It might be your morning ritual to stop by Starbucks before heading to class, but your daily caffeine fix could be costing you dearly, especially if you’re drinking multiple cups of coffee a day. Can’t live without your favorite house blend? Move on to step two.

2. Buy a reusable thermos cup.

Wake up a few minutes earlier to brew your own coffee in the morning and take it to class in a chic thermos cup. Many coffee spots offer a discount if you provide your own cup — Espresso Royale, 527 E. Grand River Ave., charges $1 for mug refills.

3. Pack a lunch.

Save a few bucks by avoiding Sparty’s Convenience Stores and eating a meal you made at home. Not buying things like premade salads can save you big bucks throughout the week. If you prefer a hot meal, most common areas, such as the Main Library’s Cyber Cafe, have microwaves and toasters.

4. Shred your credit cards.

It might sound extreme, but paying interest and monthly fees is the biggest way to “leak” money from your monthly budget. While it might be wise to keep one card for emergencies, retail cards with high interest rates are almost never necessary.

5. Balance your checkbook.

Banking online is so quick and easy it almost seems pointless to carry around a checking account register anymore. But having to write down and account for every expense in your day might help you realize how much you’re spending and what purchases are unnecessary, impulse buys. Knowing exactly how much you have in the bank also can prevent you from incurring overdraft fees.

To watch Whitney Gronski work her way through a week on a tight budget, check out the “A Week in the Life” blog at statenews.com.