I Need At Least Three Beverages On My Desk At All Times, So Here Are My Favorites For $3 Or Less

Flavored water, sparkling water, herbal water, essenced water, I am here for it all!

I'd love to know the science behind the happiness that I feel when there is a fun beverage on my desk. For me, coffee and water are essential throughout the workday, along with one bougie bevvie that helps to cure that little mid-day slump. This is truly an era for me, as I find excitement in going to the grocery store to try a different brand or new flavor that is sure to enhance my workweek.

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I've worked my way through various flavors of La Croix, Bubly, Spindrift, AHA, and many other beverage brands under the sun. While I'd love to include ALL of my favorites, I'm digging into the best drinks that are available for $3 or less, either individually or sold in a multi-pack.

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Yes, the multi-packs are *way* better value! 

We are all out here trying not to go broke over groceries these days, so I'm keeping the $3-or-less threshold at a reasonable "treat yourself" price tag. The below drinks are some of my favorite brands and favorite flavors. Off we go!

Aura Bora Herbal Sparkling Water ($1.79/can)

Kailey Hansen

Aura Bora is the bougie beverage that kicked off my love for *sparkles*. The flavors are entirely unique, with my tried and true picks being the Lavender Cucumber, Cactus Rose, and Ginger Meyer Lemon concoctions. These sparkling waters are infused with various herbs, fruits, and flowers. So fun! I find individual cans available for purchase in the refrigerated section of my local health foods store (though this has, admittedly, been a more difficult brand to track down). All to say, if you come across one, it's heaven on earth for $1.79.

Good & Gather Pomegranate Dragonfruit Sparkling Water ($3.29/8pk)

Kailey Hansen

If you are a fellow Target shopper, I beg of thee to try their store-brand sparkling waters. Honestly, I think they are comparable to Bubly or AHA and come in tons of different flavor options — including unsweetened, sweetened, and caffeinated versions! My go-to is the Pomegranate Dragonfruit which can be found on my desk at least two days a week. While you can only buy Good & Gather sparkling waters in a pack, it's for the best. You can't beat the value of eight cans for $3.29!

Trader Joe's Sparkling Cranberry Clementine Water ($0.99/bottle)

Kailey Hansen

You also can't beat the 99-cent price tag on these Trader Joe's seltzers. Available in 33-ounce bottle form, or in a can ($3.49 for an 8-pack), these lightly-flavored waters are fizzy and fruity. I like to sip on Cranberry Clementine while answering emails, but you can also utilize these as the base of a refreshing cocktail spritzer outside of work hours.

Bai Antioxidant Infusion Drink ($2.29/bottle)

Kailey Hansen

At first glance, Bai drinks don't scream flavored water, but essentially, it's what they are. If you aren't a fan of carbonation, this stuff will be your kryptonite. It's a fruit-infused beverage packed with healthy antioxidants and only one gram of sugar. The Brasilia Blueberry flavor has a hold on me and is simultaneously tart and sweet. This one also feels closer to a juice than the other water-based beverages, but it's well worth the $2.29 price tag.

Hint Blueberry & Lemon-Infused Water ($1.50/bottle)

Kailey Hansen

If you are seeking something on the simpler side, this bevvie is for you. Hint water is simply water (no sparkles to be found) with, as the branding suggest, a mere essence of added flavor. I've tried a number of these guys, and my favorite is the Blueberry-Lemon which is super subtle but refreshing. Hint waters are fun for when you're bored of plain old water but still want to hydrate. At my local grocery store, a single Hint bottle is $1.50.

VitaLife Strawberry Mint Peach Probiotic Drink ($1.99/can)

Kailey Hansen

Aldi is one of my favorite budget-friendly grocery stores to frequent, and truthfully, they never let me down! I've come to enjoy this organic sparkling drink which is available in two flavors: Strawberry Mint Peach (my personal favorite) or Pineapple Mango. Aldi's probiotic drink tastes a little more on the juice-centric side, but it's still lovely and refreshing. These only come in individual cans at an affordable $1.99 price point.

Poppi Raspberry Rose Prebiotic Soda ($2.49/can)

Kailey Hansen

Poppi drinks are marketed as health-conscious sodas with flavors like Doc Pop or Classic Cola offering a nutritious twist to traditionally unhealthy beverages. I'm not a soda gal, so my favorite flavor is Raspberry Rose, which I have found to be guiltlessly addicting. This yummy drink is just sweet enough that when I want a pick-me-up, it does the trick, but not sweet enough to make me feel sluggish an hour later. You can buy four-packs at certain stores, but I often grab a singular can for $2.49.

Olipop Lemon Lime Soda ($2.38/can)

Kailey Hansen

The beverage industry is full of gut-friendly drinks right now, including the yummy sodas put out by Olipop. Like Poppi, these healthy sodas promote digestive health and come in a myriad of flavors. I like their Lemon Lime combo because it's fresh and light. These drinks feel a little bit heavier than the others on this list but are a great guilt-free treat when you want something different than water or coffee at your desk during the workday. These guys come in mini-packs but you can also purchase a single can for $2.38.

Fellow Beverage Goblins, what are you drinking right now? Share your recommendations for tasty and affordable drinks in the comments below!