The Easiest Way to Earn Double Stars Through the Starbucks App

With more than 36,000 stores worldwide, it's safe to say that Starbucks is a popular coffee spot for many. If Starbucks is your go-to coffee shop to visit for your morning cup of joe, make sure you join the Starbucks Rewards program. You can earn discounts and freebies on your favorite drinks and food items. Every discount or freebie can be a win for your personal finances.

Before checking out, you should also consider how you will pay for your Starbucks order because your choice could impact how many stars you earn. I'll show you how to pay for your order to earn double stars every time you make a Starbucks run.

Get rewarded when you join the Starbucks Rewards program

Many restaurants, coffee shops, and cafes have free loyalty programs. These programs reward regulars who spend money. You can earn discounts or free products by using these programs. Through the Starbucks Rewards program, you can earn "stars" every time you make a purchase.

Once you've earned enough stars, you'll have various redemption options to choose from. You can redeem your stars for items like an extra espresso shot, a free iced coffee, a free signature latte, a sandwich, or even a bag of your favorite coffee beans.

How you pay for your order matters: If you pay with cash, a debit card, or a credit card, you'll earn 1 star for every $1 spent. But if you use a Starbucks gift card, you'll earn 2 stars for every $1 spent. If you haven't been using Starbucks gift cards, you're missing out on the chance to earn double stars. You may want to change how you pay for your orders from now on.

Do this to earn double stars at Starbucks

The next time you go to order your favorite drink, consider paying with a Starbucks gift card. You can purchase gift cards through the app or reload existing gift cards in your account using a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, or PayPal account. Paying with a Starbucks gift card is an easy way to maximize your rewards. Since you can use a credit card to reload your card, you can earn cash back rewards by reloading with one of the best cash back credit cards.

Starbucks also allows customers to enable auto-reload when their gift card balance reaches a specific limit. While this may be convenient, it's likely best to skip this feature. You don't want to forget that you enabled this feature only to see a sizable amount of money deducted from your checking account due to a recent gift card reload. You can reload your card whenever you want, giving you more control over your money.

Are restaurant rewards programs still valuable?

Many rewards programs offered by restaurants and fast food eateries have changed in recent years. You may have noticed that some of your favorite brands have made redemptions more costly through their rewards programs. When that happens, you must spend more money to earn enough rewards to earn your favorite freebies. Are these programs still valuable? Yes!

It's still worth joining these programs, even if earning enough rewards to cash in on a redemption takes longer. Any discount or freebie can make a difference -- if you're already spending money regularly with a brand you love, you might as well get rewarded for doing so. If you're not yet using programs like this, you may want to spend a few moments signing up for some, so you don't miss out on free food and drinks.