Beverages can be a major budget-buster. Obviously, it’s cheaper to drink water, but that’s not always practical. Here are a few ideas to save:

Milk:   Don’t drink it plain. Save it for cereal, mixing into coffee, etc. With milk close to $4.00 a gallon, if you drink a lot of milk, you’re looking at a lot of $$$. Some people thin milk with water or use dry milk. I don’t like those options, though.

Coffee:  Combine coupons with sales. Make it at home rather than buying, if possible.

Tea:  Try different brands. Not all generics are bad. A pitcher of homemade iced tea can be made with a single bag.

Juice:   Stretch it with water, or simply eliminate. Juice is full of sugar and has very little nutritional value.

Soda:   2-Liters are cheaper than cans. If you drink a lot, buy extra when it goes on sale—usually holidays and summertime.

Alcohol:  Look for wine tags and rebates. If you’re serving it for a party, offer 2 types of drinks maximum, or make punch.

What drinks do you buy?