Money Matters

I am even guilty of this to some extent. I even contemplated this article while sipping on a 20oz Latte that cost $4.00.

Generally, If I am heading downtown to do programming, will stop by one of a couple coffee shops and get a 32oz Vanilla Soy latte for about $5.00. My thinking is I will probably drink that much anyway, so get in volume.. right? Isn't that the american way of thinking?

Follow up:

This week alone, I have spent $20 on Coffee beverages. Not good. That comes out to almost $100 a month just on coffee drinks.

Soda, I don't drink as much of. I used to be a lot worse on soda & energy drinks. I still love energy drinks, especially if they are Vit B fortified, but I just don't drink them as often... Maybe 1-3 a week now, so only a max of $3.00 a week for energy drinks. I don't remember the last time I just bought a regular multi-pack of soda... I think I bought a Mt Dew a couple weeks ago, but unless I am offered one, I generally don't do as much soda.

One thing I do love, and I have started doing this regularly again... is Tea! I love most tea, and I will make up a big batch of about a gallon at once. This is also good because I do not need my tea very sweet.  I love the flavor of the tea itself, not the sugar, so I just don't put much sugar in the batch... maybe 1/2 cup for a whole gallon. Just enough to give is a little flavor enhancement. 1 gallon of tea is about $0.75 for me to make at the strength and sweetness that I like it. (10-12 bags of tea for 1 gallon for peppermint tea)

I will have to invest in a few more gallon containers (I like the Arizona Tea gallon containers. Nice size, store nicely, easy to pour, and clear), Then I can make about a week of tea at once. If I keep some handy for when I am downtown, I can probably cut out about 80% of the cost. There are just some days when a latte is a nice treat, but they seem to take over fast.  I can also make use of the coffee maker downtown more.

How about everyone else? How do you cut costs on coffee or soda drinks? Tea? Bringing coffee from home? Home brew coffee? Just water? Make your own soda? Volume discount?