While Starbucks is a successful coffee shop, there are still plenty of people who would rather buy coffee elsewhere. To them, Starbucks can be a bit expensive and they can find alternatives somewhere else. However, with the right hacks, Starbucks can become affordable. Try these hacks and you may discover your new favorite coffee drink!

Br ing your own mug or a reusable cup. When you bring your own, you save 10 cents on coffee. For those of you who drink Starbucks every day or multiple times a day, the amount of money saved adds up.

Ask for an iced cup of water. Starbucks sells their own bottled water, but they also offer free water in cups. All you have to do is ask for an iced cup of water and you’ll receive one for no additional charge. Depending on the Starbucks, you may be offered a venti-sized iced cup of water. Most of the time, they will just give you a small cup of iced water. Either way, asking for a cup of water instead of purchasing a bottle will save you a couple of dollars.

Join the rewards program. If you are constantly at Starbucks, then it makes sense to join the program. It does not cost anything to be part of the program. After joining, simply download the Starbucks app on your phone. Every time you place an order, use the Starbucks app to pay for it. You will receive stars every time you make an order and when you accumulate a certain amount of stars, you get a “reward" (a free drink or sandwich/snack). Accumulating these stars will help you to save money in the long run.

Get a refill. Most of us need coffee to get through the day. Whether it is two cups of coffee or five, getting a refill will save you money. After you make your initial purchase, you may go back to Starbucks anytime that same day with your cup and ask for a refill. However, this is only good for hot coffee, iced coffee, iced tea, or hot tea beverages. Refills are free as long as you bring your receipt to prove that you ordered a drink earlier.

Ask for less ice with your iced drinks. When you ask for less ice, your cup contains more of your drink. This also saves your drink from becoming watered down.

Ask for ice cubes on the side. If you are buying a hot drink, ask for a couple of ice cubes to avoid burning your tongue. This will help to cool down the drink and you won’t have to worry about burning your tongue!

Ask for soy milk. For those who love vanilla or maybe cannot handle too much milk, ask for soy milk instead. Soy milk in almost any drink will taste like vanilla and will make the drink so much sweeter.

Purchase drinks during happy hour. Starbucks typically has happy hour sales every holiday season to promote their holiday and seasonal drinks. These can vary from BOGOs to $1 coffees. These happy hour sales and events help customers to save money. The rewards program applies to these as well.

Ask for a sample. Did you guys know that Starbucks offer samples? Typically, this is great for days when the store is not busy. If you are not sure what to order or you are hesitant to purchase a new drink, ask for a sample.

Order online through the mobile app. For those of you who are in a rush to get to work or don’t want to wait in line, you can order your drink online and select the pick-up location. There’s no wait, and there’s normally a designated mobile order section.

Starbucks can be a bit pricey from time to time, especially if you order from them every day. However, these hacks are great for anyone who wants to save time and money. Although there are plenty more hacks available, these are the ones that baristas usually tell their customers that many may not know about. Next time you order something from Starbucks, keep these hacks in mind.