You have probably heard it before; “Save money by skipping your morning latte at the drive up coffee shop.” While this is a great way to save money, it is understandable that this little addiction is hard to give up for most people. While you may not be ready to ditch the java just yet, here are some ways that you can save at the coffee shop or drive up.
9 Ways to Save Money on Your Drive-Thru Coffee Habit
Ask about loyalty programs. Starbucks has a card that gives you free drinks, treats and other goodies on your birthday as well as after so many purchases. Many coffee stands have punch cards. If you are going to buy a daily drink, you could get a couple free ones a month this way.
Order off the “secret menu”. Just because it isn’t on the menu, doesn’t mean they don’t have the means to make it. Try ordering something with ala carte ingredients and see if it is cheaper.
Drink your coffee in-house. Often times, if you want more than one cup, you may be able to get a free refill on drip coffee if you are in-house or at least get a refill for cheap. Sometimes, coffee shops offer free drip coffee to any customer who buys anything off their menu such as a muffin.
Ask about special cups for discounts. Some coffee shops offer half price refills when you buy their travel mugs and you often get a free fill-up with a purchase of it. Not only is this a great deal, it is better for the environment, too.
Buy discounted gift cards for national chains that sell coffee and only make your purchases with them. You can pay less than the amount on the card and save money that way.
“Friend” and “Follow”. Follow your favorite coffee shops on Facebook and twitter and they will often release their daily deals, seasonal specials and even free drinks to fans.
Become a regular. Anyone who is a regular at a business like a restaurant knows that getting to know the servers and baristas at establishments often gets them special treatment like discounts, free extra shots, and even free drinks occasionally. Get cozy with the people who work at your favorite establishment and you could tap into these as well.
Go simple and doctor it up at home or your office. If you like your coffee with all the bells and whistles that cost extra such as soy milk or flavorings, you could save a lot of money by keeping some soy milk or a selection of flavored syrups at your office. You can buy a large bottle of flavored syrup for less than $5 and use it for months.
Bring your own container. Some coffee shops are big on being environmentally friendly so they give customers discounts if they bring a mug from home even if it isn’t their brand’s mug. This small savings of 25 cents or so that many places offer adds up to over $60 a year in savings if you get coffee 5 days a week.
How do you save money on your morning habit?
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Pauline Wiles says
October 2, 2014 at 11:49 amI usually visit Starbucks as a treat, not a habit, but I do wonder what it would cost to make the equivalent chai latte at home. But the free drink to celebrate my birthday (through the Starbucks card program) is very welcome!