Cutting the Starbucks habit -

[debtfreeme]

Good for you!

I only have coffee a couple times a month, and it is our of my weekly allowance I give myself for the "fun" things in my life. I get $50 a week for the fun things and that seems to be plenty. Coffee out is a fun thing because I am usually with a friend chatting for a couple of hours.

[crazyskunk82]

Someone gave me a Keurig, and that really helped curb spending. The Kcups aren't cheap, but they're cheaper than a Starbucks coffee, and of course a muffin or cookie, every day.

[florent]

Coffee budget?

Easy. I don't drink coffee.

Used to depend on it (starbucks, red bull, coffee, monster), switched to green tea, same amount of caffeine (if not, more). Then after a couple months I switched to de-caf green tea, tricked my own brain. Then I eventually stopped drinking green tea in the morning...

I drink mostly water. But tea is VERY cheap anyways. Very inexpensive. You can do anything you set your mind to.

I spend very little on beverages!

[dawnwes]

I love GOOD coffee. I found that most places like Starbucks tend to be hit or miss with the baristas. It seems the turnover rate brings on some good ones and some bad ones.

So, about 7 years ago I decided to bite the bullet and get myself a really good espresso/cappuccino machine. My husband about flipped when I told him how much I spent (I got it on a really good sale for $350, normally $900!) , but it has lasted almost 7 years and I use it EVERY SINGLE DAY! I make myself a really good double shot espresso latte and have it down to a science so it doesn't take long at all. I don't currently work, but even when I got up at 5:30am I used it and took it in my mug in the car on the way to work.

Anyway, I love it! And $350 for 7 years of daily use is a bargain compared to daily stops at the coffee store.

Dawn

[dancinmama]

DH and I or my sister and me will grab a Starbucks every once in a while. I'd never buy them on a regular basis cuz it's basically a rip-off, but it's a nice treat every once in a while.

I usually get flavored coffeemate at WAGs for free (after coupon and register reward) and add a splash of that to my coffee. It's not exactly Starbucks, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper.