$2.11 for a Starbucks drink?

This is a tip for all you Starbucks lovers out there.  I'm only sharing this with you because I've converted so many of my friends.  Friends, you know who you are.  You can thank me for the fact that you can afford your children's college education later.

I'm not a coffee expert, but I have worked at a few coffee shops over the years.  Back in college, I worked at Gloria Jeans in Water Tower Place right on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  These were the days that spending $1.82 for two items at Taco Bell (which came with a free pop thanks to my Moody discount card) was a splurge.  I wondered who in the world spent $4.00 on a beverage.  Now with inflation, it's close to $5.00.  Well, that's more than I want to spend.  But I love me some Starbucks ... that sweet pick-me-up in the middle of the day.  Since I don't leave the house all that much in the day, it's a treat to get a fun drink when I'm out.

So, instead of getting a iced latte/mocha or a frappuccino, try an iced coffee with milk.  They add the flavor for free.  I usually do 2 pumps of vanilla, but any flavor would be good.  Then I also add whip cream, which slowly melts down into the drink and makes it lovely and creamy.  It's good.  And so much cheaper than the espresso drinks.  The tall is $2.11, which is usually just the right size for me.  The grande is about 50 cents more.

Try it, and let me know what you think.