Money can be a touchy subject. People spend it, they ought to save it, and they always want more of it. Thankfully, frequent spenders know there are reward programs to help them save. There are a lot of these programs out there, but some are better than others.
The perfect loyal program is one where you can save money without changing your buying habits. Of course, retailers want you to spend more and try new things. So it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the most generous rewards are received by the adventurous. Still, there’s plenty of rewards for people willing to add an app to their phone or a card to their wallet.
All of these reward programs are free, so there’s no cost to enroll beyond the time required to sign up. While paid membership programs might have greater rewards, it feels so much easier to enjoy rewards when you didn’t have to pay up front. The list also avoids programs entirely dependent upon owning a credit card and programs specific to regional chains such as grocery stores.
Starbucks Rewards
If you’re a coffee addict, the Starbucks Rewards app in a must. Every dollar spent translates into 2 stars, and the name of the game is collecting enough stars to redeem them for free items. An iced coffee will cost 150 stars, so at its core, this means you need to spend $75 for a free drink. Other items might be more expensive, while a select few are less expensive. Even if you’re not a huge Starbucks drinker, the app is worthwhile because you’ll receive a free item on your birthday.
Fortunately, you can accelerate your star collection through a variety of incentives. The app will let you know what to do, sometimes it’s making a purchase at off-peak hours, other times it’s trying a new item. Double stars and seasonal games are a part of the app.
The app also makes ordering ahead and payments super easy. You can auto-reload your gift cards, meaning any benefits from your credit card are received prior to making a purchase.
DD Perks
Coffee drinkers usually fall into one of two camps: Team Starbucks or Team Dunkin. Of course, there are also people like me who play for both teams, and I know both teams have pretty great apps. If we’re being honest, the Dunkin’ Perks program might be the more generous of the two.
At its core, the app is a point system. Spend $1, get 5 points. Collect 200 points, get a free drink. The app also has some pretty good deals and coupons, such as 87 cent iced coffees if the Patriots win. They’re also similar to Starbucks in the sense that they incentive you to use make purchases during off-peak times.
Much like Starbucks, you can order ahead and auto-reload cards, allowing you to double dip app benefits with your credit card benefits. If you find yourself making a few purchases at Dunkin, it’s pretty easy to get rewards.
Target App
If you’re shopping at Target, you probably enter the store looking to get some essentials, but you’re likely to leave the store with a lot more. While this is typical of a Target shopper, the Target App makes it easy to save a few dollars in a tempting environment.
With the App, you can see Target Circle offers. These are the current deals Target’s promoting and your opportunities to save. If you’re in the store, you can scan the barcodes of items. This will let you know the item’s price, and if there’s an applicable coupon in the app, it will be applied to your “wallet” after the scan. When you check out, you scan a single code and all your coupons are applied to your purchase. The person behind you in line won’t know of your frugal ways.
While you can integrate the Target Red Card into the Wallet, it’s not required. If you do, a single scan will apply your coupons then pay your remaining bill with the Red Card. While I don’t want to sell you a credit card, the Red Card is one of the best store cards you can get because it takes 5% off your purchases. The best part of the Target experience is all the fun items you can buy, but with the Target App, the second best thing is seeing how much you can save.
Ulta Rewards
Admittedly, I don’t know a lot about make up, but I do have a sister who knows a lot about make up. If you’re going to spend big at Ulta, you might as well save while you’re making those purchases. Their program is point-based, so every dollar you spend is one point. Collect 100 points, you can receive a $3 coupon (33.3 points/ dollar). Redeem more points, and you can get bigger rewards, all the way up to a $125 coupon when you hit 2000 points (16 points/ dollar).
The program also provides an exclusive magazine and member deals. Ulta also ups the rewards for customer who have their credit card.
Sephora also offers their Beauty Insider rewards program. It costs 500 points to receive $10 off, and at the base tier, you accumulate 1 point per dollar (50 points/ dollar in rewards). This program also offer coupons, end-of-year savings, and free samples. While Ulta seems to be the better program for money back, Sephora offer a better experiential program.
CVS Extracare
For most things, CVS is probably not the place you want to shop. Food and name-brand medicine usually carry a higher price tag when compared to other retailers. If you’re shopping at CVS, it’s probably because the store is close or you needed to pick up a prescription. Regardless of your reason, you can save with your Extracare card.
Shoppers accumulate 2% back which will generate Extrabucks quarterly. Qualifying purchases will also give you Extrabucks. For example, I have a $5 Extrabucks coupon because I spent $15 on ibuprofen. Additionally, CVS is one of those stores that seems to jack up their prices, only to bring them down when you use your Extracare card. Having the card (or registration phone number) handy removes any doubt of overpaying for products.
CVS can be pricy, and that’s the nature of convenience stores, medicine, and personal care products. You need to buy these items anyway, and while the savings are minimal, customers don’t have to change purchase behaviors whatsoever. Just be prepared for your already-long receipt to double in length.
Rite Aid Wellness+
While you can start saving immediately with CVS Extracare, it takes a little while to fully reap the benefits of Rite Aid Wellness+. Members earn 1 point for every dollar spent, but up to 25 points when a prescription is filled. Once 250 points are accumulated, you become a Silver member and receive 10% off almost everything in store. Once 500 points are accumulated, you become a Gold member and receive 20% off almost everything.
You have six months to obtain Gold status, as the cycles reset on January 1st and July 1st. If you get prescriptions filled, Rite Aid is a great option. 20% off can make purchases on essentials a better deal than anywhere else!
The benefits prior to Silver membership revolve around special deals and pricing. There are still opportunities to save, but the real rewards come to those who shop often.
The Nordy Club
Depending on who you are and where you shop, The Nordy Club can give you some great perks. Shopping at Nordstrom’s can get pretty pricy, even if you’re a bargain hunter who lives by a Nordstrom Rack. Another point system, The Nordy Club gives you one point per dollar spent. This doubles with their debit card and triples with their credit card. At 500 points, you get $5.
While a 1% return on spending doesn’t seem great, perks extend beyond coupons. Even at the base level, basic alterations are free which can make buying clothes a little less stressful. As you climb in status, you’ll enjoy more perks and earn double point days.
The Nordy Club probably isn’t going to convert you to a Nordstrom’s shopper, but if you already enjoy the store then you ought to be a part of the Club. Even if you never hit the 500 point mark, exclusive access to sales can easily make this one of the worthwhile free reward programs.
DSW VIP Rewards
If shoes are your vice, then DSW VIP Rewards will make the spending a little less painful. $1=1 point (double that with the credit card), and 100 points= $5 reward. DSW VIP Rewards also automatically qualifies you for free shipping and a $5 birthday reward. If you spend $200 in a year you’ll become a Gold member. This gets you free online returns and a double points day. Spend $500 in a year and you become a VIP Elite. This is where the rewards get super sweet: $1=2 points, 365 day return policy (online returns included), and a $10 birthday gift.
Even if you buy one pair of shoes a year, the $5 birthday gift and free shipping makes DSW VIP Rewards a worthwhile program. A couple of pairs of shoes will get you to the Gold level, and this makes buying and returning online quite easy.
Kohl’s Yes2You Rewards
When it comes to department stores, you need the credit cards to get the big savings. Nordstrom’s is a little more generous only because their program extends to Nordstrom’s Rack. Meanwhile, Macy’s, JCPenney, and Kohl’s sit in their own category of department stores. Of the three, Kohl’s offers the rewards program. In the Yes2You Rewards program members get $5 in rewards for every $100 spent. Plus, exclusive deals and a birthday gift. Not bad a for free membership program.
Comparatively, JCPenney Rewards gives you $10 back for every $400 spent. Macy’s boasts 1% back, but you need to spend $1,000 before you get your first $10 reward. This makes Kohl’s the clear winner of the three, but if you’re willing to get a credit card, Macy’s and JCPenney reward programs are a little more competitive with Kohl’s.
My Best Buy
Similar to other reward programs, My Best Buy operates on a point system and you need to hit a certain threshold to get a reward. The base level without a Best Buy credit card translates to $5 in rewards for $500 spent (0.5 points per dollar/ 250 point cash out). Members enjoy free shipping at $35, a birthday gift, and a free at-home consultation.
At $1,500 and $3,500 spent within a calendar year, the point accrual accelerates and the perks get sweeter. Elite and Elite Plus members enjoy prolonged return windows, a dedicated support line, and free shipping on all purchases.
While the money back isn’t the most generous, electronics tend to run on the pricier side. Members might hit a $5 reward on a single transaction, and if you’re making a big purchase there’s no need to lose your rewards. If you’re a gamer, spend money on printer ink, or want to redo an office or entertainment center, you’ll probably get some money back.
BONUS: Rakuten
While Rakuten is not a loyalty program for one brand, it’s a necessity for any online shopper. Go onto Rakuten’s homepage, find the store you’d like to visit and click the Rakuten referral link. This will give you an additional percentage back on any purchase, and it stacks on top of coupons and reward programs.
Percentages vary from as low as 0.5% cash back to over 10%. Some stores run promotions, such as The Gap who frequently offer 10% off instead of their baseline 2%. Regardless of the percentage, there’s no extra work required to save. You can even get 1% back at stores like Lululemon; a small return but shoppers know it’s impossible to find a Lululemon discount. Rakuten even offers a browser extension so you don’t need to go to their homepage. Add the extension, and you’ll be notified if you land on a qualifying site.
Get Rewarded
Many more reward programs exist. If you’re already a frequent shopper at a store, you ought to enroll for these free programs. Some stores have loyalty programs with less exciting offers, like McDonalds for example. There’s no free money to be earned, but there are saving if you want to use their coupons (plus a pretty great McCafe program). So if you’re close to a McDonalds, get the app, even if you never use it. There’s also apps like Chipotle, which is only amazing if you go to Chipotle enough to cash in on their free burritos at $125 spent. Not everyone will enjoy this, but people who are close to a Chipotle will love it.
There’s plenty of savings out there. If you go to a store or restaurant often, even a local one, Google the store name + “rewards.” You’d be surprised to see how many places will give you freebies for joining reward programs!
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