It seems like everyone today is saying that daily coffee money spending is what’s keeping people broke. But I’m not in total agreement. Sure, if instead of spending $5 a day on coffee and instead investing it, you could end up with over 200 grand after 30 years. But also, there’s probably a lot of other things people can cut out of their daily lives that could save just as much money. And I completely understand that sometimes it’s nice to sit and chat with a friend, your significant other, or even just take some me time with a cup of coffee inside your local coffee place. But just in case you do want to take that step to save that little bit of extra coffee money, I’ve got some options for you!
The cheapest option? Wait until you get to work! Of course, this will only work for people that work in an office or warehouse setting that offers free coffee. I will openly admit that oftentimes work coffee is horrible. But the upside? You can get as much as you want, for free! And consider adding ice, some creamer if they have it, or finding other ways to spice it up! And just remind yourself: you’re saving coffee money with each mug! But if that work coffee is just too tough to drink for you, I completely get it, and have a method I use instead (in conjunction with coffee at work for the afternoon).
So while I do drink coffee at work to gain the energy to finish the day, my preferred coffee money saving trick is to make it at home! I usually make coffee and bring it in to drink throughout the morning. My current method is to make an espresso (love my Mr. Coffee espresso maker, I think it was like $50 from Walmart), using either Starbucks or Lavazza espresso grounds. I then add International Delight coffee, usually either the mocha or caramel macchiato flavors. I do think the espresso itself is plenty good enough to drink on its own, I just like adding that little bit of sugared up coffee as well. I can usually make about 8-10 coffees with the amount of International Delight I put in, with each carton being about $4.50. And then with each bag of Starbucks being around $20 (rounded up) and each bag providing (guesstimating, might be more) 50 double espressos, each coffee I make costs a little less than a dollar by conservative estimates. That’s over $4 in coffee money savings each time!! Or if you’re like me and get the fancy coffees, closer to $5 each time! And of course, I also have done drip coffee in the past as well, which is another great option! So plenty of ways to get your coffee in at home, and you can get creative! Maybe try to make your favorite Starbucks at home, or find different syrups or creamers to spice things up! With all the coffee money you’ll be saving, you’ll have plenty extra cash to try new things! But if you really enjoy the experience of going somewhere to get coffee, I understand!
But can you go places to get coffee cheaper than normal coffee chains? Of course! I often go to McDonald’s to get their coffee. If you get their coffee once a day through their app, they have a 0.99 cent deal! I usually get their caramel or French vanilla coffee. You used to be able to add chocolate syrup for free, but now that costs extra unfortunately. However, their coffee is pretty good! It does also seem pretty strong. And with, after taxes, their coffee being only a bit over a dollar, that’s some excellent coffee money savings! There are other methods too, so check around! In the Midwest, Holiday gas station offers a $9.99 a month deal for your choice of a coffee, drink, or icee once daily, any size! Not sure any place can beat that deal, but be sure to check around at your local gas station or fast food restaurants! You’d be surprised at the coffee money savings you’ll find! Again, not as fancy or fun as going to the local coffee chain, but the fun is in the coffee money you get to keep in your bank account!
But if you get a great deal of joy out of visiting your local barista, I get it! Be sure to become a rewards member for the perks. And know all the tricks! For example, if you consume your Starbucks drink in the store, you can get a free refill of a brewed coffee or tea or a cold brew! So chug away! Or maybe try to alternate days between getting coffee from a coffee chain and one of the cheaper options above.
While saving coffee money may not be fun, it is a great place to start on your savings journey. At the end of the day, $5-6 a day isn’t a ton, so there are probably better ways to save money. But if you get that every day, it comes out to nearly $2,000 a year, and as I mentioned before, that can seriously start to add up if you invest it! It may not be the ultimate way to save money, but pocketing that little bit of extra coffee money monthly is a great place to start!