Spending Nothing In The Face Of Temptation – And Get Free Coffee

by Randy Murray on May 26, 2010

The Spend Nothing Game is one tough game to win. Even if you’re just playing the solitaire version, keeping your spending at zero for non-essential items is pretty difficult. But it can be done.

As a brief aside, I’ve had some criticism of the Spend Nothing Game as being “middleclass twattery” and complaints that the poor do this everyday. I fully realize that for many, there’s no choice about spending. It’s no game for them. But for others, many who do have income, it’s about making choices. That’s why I’ve framed this as a game. You can have more freedom if you are making conscious choices about what you spend and what you save. And saving money and choosing where to spend it doesn’t have to be drudgery. It can be fun.

One of the things that I’ve been experimenting with in the pursuit of making the Spend Nothing Game more fun is Foursquare. It’s one of the many location-based services, also couched as a game. And I’ve talked about the Spend Nothing Game as being the “anti-foursquare”. Foursquare rewards you for going places and buying stuff. You get badges and recognition. And you can also get coupons, discounts, and rewards. I find myself pulling out my iPhone and checking into everywhere I go. It’s addicting. It is fun.

Starbucks is one of the latest to capitalize on the craze. They’ve partnered with Foursquare to offer coupons to that select group: the Mayor.  It’s smart marketing. There can only be one mayor at a time for any location. That makes it competitive to displace a mayor and reap the rewards. To do that, you have to visit the location frequently and check in. For Starbucks, giving one person a discount causes countless others to compete for the same thing. Win. Lots of people are spending lots of money to get the chance at being the one person to get a one dollar discount.

Here’s a tip so you can get your Starbuck fix, but spend nothing (or very little): you can get free coffee if you bring in an empty Starbucks coffee bag.  I make coffee at home every day. I buy bags of whole bean coffee, typically at Target, when on sale and often doubling up with coupons. The bags are marked to offer a free cup of coffee. I keep a supply of them in my car and when I’m out and about and feel the need for Starbucks, I get it for free. I win this time.

The half pot of coffee I made this morning, about 2 cups, cost me less than twenty-five cents. And the free cup offer saves me just under another two dollars. If I were to buy coffee from Starbucks every day, I’d be spending over six hundred and fifty dollars a year. Just coffee, no fancy drinks. Making my own coffee and getting a free cup occasionally costs me less than one hundred and fifty for that same period. And yes, I know I could save all of that by giving up coffee. That isn’t going to happen.

The key is this: you don’t have to stay home, you don’t have to give up the little pleasures in life. But if you do choose to save all of the money you spend on things that don’t really make you happy and help get you what you want, you can still find ways to grant yourself indulgences and occasional pleasures. Getting a digital badge is OK, but getting that free drink is a victory.

I’m not arguing the relative merits of Starbucks over other brands or varieties – feel free to tell me about your favorite brand or free offer, or how you play the Spend Nothing Game.

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1 Mari May 26, 2010 at 10:09 am

Here’s one you might appreciate: the other day I bought a “feminine product” at the grocery store and did not realize until after arriving home that its sale price did not ring up. I completely forgot that this particular grocery store refunds the entire amount if the product scans improperly, so when I returned I was simply expecting to be refunded the difference. When the service clerk handed me close to three dollars and I computed what had transpired, I remembered my husband’s hankering for ice cream and the one dollar coupon in my purse for our favorite brand. Lucky me! Starbuck’s Java Chip was on sale for $3.99! And my coupon made it $2.99! Not only did I get my “feminine product” free, but I also scored our favorite ice cream for pennies…plus a reason to spend some extra time on my Nordic Track…more free “entertainment.”

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2 Randy Murray May 26, 2010 at 10:19 am

Win!

This is a good lesson on ALWAYS checking your receipts. And always take and keep your receipts.

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