I looked up the average cost of a takeout coffee in my city and did the math

I found a report from our local business journal that said the average price for a latte here is $5.75. I was buying one on my way to work, five days a week. That's $28.75 a week, which adds up to about $1,495 a year! I started making my own at home for maybe 50 cents a cup. It's been six months, and I've already saved over $700. Has anyone else found a small daily expense that really added up when you looked at it over a year?

4 comments

4 Comments

amy_anderson2mo ago

Okay but is it really that big of a deal? Like, you have to enjoy your life a little. That coffee was probably a nice part of your morning routine. Saving money is cool and all, but sometimes the small treat is worth the cost.

anna_ellis882mo ago

Yeah I used to feel the same way, like it's just a few dollars. But then I added up what I spent on coffee last month and it was over a hundred bucks. That's a real bill I could have paid instead.

max_torres442mo ago

My buddy did this with those fancy energy drinks... he was spending like four bucks a day at the gas station. Did the math and realized he basically bought a new PlayStation every year for the company that makes them.

vera_johnson91mo ago

Honestly @anna_ellis88 is right, it's a bill you're paying to yourself. My coffee habit was basically a secret subscription service I forgot to cancel. Now I just funnel that cash directly into my emergency fund for things like, you know, actual emergencies.