Meaningful Money 101: Coffee Conundrum

I do think there’s truth to this. Even if you don’t go to Starbucks or any other coffee place every day, even a 3 times per week coffee habit can add up, especially when it seems like latte prices are on the rise. Depending on where you live, you could be handing out anywhere from $3.00-$5.00 per visit. If a latte is $4.00 a cup 3 times a week, that is $12 a week, $624 a year. That could get you a nice weekend getaway, if you say you can never afford a little getaway, or some other luxury item you have been coveting, like that purse you think you cannot afford.

That being said, a visit to a coffee place is sometimes more than a mindless habit. Sometimes, it is a nice mental break from your day or great start to your day, putting you in the right frame of mind. Or, sometimes you just need to get out of the office and a coffee break is just the excuse you need. The point is that finding out why you are so dependent on your coffee habit is the key to at least seeing if you can cut down or find alternatives to that cup of coffee. Or, take the habit for what it is and enjoy it but cut down in other places. Meaningful spending is so much more satisfying.

For me, I realized that my afternoon trips to the coffee shop were due to mt need for a mental break, to get out of the office, and for a little pick-me up in the afternoon. Once I realized this, I searched for alternative pick-me-ups. Here are a few I have come up with:

1. Refresh

I now keep facial wipes and lotion in my desk. When I hit that mid-afternoon slump, I wipe my face down and re-moisturize my face. It is amazing how well this works to keep me awake and refreshed in the middle of the day. There is nothing that makes you feel worse than looking in the mirror and looking tired and oily in the middle of the day. Talk about a slump. And, it’s easier on your wallet. A travel pack of 10 wipes is about $3 and will last you 2 weeks. A bigger pack of 30 is $5-$6 (definitely a better deal) and will last you about 6 weeks.

2. Walk it out

I also have a tendency to work through the day, eating my lunch at my desk while I am working. Well, no wonder I was burnt out and needing to get out of the office by afternoon! I started being more aware of how long I had been sitting at the desk and trying to get up and outside for a quick 5-10 minute walk every 3-4 hours. This has also changed my afternoon mood dramatically, and it is free!

3. Keurig It

If you must have coffee, consider enhancing the coffee the office offers. My office offers a Keurig and supplies K-cups so I have a variety of free coffee from which to choose. I just buy a big bottle of creamer to flavor the coffee the way I want ($3 for a bottle that lasts me about a month) and I am happy.

The most important thing is to become aware of your spending habits and the root of why you spend the way you do. This awareness leads to more meaningful spending, a change in perspective. Change your perspective, change your life.