Day 48: How Much Do You Spend on Coffee?
What: Coffee, lattes, mochas…
Why: According to Time Magazine in 2012 (you can read more about it here), the average working American spends around $20 each week and $1,092 annually, on coffee. Of course there are different statistics out there, but regardless, that is a lot of money annually – just for something to drink. What if we learned to live with less by making our coffee or drink at home? How can we live with less, even when it comes to coffee?
How:
1. Sit back and think about how much you spend on coffee/lattes, etc. in a week’s time.
2. Ask yourself:
- Why you go to Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, or even the gas station to buy coffee?
- Do you really have extra time in the morning before you go to work?
- Do you feel you DON’T have extra time so you quickly run in and get something?
- Why buy coffee instead of making it at home?
- Do you find satisfaction in going into a coffee shop and buying coffee?
- Do you buy coffee to hold a certain status or label?
- Ask yourself WHY.
3. Have you ever thought of making your coffee or hot drinks at home? I know, the argument goes “but it doesn’t taste the same” or “I don’t have time to make it before I have to leave for work.” Have you thought about the cost and time and takes to buy a single drink versus the time and amount you can make at home? Maybe you like a certain brand of coffee – have you checked at your local grocery store to see if you can buy the exact same coffee? Stores are starting to carry quite a wide variety of coffee! Also, I have to think that the time it takes to make it at home is less than the time it takes to buy one in the store.
4. What about those chais? Have you ever thought about asking the coffee shop what they use to make their chais or mochas? They just might let the secret out if you ask!
5. There is something to be said about going to a coffee shop with a good friend and sitting in a quiet environment, sharing a deep conversation. In other words, I am not saying that we should do away with coffee shops. But what I am saying is that we should think about how easily we fall into the consumerism trap of instant gratification. Think about the time and cost of giving into our needs for coffee and something to wake us up in the morning. Is there something else you can put in your cup that is not store bought?
6. Think about making the change.
Confession of the Day: I am not someone who buys coffee or chais often at a shop. I find them to be overpriced to do that everyday. I am one to sit down with a friend or two, enjoying conversations and coffee. Though I also love conversing with someone in the comforts of home. My friend and I always enjoyed sitting down on her couch, sharing a chai. In fact, when my husband and I recently moved, she graciously sent us two tins of chai! It brought tears to my eyes as I thought about our coffee “dates” in our homes. The joy spent in a coffee shop can also be brought home as well. I have also asked the barista at Panera Bread what they use to make their chais and she kindly showed me the brand they use (unfortunately I forget what it was). Just remember that what we may think is the simple route in stopping in to quickly buy coffee, it may be MORE cost effective to make it at home in order to LIVE WITH LESS.
