Confessions of a Former Barista: How to feed your coffee habit without going broke

A few years ago I got hooked pretty bad. I was working long hours, living in a stressful environment, and I’d lie awake and jittery in bed at night thinking, “This needs to stop, tomorrow will be the day I finally kick the habit.” But in the morning, the vicious cycle always began again. I tried to switch to less expensive, less pure stuff, but it just didn’t cut it. Eventually, I had to start selling it myself just so I could afford my daily fix.

Hello, my name is Julia, and I’m latte addict and former barista.

I fear that as a fellow grad student you too may be going broke due to the caffeine monkey on your back that just will not accept the more reasonably priced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts or McDonald’s. I’m here for you, and if my experience pushing the products of a certain international coffee chain (you know the one) can save you a few extra laundry quarters a day, well, then my struggles have not been in vain.

Admittedly, some of the tricks are a little sneaky, but I’ll leave the moral and ethical issues for your conscience and inner caffeine junky to argue over.

Each of my tricks will save you fifty cents every time you order and $78 a year if you’re in the habit of buying them three times a week.

Iced Latte

Ask for a double espresso over ice in a grande cup, then add the milk from the condiment bar. It will be the exact same drink, just cheeper.

Iced Coffee

If you add a lot of milk to your coffee, instead of asking for room, order a tall iced coffee in a grande cup and then add the milk at the bar. Better yet, make your own iced coffee at home; just brew it with twice the grounds you would normally use, refrigerate, and add ice.

Caramel Macchiato

Order a three pump vanilla latte, then after you’ve been rung up ask if they could possibly add caramel drizzle. Technically, there’s a charge for it, but the baristas basically consider it a garnish and definitely won’t go to the trouble to make it a separate transaction. The only difference is that the espresso in a macchiato is added after the foam; if you normally stir your macchiato anyway, it will be the exact same drink.

Want to save even more money on food when you're out and about? Check out Susan's Eating Out for Less.

To Intern or Not to Intern: Judging an Internship’s Worth

While professors may sell you the importance of internships like they are getting a cut of the profits, you must decide whether an internship is worth your time and energy. The one trait that internships typically share is that many of them involve no monetary compensation. Even if gaining experience overrides your financial needs, you owe it to yourself to consider how this voluntary commitment will affect your life.

This is not to devalue the importance of getting your hands on some professional experience; rather, I wish to offer ideas to keep in mind when searching for internships. While these are great opportunities to extend your resume and network with influential people, internships should not be accepted without seriously considering whether they will fit your life. These search tips will help you decide if an internship is feasible for you.

Room for growth: Read job descriptions closely (beyond salary mentions!) to see if there is any indication of the internship turning into a full-time position. Employers are often eager to fill holes with competent interns. This should not be critically important to your decision, but it is worthwhile to keep an eye out for anything that might suggest upward mobility.

While at the company’s website, check for entry-level openings either in your department of interest or another. Colleagues like to talk about impressive interns, and your supervisor could put in a good word for you with other departments who are hiring. Your professional interests may change over time anyway—or maybe after working pro bono long enough any paying job will sound appealing.

Commute: While you may not want to limit yourself to businesses within your immediate area, you have to consider how traveling to the internship will effect your daily life. Ask yourself:

• How will I get there?
• Will public transportation get expensive without a monthly pass?
• Assuming there is bad weather or another delay effecting one mode of transportation, are there other means of getting there?
• Can I handle the stress (physical and/or mental) or commuting?

The first three questions are straightforward, but the last may need explaining. Grad school courses presumably take place in the evening so that students can work during the day. Classes often last for hours, and then you have to commute back home—only to wake up bright and early the next morning. Even if your internship is two or three days a week, long morning commutes after long nights of class add up to extra long days at work. For the sake of your health, you have to consider the toll that a long commute may take on your body. Not everyone can gulp down several cups of coffee to counteract the sleepy effects of grad school.

Small vs. Large: Think about the benefits of either office environment related to your needs:

• Small offices might demand a heavy workload from interns, which can be stressful in addition to schoolwork, but great in terms of gaining extensive professional experience.

• Large office internships probably involve more clerical work, which may inspire frustration; however, a big company might be able to afford taking you on full-time. If it’s a prominent company in your industry, just having their name on your resume is worth the experience.

For other tips on the internship search, see Miranda's “Unpaid Internships: the Tough Questions” post. Happy hunting!

5 Ways To Go Green and Save Mone

One of the biggest misconceptions of the “green revolution” is the idea that is costs more to actually “be green” than is necessarily true. What is in fact true is that while saving the environment, you can actually save money too. Generally being a student means being on a tight budget so I personally try to save money wherever I can. Being able to save money and save the environment is just a plus.

1) Bring your own shopping bags: Bringing your own reusable shopping bags to the grocery store is an extremely easy way to be green and save some cash. Most places will give you a small discount for each bag you use. For example Whole Foods gives their shoppers a five-cent discount for each shopping bag used. This may not seem like a lot but if you shop weekly, it really adds up.

2) Buy local: By buying local and eating what’s in season, consumers get fresher produce while supporting small farmers. The transportation of the goods is cut down which means more money in your pocket

3) Walk Wherever You Can: With gas prices constantly fluctuating, filling up your car weekly can set you back big bucks. If possible, walk or bike to work, the gym, grocery store etc. You can pick and choose which places are more convenient to have a car, but biking or walking doesn’t just save you money and the ozone layer but it also keeps you fit.

4) Ditch the plastic water bottle: I recently read that last year Congress spent $400,000 on water bottles! This is an easy fix. By buying a water filter than fits in the fridge, you can cross off buying plastic water bottles off the grocery list. An average water filter costs between $10-$15 and can be found just about anywhere. Fill up your stainless steel or BPA free reusable water bottle and never use a plastic water bottle again.

5) Save Energy, Save Money: Setting the thermostat a little cooler in the winter and keeping it set a few degrees higher in the summer can help save money on your utility bill. You might be able to rationalize the temperature differences when you see the savings on your next bill.

A Taste of Something New: Clove and Cumin

Thyme, oregano, and paprika are delicious, but with reliable deliciousness comes boredom. Boredom you might relieve ordering take out from the fantastic Thai place down the street. But if you’re on a graduate student budget, you might want to try transforming the everyday foodstuffs in your fridge into new meals. You can do this by experimenting with oddball spices like clove and cumin. Below are two tasty experiments to test on your own. Happy cooking!

Hot-Cha Cha Chicken with Couscous
Tastes Like: Indian/Moroccan
What You’ll Need: Medium to large sized pot for the chicken, small pot for the couscous. Both should have lids.

Ingredients
5 skinless boneless chicken thighs
1 teaspoon ground clove
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 and ½ tablespoons basil
1 lemon, juiced with no seeds
3 cloves garlic, crushed
½ large red onion, diced
1 and ½ cups frozen peas
1 large tomato, diced
3 carrots, sliced
Olive oil (or vegetable)
Salt to taste
2 cups whole wheat couscous (Trader Joe’s brand is good)

1. Rinse chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. Place pieces in the medium pot. Add in lemon juice, clove, cumin, black pepper, cayenne pepper, basil, garlic and three tablespoons of olive oil. Mix.
2. Place chicken on the stove at medium-high heat. Stir occasionally until medium brown.
3. Add the diced tomatoes and onions, sliced carrots and peas to the cooking chicken. Stir occasionally on high for about 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to break apart. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer. Salt to taste.
4. In the small pot, add two cups of water, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and a teaspoon of salt. Bring water to a boil. Remove water from heat and stir in two cups of couscous. Cover pot with lid and let steam for 5 to 6 minutes. Serve chicken over couscous.

Un-Re-fried Black Beans
Tastes Like: Refried beans without the “fried” health hazard
What You’ll Need: medium saucepan
Helpful Tool: Food processor for the chopped items. However, a knife will suffice

Ingredients

1 (15.5 oz) can of black beans, half drained
½ large tomato, finely diced
¼ red onion, finely diced
½ green pepper, finely diced
1 clove garlic, finely crushed
¼ teaspoon ground clove
1 teaspoon black or cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon ground cumin
                                                         1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Add olive oil to the saucepan. Turn heat to medium.
2. Once the oil is hot, add the crushed garlic. Stir until slightly transparent, and then add the onions and green peppers. Sautee for 10 minutes then add the tomatoes, cumin, clove, and pepper. Cook on medium high until tomatoes begin to break apart.
3. Stir the beans into the cooking mixture. Turn heat down to medium. Stir and mash beans until achieving a semi-pasty consistency.
4. Simmer on low for 10 minutes while stirring occasionally. You can cool and eat these beans with chips as a dip, or hot over rice or couscous.

Photo Credits: 
"Chicken-Vegetable Soup." Tobbyotter. Flicker
"Salud Bean Dip." Scardey_kat. Flicker

Grocery Shopping in Beantown--How's it compare to YOURtown?

As a grad student, grocery shopping may seem like no big deal, but once all of the pennies are added up, the ounces and the pounds—groceries can add quite a dent in your monthly finances. Says one grad student at Emerson College, “I try to spend around $40 a week…and that includes going out.” So where are the best places to do one’s grocery shopping in a city known for being as pricey as its LA counterpart?

Stop & Shop, Star Market, Shaw's and Trader Joe’s are the main grocery stores you’ll find on the streets in Beantown and its neighboring towns. “I shop at Stop and Shop—It’s basically just like any grocery story—big selection, big isles, big lines,” says Ashley, a third year MFA student at Emerson College. Stop & Shop offers a rewards program card which gives you special discounts on certain items (which change weekly). There is also a red box in every location which makes this grocery store very useful for food and entertainment.

Star Market and Shaw’s are another option for the grocery shopping grad student. These stores also offer the rewards card which help to cut the cost on some items which to change weekly. According to Yelp, one reviewer mentions the lack of fresh produce and limited stock in the freezer section. If price is your main concern, you may find better options at Stop & Shop. Like Stop and Shop, red box is also available.

Finally, Trader Joe’s offers grad students the chance to sample food from around the world—both from the personable employee at the sample station or from sampling the products right off the shelf (though, do remember to ask for an employee’s assistance before sampling). Trader Joe’s is known for its affordability and shoppers agree—according to one Yelper, “In a nutshell, I go to TJ's for a few reasons; VERY affordable (sometimes way cheaper than other supermarkets for things), FRIENDLY staff, [and] environmentally conscious”. Trader Joe’s may not have a rewards card or a red box, but it has quality and affordability which suffice it to say, may be the only true mark of a worthy grocery store to any graduate student.

The 5 Best Free Software Downloads for Students

That new laptop was expensive enough. Why pay an arm and a leg for all the software you need to make it functional? Fortunately, there's a jaw-dropping amount of free software available on the web if you know where to look. Unlike, say, Microsoft Office, it's free. Also unlike Office-- it actually works.

1. Browsers
Okay, so even people living under rocks, in caves, or on Mars have heard of Firefox by now. It's a great and more secure alternative to Internet Explorer, but have you tried Chrome? Google's shiny new browser offers most of the accessibility of Firefox and it runs much faster.
Windows/Mac/Linux compatible.




2. Office/Word Processing
There are at least two great programs offering every feature of Microsoft Office for free: Open Office, compatible with all operating systems, and NeoOffice, which is designed specifically for Mac users. (Hey, that Mac was expensive enough; you don't want to pay extra just so you can open all the .doc or .docx files people insist on sending you.) Both Open Office and NeoOffice allow you to create text documents, spreadsheets, slideshows, and more. They have all the same tools and functions, but without the creepy paper clip.
You can even try using GoogleDocs in lieu of actual software. And then you'll be able to access all your assignments from any computer.

3. Design and Image Editing
Hands down, the best free Photoshop alternative is Gimp (GNU Image Manipulating Program). It can do just about everything Photoshop can do, and the price is...oh, that's right. There is no price. Best of all, it's compatible with all operating systems. Even Linux users are in luck!

4. Video
VLC is a great application that will play any video or audio file format you can think of with very little fuss. Much more reliable and comprehensive than Winamp, Windows Media Player, DivX, or Quicktime.
Windows/Mac/Linux compatible.

5. Anti-Malware/Spyware
Now that you have that nice laptop with all your important files and assignments on it, you'd better protect it. (Mac and Linux users-- you're off the hook for this one; PC users-- pay attention).
PandaCloud Antivirus
Recommended by PC World, PandaCloud is widely considered to be the best free antivirus software out there. It detects problems using your internet connection, so you don't need to update or download massive files to keep it current.
AdAware has the capability to detect patterns in malware threats, and you can set it to handle problems automatically. While upgraded versions do cost money, the basic version is free.
Avast! Free Antivirus improves with every new version. If there's trouble brewing within your PC, Avast! will find it at no cost.

Eating Out For Less

Although you may be a poor graduate student, you still want to go out to eat a nice meal from time to time without spending a fortune. Before I discovered the websites Groupon and Buy With Me, I thought eating out cheaply meant limiting myself to the value menu at a fast food restaurant.

Every day, Groupon and Buy With Me offer deals on local restaurants and other businesses in Boston and other major cities. If a set number of people agree to purchase the discounted meal or service, the deal will go into effect. By purchasing one of these coupons, you get to try a great restaurant that you would have never dared go to before.

A couple of weeks ago I used one of the Groupons I had purchased to treat my boyfriend and I to a nice dinner at a place a short distance from my apartment. My pomegranate martini was delicious, my grilled chicken paillard was tasty, his burger and fries were made with organic, local ingredients and the best part: we only paid $25 for a $50 meal!

I eagerly await the morning emails I receive from Groupon and Buy With Me to see what other great restaurant I might be encouraged to try. To receive daily emails, all you have to do is visit the sites and sign up for the e-newsletter offering deals for your city. Even if I don't purchase these community coupons very often, I enjoy reading the descriptions of each business (Groupons' are especially witty).

Another way you can go out to eat at a more upscale restaurant without breaking the bank is to take advantage of restaurant week. The classier restaurants in Boston and other cities will get together and offer customers meals at a discounted price one week a year. However, it can be difficult to get a table, so make sure you make reservations far enough in advance.

You don't have to postpone eating out at a quality restaurant until after you have your masters degree: splurge on the occasional Groupon or Buy With Me deal to enjoy your grad school experience even more!