Maybe you’ve been to Starbucks once or twice for a huge final cram, or you visit for large study groups over huge tests. Or maybe you are like me and are known by the baristas and can be found at least twice a week in this temple of over prices dessert coffee. Whatever your Starbs preferences, as a McIntosh student, a visit across 54 is inevitable. But becoming a regular puts a heavy dent in the pockets of jobless teenagers. As a self-proclaimed “regular” I have graciously compiled a list of ways I have managed to save money at my favorite study spot.

1. Get a Starbucks card. Seriously. If you visit Starbucks more than 5 times a year you can save money simply by picking up a little card at the register and signing up online. Having a Starbucks card not only gets you a free drink or snack during your birth month, but you can also get free refills on regular brewed coffee and tea. Not to mention gold benefits means coupons and free drinks sent to your email. A venti Gingerbread Latte tastes much better when it’s free, trust me.
2. Start buying plain coffee. Yes, you heard me. I’m looking at you Miss venti-non-fat-white-mocha-frap-with-extra-whip. “Dessert coffees” at Starbucks cost about $4 for a tall. A tall brewed coffee is just over $2. Not only do you save a few bucks, but there’s something strangely rewarding about not being a basic girl drinking a cup of whipped cream. It’s a smug feeling of maturity, except I know I’m automatically immature for thinking this way. I digress. Can’t give up your favorite flavors? Here’s my tip: ask for three pumps of your favorite syrup in with your coffee. So if a hazelnut machiatto is your coffee craving, ask for three pumps of hazelnut. Ta-Da! The poor girl’s latte!
3. Continuing the plain coffee idea, quit with the non-fat or skinny drinks. Starbucks charges more when you ask for your drinks to be non-fat or when you ask for soy milk. For all you lactose intolerant coffee lovers, I guess your only way around this is black coffee or tea, but for those getting special milks just to be fancy: stop. Getting a brewed coffee with some cream is cutting more calories anyway.
4. Bring your own cup. Besides the fact that your coffee will look miles cuter in your own travel cup and you basically are saving the earth, you get a discount on your coffee: 10 cents off. And here’s a secret: most baristas won’t measure out exactly how much a tall is in your cup, so you can ask for a tall, pay for a tall, but get more around a grande. Sneaky right?
5. Order in bulk with your study group. I personally have never tried this as I like to go to Starbucks alone, but next time you’re in a group studying for a test ask for a French press pot. It will serve a few cups of coffee and be cheaper than individual drinks. Synergy people!
6. Keep good Starbucks karma. This may not necessarily save you money, but it’s important to remember. When you are good to your Starbucks it will be good to you. So clean up after yourself, be polite to baristas, put furniture back where it belongs, and if you can, leave a tip, especially if you didn’t actually get a drink. Once you get to know the baristas and feel more at home you will learn your own tricks to save money and get more out of your experience.