Naturally, as a college student, I'm always on a budget and trying to cut corners in any way to eat well while saving money. Luckily for me, and all you other broke college students, there are many restaurants rewards programs that will help you save plenty of money. So, make sure to take note, because they'll come in handy when you have an empty fridge and nothing in your pantry.
1. Starbucks
Call me basic, but I love Starbucks, and I love the brand even more for its amazing rewards program. When you first sign up, you're at the "green level". Some of the perks of the basic rewards membership include free birthday rewards, paying on your phone, and free in-store refills.
For every $1 you spend, you get two stars, as you work your way up to the almighty gold level. Once you've reached 300 stars, you'll receive some new perks that include monthly double star days, a personalized gold card, and a star reward every 125 stars. Luckily for us, the Starbucks 2017 menu might be the best yet.
2. Panera
Ahh, Panera—your bread bowls never fail us. When you sign up for a MyPanera card (which you can do online or in the store), you get tons of bonuses. Each time you eat at Panera, you earn more points towards rewards, such as free bakery items, exclusive previews/tastings, and even some cooking tips. You'll also get a free treat on your birthday. If you're addicted to Panera, then you need this reward program.
3. Qdoba
Qdoba's restaurant rewards might be some of the best out there. If you use the app instead of a card, you get more points and faster rewards. Through your first 10 visits, you get 10 points per $1 spent. The number of points per $1 keeps going up until you've hit 25 visits. From here, you'll get 20 points per $1 you spend.
All of the points you earn go towards free food. Once you've visited 10 times, you're considered a "Pro," and chips and queso is only $2. Once you've visited 25 times, you become a "champ" and you'll get $2 chips and queso AND a monthly mystery perk. Sign me up.
4. Jamba Juice
Just by signing up for the Jamba insider rewards program, you get $3 off, and continue to get $3 off for every 35 points you get. As a rewards member, you get free birthday smoothies, personalized rewards, and can even skip the line when you order ahead of time on the app.
5. Sweetgreen
Ah, one of the many things I miss about home while I'm at school in Ohio is Sweetgreen. You earn green status by spending $100 in one calendar year, and the rewards are a free salad on your birthday, and knowing that 1% of every purchase you make on the app is going to Sweetgreen's partners that help build healthier communities. If you spend $1,000 in a calendar year, earning gold status (that's a sh*t ton of salad), Sweetgreen will send you swag sand grant you access to invite-only events. So, if you're looking for a healthy option in California, DC, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Virginia, or Pennsylvania, Sweetgreen should be your go-to.
6. Dunkin' Donuts
Being from Massachusetts, Dunkin' will always have a piece of my heart, even though they have discontinued some of their best items. I think DD Perks is probably one of the best reward programs on this list, and for good reason. Just by joining DD Perks program, you get 200 points toward a free drink. For every dollar you spend, you get 5 points. Once you've reached 200 points, you get a free beverage. You get a free drink on your birthday, and when you order ahead of time on the app, you can skip the line.
7. Sonic Drive In
When you download Sonic's app, you automatically get one of their famous slushes for free. Similar to most rewards programs, you also get a free treat on your birthday. When you sign up for a MySonic account, the rewards are unlimited. Rewards include free tater tots and buy-one-get-one-free milkshakes. Umm, yum.
8. Pinkberry
Pinkberry's rewards program is straight and to the point. For every 10 purchases, you get a free frozen yogurt on the house. In addition, you also get a free reward on your birthday. Another bonus is that you're able to pay through the app when you join the rewards club. Froyo, here I come.
9. California Pizza Kitchen
OMG, CPK. These rewards are seriously amazing. When you register, you automatically get a free small pizza. For every $100 you spend, you get $5 in rewards. On your birthday, you get a free birthday dessert. On the app, you can pay for your food, order take out, and get exclusive member-only offers and sneak peeks. Need I say more?
From drive thru's to sit down restaurants, there's now a reward plan for every type of dining you enjoy. You could even use a reward plan for every meal of your day, and now that I have 9 new rewards apps to try out, I think I'll be skipping the dining hall food for a while.