One of my old roommates Jack and I were in the chapter room talking one day. The topic was about daily expenses and how they can add up. Going out to grab coffee has always been part of my lifestyle, I don’t think twice about how much money I spend. I told him it wasn’t a big deal that I got a nitro-brew everyday. MAN WAS I WRONG.
A Penny saved is a penny earned
So how do you save money on coffee? Although I’ve been limited to where I can go during quarantine, not being able to go order has unintentionally saved me a decent bit of money. Because I didn’t go out for coffee as much last month, I ended up with just under $100 more in my bank account. There are a variety of little things you can do to save money on coffee, the biggest thing I’ve learned recently is to make it on your own.
Cost Breakdown
I would get coffee everyday to start my day before work. Each specialty drink was about $5.50. With a tip, the drink would be $7.00. Keep in mind I only went once a day, I know of many people who made a stop by during lunch as well. After running the numbers, I was pretty shocked.
- $5.50 for specialty drink+ tip= $7.00/Day.
- $7.00 x 5 days a week (Monday through Friday)= $35.00/Week
- $35.00 x 52 weeks= $1820/Year
The numbers above speak for themselves. Compared to going out 5 times a week, last month I only went out 6 times. Believe it or not, this made a world of a difference.
Don’t worry I won’t be linking any affiliates on this post (although I may do some reviews in the future). I will however share with you some ways I have saved this month.
Doing it yourself
The first time I ever used a coffee machine, I misplaced the brew basket and it went EVERYWHERE, ask me why I go out to get coffee so much?! Don’t worry, I had my roommates walk me through it, twice. I use my roommates coffee maker that costed her $25. That’s about 3-4 cups before it starts to pay for itself. I had NO IDEA how cheap it was to make coffee compared to buying it.
If you want to take it a step further, you can also buy a coffee grinder and grind your own beans. Buying whole coffee beans is not only cheaper, they are more fresh and the flavor is retained longer.
The coffee grinder I bought was $20 and the bag was 16 oz bag was $15 (You can get even cheaper beans too). All together, the total cost was about $60. Buying whole beans is cost-effective, each 16oz bag should last you roughly 5-6 weeks. Talk about return on investment!
You’re smart, not stingy
It’s quite frustrating to me when people are wrongly called stingy when they are frugal. There’s a difference. Being stingy is when you don’t want to give or spend any of your money. Being frugal is making smart decisions on what you invest in. You don’t need to buy a $200 machine and $100 coffee grinder. I’ve used low both low end and high end coffee machines. We get by fine everyday with the ones that we use and let me tell you, they taste the same.
Don’t get me wrong I do like having nice things, but how I’ve been living life recently is like this: It doesn’t matter if you own a $20 watch or a $2000 watch, they still tell the same time. The same concept applies to making your own coffee.
Those are just some of the main ways I’ve saved money on coffee these last few months, but there are still a few more things you can do…
Other Ways To Save
Personally I enjoy drinking my homemade coffee black, however I know there are many people who like adding cream or sugar to add some more flavor to their drinks. Those little creamer packs are used up so fast and the cost adds up. Making your own creamer can save you a few dollars a week. It may not seem like much, but just like not going out it adds up and can save you big down the road. Best practices my friends.
Keep it simple
Now say you’re like me and can’t wait to get back out to your local shops. I like specialty drinks when I go out, but a good way to cut the cost by $1-$2 is to just order a plain black coffee or espresso and make it a small. If you know that you work better and are more productive in the coffee shop environment, going out to order may be well worth your while.
GIFT CARDS/Coupons/Memberships
Many shops have discounts and deals, you just need to keep your eye out. The most common one I’ve seen is the buy a $50 card and get a $10 gift card for free! or the Buy one get one free deals. I don’t know about you, but in my eyes that’s free money.
When I say coupon, I’m referring to those deals you get typically in a membership. I’m from Minnesota, Caribou Coffee will always have a special place in my heart. Every time you go in and spend money, you receive perks points. After hitting a certain amount of points, you may receive a discounted cost for your beverage or sometimes a free one.
Having a membership doesn’t cost a thing to sign up. They will keep you updated on when they are having those promotions a day or two in advance as well as the day of. Coffee shops will always try to keep you in the loop as it’s their way of making money as well.
In general, memberships are a fantastic way to save when you know you’re already going to be spending. The discounts, deals, and promotions are great. My favorite thing about being a member at a coffee shop is that most will also give you a beverage on the house when it’s your birthday.That’s a free drink for you just being born!
I hope you’re all able to utilize some of these tips and save some money. Take the time, your wallet will thank you.
With Gratitude,
Dil
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