Make your “Joe” – save a “Benjamin”
May 25 2011 05:40 PM | Doreen Kukral in Feeding Your Family
The “Benjamin” I’m talking about is Ben Franklin… the face on the one hundred dollar bill. And what if I told you it’s possible to save $100 a month by changing just one daily habit… Your coffee… yes, your daily “Joe”.
If your day typically starts by dropping in at your favorite coffee spot, you’re likely spending a few dollars on your “Joe” or even more on the fancy concoctions. Add an afternoon pick-me-up, a spouse or partner, and you’re spending some serious cash, each and every day.
Making coffee at home can save you a bundle. A cup of your favorite java from home will cost you only 15-25 cents a cup (based on your brand of choice).
Not only will you save a bundle of money, but you’ll also keeps dozens and dozens of disposable cups out of the trash each month.
Sure, it’s fun to tote a fresh brew from a coffee house but, with just a few days’ worth of savings, you can buy a sassy little reusable mug to sport around town. Choose one that shows your personality, wash, reuse and fill it at home!
A close friend of mine (who’s pregnant with her first child) decided to cut coffee completely from her diet. Her typical routine included both a morning and afternoon coffee stop. I had to chuckle at her recent comment: “Wow… I spent a lot of money on coffee! I should have cut that habit long ago.”
While it’s undeniably true that most of us love our coffee, you don’t need to break the habit. Enjoy your coffee, but brew your “Joe” at home, and find a better use for your “Benjamin”!
Doreen Kukral is creator of MomGoesGreen.com, a popular weblog that offers a glimpse into her family’s journey to "going green". With her contributions to Money Minded Moms she hopes to inspire others by sharing realistic ideas and information necessary to make wise choices where family health, wellness and environmental conservation are concerned and dispel the myth that going green is a costly commitment.
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3 Comments
Sabrina O’Malone
25 May 2011 - 02:14 PM
You raise an excellent point, Doreen. My favorite grocery store has a Starbucks inside - right by the entrance. The store's shopping carts even have convenient little cup holders - fairly begging me to buy a cup of coffee every time I shop. One of those reusable Starbucks mugs helps me resist the temptation. Whenever I have the presence of mind to think of it in advance, I fill it with made-at-home coffee before I head out. Then when I get to the store, I'm sporting my real-live, trendy Starbucks mug (which fits nicely in the cup holder) filled with "made-at-home coffee" for just a fraction of the cost!
SharonF
06 July 2011 - 08:39 PM
Wow i just figured up how much I spent a month on a coffee and bagel from my local place---81.00 dollars a month-OMG! I will no longer be doing that!
Doreen Kukral
08 July 2011 - 11:48 AM
Hi SharonF - crazy, right??? 
Amazing how one seemingly small habit can cost so much. A coffee & bagel from home will probably be substantially less! All the best to you!
Amazing how one seemingly small habit can cost so much. A coffee & bagel from home will probably be substantially less! All the best to you!
Featured Article
Make your “Joe” – save a “Benjamin”
- posted by Doreen Kukral
The “Benjamin” I’m talking about is Ben Franklin… the face on the one hundred dollar bill. And what if I told you it’s possible to save $100 a month by changing just one daily habit…Your coffee… yes, your daily “Joe”.
If your day typically starts by dropping in at your favorite coffee spot, you’re likely spending a few dollars on your “Joe” or even more on the fancy concoctions. Add an afternoon pick-me-up, a spouse or partner, and you’re spending some serious cash, each and every day.
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