I was a Starbucks barista — here are 7 ways customers waste their money by not ordering correctly

Don’t let your money sip away!

The easiest way to save money on coffee is to make it at home, but some of us can’t live without our Venti Java Chip Frappuccinos — a treat that’s become increasingly expensive in recent years.

Fortunately, a former Starbucks barista reveals, you don’t have to give up your visits to the popular chain — you just have to be smarter about how and what you order.

Inga Parkel, who told Business Insider she used to work for the Seattle coffee giant, shared seven spending mistakes too many customers make — and how to avoid them.

First up, she said, is taking control of how much ice goes in your beverage — a simple trick to make sure you get the most for your money.

“The easiest way to avoid spending an arm and a leg on half a cup of ice with a hint of the beverage is just to specify that you’d like light ice,” she said.