Giving Up the Latte
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 02/06/2007 at 5:05 PM
Speaking of coffee, I remember the day a college classmate said, "I figured out last night that I spend more money on Starbucks than rent." Of course, he was pitching in with three other guys on a small apartment, but with $200 going toward coffee per month, the revelation was still fairly shocking.
MSN reports skipping the daily latte is not only a healthy choice, but it will save you a lot of money:
"Consider the costs of that unhealthy habit," says Barbara O'Neill, co-author of "Small Steps to Health and Wealth," a financial and weight management series produced by Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Sugary snacks aren't just padding your waistline, they're also depleting your wallet.
Swap out that 16-ounce Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte ($4.40, 340 calories) for the same size black coffee ($1.89, and a mere 10 calories) every workday, and you'll save $653 a year.
Starbucks has long been a guilty pleasure, but the company's last price hike crossed the line. No longer willing to pay the price for a daily latte, I began brewing coffee at home in the morning. And I'm happy to report that I discovered both of the benefits mentioned in the article. I was the person who thought I'd never be able to give up the 'Bucks — and I still enjoy an occasional latte — but cutting back has been a freeing experience. Waking up to the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee isn't so bad either.
1. Tabitha said the following at 6:59 PM on Feb 6:
I realized I could get the same taste of my local coffee shop at home (and thence even more cheaply than that tall coffee!) by buying and grinding their beans myself. Same flavor, less than a quarter of the price.
My budget likes this.
2. John said the following at 8:40 PM on Feb 6:
I have always been content to drink the swill in the office coffeepot (that is, before I gave up caffeine altogether).
You can't write "Starbucks" without "bucks."
3. Samuel PG said the following at 10:03 PM on Feb 7:
A plus for the coffee shop is the potential opportunity to make friendships and communicate the Gospel. A pastor I know refers to Starbucks out of both his addiction and the ministry opportunities there as "St. Arbucks"
4. Rachel said the following at 7:57 AM on Feb 8:
Mmm.... ... Sometimes those sugary drinks are really yummy, but I can never bring myself to pay that much for a beverage! ... So I wimp out and buy coffee... ... Which is OK by me because they have that nice cream/flavor bar when you can add all sorts of yumminess to regular coffee... ... My favorite is cinnamon! ... .. Then just add lots of cream and sugar (if that's how you roll), and there you are! A cinnamon dolce latte........ ... or whatever it's called... ... I only know how to order coffee...
5. Suzanne said the following at 11:19 AM on Feb 8:
Rachel: "If that's how you roll." :)
6. Leah T said the following at 10:24 AM on Feb 10:
The best cup of coffee that you'll ever have is from a French Press. You use more coffee per cup than in a normal drip-maker, but it's really easy, you can still make your cup of joe at home, and it's still more cost effective than hitting up the local coffee shop every morning.