Doing the Starbucks for Life game right

So, I may or may not of spent the entire night mapping out the Starbucks game last night out of excitement. Because of this, I created a map of how to get the best bang for your buck with this promotional deal.

Ready.. here we go!

For starters, you should sign up for a Starbucks awards account here. I mean if you like Starbucks, its kind of necessary to have an account because you get a free drink on your birthday, stars (basically points) toward free items at Starbucks, and other mailed deals and promos for free drinks (like the Starbucks for Life promo).

You also need to download the Starbucks app on your smartphone, in fact, for some challenges it is a must to complete the Order on the Way challenge.

For those with Starbuck award accounts, you can visit the Starbucks for Life game here. Here is the deal, you complete challenges to get "plays" those plays give you a chance to win stars, which in turn, can add up to free purchases.

Here is the list of challenges you can do right away without purchasing anything:

*Best Barista Ever (1 play), *Face to Face (1 play) * #GiveGood (1 play) *Holiday Spirit (1 play) = 4 plays immediately

After you get your free ones done.. go ahead and scroll to the bottom of the page and find the link located right after the **No Purchase Necessary statement** found here. Basically, you can get two (2) free plays emailed to you every day!! When you use this option it puts one (1) challenge check mark as complete. Also, you can use your free plays and buy items in the same day (it is not one or the other).

Here are the Challenges you can (and want to) use the free plays with:

*Coffee Ranger * Early Riser * Friyay. * Getting the Hang of it *Lunch Run *Merry Monday * Mid-Weekender *On a Roll *Order on the Way *Plenty of Cheer

The bold Challenges are the ones I really suggest using your free challenge plays on because they are either 1. hard to get or 2. expensive to get. Why you may ask, well let me explain:

*Coffee Ranger- To get a 1check mark you need to purchase items at 3 different locations and you get 1 play for 2 check marks and then an additional play for another three 3 check marks. Basically 5 check marks = 2 plays (not worth the return on investment)

*Early Riser- I am so not a morning person and you have to order before 7am. If you can do this, more power to ya..but I much rather use a freebie and sleep.

*Plenty of Cheer- You have to spent $20 in one transaction to get this deal and then for the extra challenge, you have to spend $40. The upside is two checkmarks = 4 plays. This was actually my first challenge completed using the free plays emailed to me.

*Lunch Run- You have to purchase $8.00 or more between 12pm-2pm and you need 3 check marks to get 2 plays (not worth it).

Also..unless the rules can change, it looks like you technically could use the free plays for all the items (except daily challenges and those without purchases) that means you could complete most challenges within 14 days by using just the link I mentioned above.

If you like Frappuccinos read this:

Here is the best way to earn stars if you follow this

-->Friday, December 8th. Buy 1 Frappucinno at Target w/ the Cartwheel 25% off Frappucino app and pay using your Starbucks App

-->Saturday December 9th - Buy 1 Frappucinno at Target w/ the Cartwheel 25% off Frappucino app and pay using your Starbucks App

--> Sunday December 10th - Buy 1 Frappucinno at Target w/ the Cartwheel 25% off Frappucino app and pay using your Starbucks app

If you do this you will not only save 25% off on all of your purchases you will also get 150 bonus stars from the Starbucks app (which is 1 free drink). Also, you will complete the following challenges

- FriYay (you will earn 2 plays) or Merry Monday if you do a Sat, Sun, Mon combo.

- Mid-Weekender (1 check mark.. if you use your free play on Friday and do this deal you can complete the challenge on Saturday)

- Lunch Run (if you buy 8 or more between 12pm - 2pm)

- On a Roll (you will get 3 check marks and possibly a play)

Other high payout days are:

December 13th, 23rd, 27, and January 8th - buy any drink via your Starbucks App and you can complete the daily challenge ( 1 play) and Order on the Way (1 play). If you can get up early or spend 8.00 you can either earn the Early Riser or Lunch Run. Also, the 8th is a Monday which means you get the Daily Challenge and Merry Monday for ordering.

Anyone else have any good tips for Starbucks For Life promotion?