can help, too.

Don't be afraid to have some decaf

Yes, there is still caffeine in decaf, but if you need your fix, you might be able to stave off a complete relapse by having a decaf version of your favorite caffeine source.

Discover another energy source

When I'm groggy, I take a quick walk around the block while listening to The Ramones. By the time I'm back at my desk, I'm refreshed and perky. Well, as perky as I get, anyway. An apple is a great replacement for my afternoon coffee.

LifeHacker readers offer some good tips for quitting, too.

This article is from Andrea Karim of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Starbucks

What You Actually Get When You Win Free Food for Life

1. McDonald's Free Soft Serve for Life

2. PizzaRev's Free Pizza for Life

3. Undz's Free Pizza for Life

4. Circle K's Free Soda for Life

5. Starbucks' Free Coffee for Life

6. Vehicle City Tacos' Free Tacos for Life

7. Burger King's Free Whoppers for Life

Like this article? Pin it!

5 Big Brands Making the World a Better Place

1. Patagonia

2. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

3. Starbucks

4. Zappos

5. Lowe's

Make the World Better With Your Shopping Choices

8 Stocks to Dump Before the New Year

1. Nike [NYSE: NKE]

2. Starbucks [NYSE: SBUX]

3. Coca-Cola [NYSE: KO]

4. Anheuser-Busch InBev [NYSE: BUD]

5. The Walt Disney Co. [NYSE: DIS]

6. Monster Beverage [Nasdaq: MNST]

7. Biotech and Pharma

8. Automakers

7 Starbucks Savings Hacks That Actually Work

1. Order a Tall in a Grande Cup

2. Score Free Refills

3. Ask for "Half Ice"

4. Get Your Caffeine Fix With a "Short"

5. Split and Save

6. Bring Your Own Cup

7. Drinking With Friends?

Like this article? Pin it!

4 Starbucks Drinks You Can Easily Make Yourself

Iced Tea and Iced Tea Lemonade

Iced Coffee

Caramel Macchiato

Caramel Frappuccino

Like this article? Pin it!

Housing Values in Relationship to Proximity to Certain Stores

Starbucks

Whole Foods

Trader Joe's

9 Ways to Save Money on Your Cup of Coffee

1. Make Brewing Coffee an Experience

2. Find Deals Online

3. Opt for Alternative Creations

4. Order Smaller Sizes

5. Become a Loyalty or Rewards Member

6. Bring Your Own Mug

7. Up the Flavor for Free

8. Try Natural Energy Fixers

9. Join a Coffee Club

Like this article? Pin it!

Best Money Tips: How to Save at Starbucks

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

Best Money Tips: Starbucks Hacks That Will Save You Money

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

Don't Tell Anyone: 11 Secret Starbucks Saving Tips

1. Get Creative

2. Refills for 50 Cents

3. Bring Your Own Cup

4. The Water Secret

5. Order in Bulk Via Coffee Press

6. Ask for "No Water" With Your Tea

7. Take Advantage of the Birthday Treat

8. Get a Starbucks Card

9. Order a Short

10. Brew It at Home

11. Fido's Freebie

Get out the Vote and Grab a Tall Starbucks Coffee for Free!

Going Short at Starbucks: Worth It?

Stop Being a Slave to Starbucks - How to Quit Caffeine

Let's get something straight

Why would anyone want to quit?

How to quit