Starbucks coffee is great, yes. It's an ongoing trend for college-aged people and the company is constantly creating new and innovative drinks for customers to try. But what if your wallet or your calorie counter just can't handle Starbucks anymore?

Or, what if you're just tired of going to your local Starbucks over and over again and ready for a change? I've got you covered right here in this article. Here are a few alternatives to Starbucks for your obligatory afternoon pick-me-up, your insane caffeine addiction, your need for sugar or a casual meeting with a friend.

Less expensive than Starbucks:

1. Chick-Fil-A's iced coffee

This drink is seriously wonderful. They may only have two flavors, original and vanilla, but it's quality stuff that deserves more recognition. It's only about $2 to buy a medium-sized drink and around $3 for a large one. And the caffeine is still just as effective as Starbucks.

2. Peace Tea

If you just want a sweet and caffeinated drink, go for a can of Peace Tea. Usually, a 23-ounce can is around $1 to $2. It's a lot of drink for a small amount of money. Now that's a deal.

3. Bottled Starbucks drinks

Yeah, you probably think I'm a hypocrite for bringing up Starbucks as an alternative to Starbucks. But, the bottled drinks actually run slightly cheaper than the regular drinks, especially if you buy them in packs at your local grocery store. Plus, they're more portable than the original cups of coffee.

Healthier than Starbucks:

1. Teavana tea

Teavana is owned by Starbucks, but they actually have their own independent stores in some malls. If there's a mall near you, stop by and try a single cup of tea. It's definitely a lot healthier than the artificially-flavored syrups used in most Starbucks drinks. Plus, you can try out dozens of different tea flavors. Ever tried oolong tea, white tea or raspberry green tea? It's really fun to experiment with different flavors.

2. Metromint Flavored Water

This option is for the sugar-addicted people who want to get off of frappucinos and onto something without calories. You can find these drinks at most grocery stores. As strange as they sound, Metromint waters are actually very refreshing. I also find that they satisfy my cravings for sugar.

3. Infused Water

If you just want a drink besides plain old water, try soaking berries, citrus or herbs (like mint) in your water before drinking it. Your body will thank you for drinking water instead of a 300-calorie frappucino, and you will enjoy the taste too.

More Creative than Starbucks:

1. Thai Iced Tea

Go to a Thai restaurant and order this aromatic drink, flavored with exotic spices and sweetened condescended milk.

2. Bubble Tea

Google "bubble tea" and find a store near you. These Asian drinks can vary in consistency from a thin "milk tea" to a smoothie-like texture. They also come in several flavors like strawberry, mocha and taro (my personal favorite). Their defining characteristic, though, is the tapioca "bubbles" that are served on the bottom of the drink. When you get your bubble tea, you will drink the bubbles through a thick straw and chew them as you drink the rest of the mixture. Yeah, it sounds weird, but believe me, bubble tea is life-changing and wonderful.

3. Locally-roasted Coffee

I have the most fantastic coffee shop about 10 minutes from my house, and it's not a Starbucks. They roast their own coffee and I can definitely taste the difference in the freshness of the beans. If you want to move to the next level of coffee drinking, check out the local spots in your area and support them.

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Do you have any other ideas of alternatives to Starbucks? If so, what are they?