How Starbucks Rewards Could Save You $240 or More Every Year

You'd have to be a serious Starbucks fan to visit the coffee shop multiple times a week, but it appears that plenty of people do.

You appear to be in good company if you're a Starbucks lover. In 2021 alone, Starbucks earned nearly $25 billion worldwide. And if you're a frequent flier when it comes to Starbucks, you may take advantage of free Starbucks rewards. If not, you may be missing out on an annual savings of $240 or more.

How do I join?

There are a couple of ways to join the Starbucks Rewards Program. The first is by applying on the Starbucks mobile app. Or, you can create an account on the Starbucks website.

How do Starbucks Rewards points work?

Each time you make a purchase at Starbucks, you'll earn points. You can start redeeming those points once you reach 25 stars, although the more stars you save, the greater the reward. If you use the Starbucks card stored in your mobile app or a Starbucks Visa Rewards Card to pay, points are automatically added to your account. If you pay with a credit card, debit, or cash, let the barista know you're a Rewards member. They'll scan the member barcode from your phone, and points will be added.

To further simplify the process, you can add a credit card, debit, or PayPal account to your account. That way, you pay and get your rewards at the same time. The bonus is that you receive double the number of points if you use the payment method stored in your mobile app to pay.

Here's a sample of rewards available:

It all adds up

If you're like the "average" Starbucks customer, you spend an estimated $12 each time you drive through or visit a shop (presumably, the average customer purchases coffee and food). Let's say you run by Starbucks on your way to work each morning or on your way home from the gym. If you stop by five times a week, you'll spend $60 weekly. That's over $3,100 a year. Buy something extra on occasion, pick up a gift card, or take someone along with you, and you can add another $100, for a total of $3,200.

And if you've saved a payment method to your Starbucks Card, you'll earn two stars for every dollar spent. That gives you 6,400 stars.

Now, say you cash in stars every time you reach 400. Each reward is likely to be worth around $15 (depending on whether you choose merchandise or coffee). Because you earn a total of 6,400 stars each year, that means you can cash in 16 times annually, earning around $240 in free goodies.

Even if you purchase far less from Starbucks each year, it might be nice to receive a reward once in a while. Whether you're a regular or an occasional Starbucks visitor, a Starbucks Rewards card can sweeten the experience.