Does anyone actually get Starbucks every day?

[Anonymous]

http://www.theonion.com/article/man-brings-lunch-from-home-to-cut-down-on-small-jo-37912

[Anonymous]

When I worked in Manhattan, I spent $5 at Starbucks and $10-20 on lunch everyday. Starbucks was my afternoon break. I would get out of the office. I was single, earned a decent 6 figure income, rented an apt with a roommate.

I am now a SAHM and my Keurig Dunkin coffee is sufficient for me. DH earns a 7 figure income and makes himself a cup at home every morning too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Often times budgeting advice here is to skip the extras, like cable, or the Starbucks habit or some other supposed daily expense. Does anyone out there actually do that kind of stuff daily -- get Starbucks or like buy your lunch? Really? If so, how much do you spend?

I don't work in an office/commuting context anymore but when I did I bought lunch and coffee every single day, for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"You can't latte yourself to bankruptcy. The bladder won't stand for it" - Katie Porter in Helaine Olen's Pound Foolish

I'm generally a pretty frugal person and avoid unnecessary expenses, including Starbucks. But I can't be too judgmental on those who choose to indulge. If your morning latte is the thing that gets you through the day, or one of the few things you reliably enjoy and look forward to, I don't think it's nearly as destructive as some people imply.

Let's say you spend $5 at Starbucks every day of the year. That's $5x365, or about $1,800 per year, or about $1,300 if you only go on weekdays. I don't want to imply that's a trivial amount of money. But it's not going to make or break your household finances. It's the big lifestyle decisions - car, houses, vacations, schools - that determine your big picture finances. Latte's aren't quite small enough to be dismissed as a rounding error, but they're definitely at the margins of your financial health.

It kills me to see my millennial staff do this. They are in their mid-20s and that $1300 put into an IRA would be worth so much in 10, 20, 30 years!

I was talked into EE savings bonds in my 20s for $50 a pay period or $25 a week. 15 years later I cashed them in and was able to buy a house because I had the down payment. A small amount of money saved routinely and dollar-cost-average invested over time with compounding is like magic.

[Anonymous]

I buy lunch everyday, because I hate packed lunches. I always have. I'm pretty frugal in all other areas of life, so I'm not worried that this habit will kill my finances.

[Anonymous]

My nespresso machine really cut down my Starbucks habit! It was such a waste of money and my nespresso makes really good coffee actually.

[Anonymous]

No. But I do get tea or iced coffee at au Bon nearly daily. That only costs me 99 cents + tax though.

[Anonymous]

I used to get my chai latte daily for 4 years, I totally enjoyed that. Then one day I tried Cafe Americano at our office cafe and never looked back. I still spend 1.75 on coffee but I am okay with that.

[Anonymous]

I used to work at Starbucks 10 years ago. We had a customer come in EVERY MORNING and get a venti triple-shot iced latte with 7 1/2 Splendas. He made us put in the Splendas. The other regular I remember would get a tall decaf mocha.

These are not cheap drinks, people. And I saw these people EVERY. DAY.

So: yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"You can't latte yourself to bankruptcy. The bladder won't stand for it" - Katie Porter in Helaine Olen's Pound Foolish

I'm generally a pretty frugal person and avoid unnecessary expenses, including Starbucks. But I can't be too judgmental on those who choose to indulge. If your morning latte is the thing that gets you through the day, or one of the few things you reliably enjoy and look forward to, I don't think it's nearly as destructive as some people imply.

Let's say you spend $5 at Starbucks every day of the year. That's $5x365, or about $1,800 per year, or about $1,300 if you only go on weekdays. I don't want to imply that's a trivial amount of money. But it's not going to make or break your household finances. It's the big lifestyle decisions - car, houses, vacations, schools - that determine your big picture finances. Latte's aren't quite small enough to be dismissed as a rounding error, but they're definitely at the margins of your financial health.

It kills me to see my millennial staff do this. They are in their mid-20s and that $1300 put into an IRA would be worth so much in 10, 20, 30 years!

I was talked into EE savings bonds in my 20s for $50 a pay period or $25 a week. 15 years later I cashed them in and was able to buy a house because I had the down payment. A small amount of money saved routinely and dollar-cost-average invested over time with compounding is like magic.

My former daily Starbucks partner/colleague talked me into opening a ROTH IRA 10 years ago. I'm an early 30's millenial. I also purchased a home at 25. I currently max retirement in addition to the IRA. And will have a federal pension. Having savings and a Starbucks habit doesn't have to be mutually exclusive. I don't see any thrill to saving every single dollar I can for retirement and investments. Life is meant to be enjoyed and I'd rather spend some now when I know that I'll be able to enjoy it. I have zero regrets about all of the money I splurged on vacations, clothes, nights out, etc in my 20s.

[Anonymous]

I started bringing lunch when I went on Weight Watchers because the only compliant foods in the cafeteria were $12 salads. I stopped Starbucks because the work coffee is fine. So far I have lost 9 pounds and am saving at least $250/month! That pays for 2 extra house cleaning sessions so we have weekly cleaners. And it has made me become more frugal in general.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started bringing lunch when I went on Weight Watchers because the only compliant foods in the cafeteria were $12 salads. I stopped Starbucks because the work coffee is fine. So far I have lost 9 pounds and am saving at least $250/month! That pays for 2 extra house cleaning sessions so we have weekly cleaners. And it has made me become more frugal in general.

Awsome!!!

[Anonymous]

Not Starbucks, but Dunkin usually 3-4 times a week. I also buy lunch every day because I hate packing it. It's my indulgence and I don't mind keeping that as part of my budget.

[Anonymous]

I eat out breakfast, lunch and dinner. About $30/day . Daily Starbucks and that's okay with me and my finances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never mind the money, who has the time to go in (or wait in the drive thru) before work? It's so much faster at home! I need 15 more minutes of sleep more than I need Starbucks!

now you can order ahead thru the app and just walk in a grab it!