That time my cousin Dave told me to track every single coffee purchase

My cousin Dave, who's been budgeting for like 8 years, said I was losing $50 a month on coffee runs without realizing it. I laughed it off but finally started logging them on a spreadsheet last July. Turns out I was spending $63.40 at the Starbucks on Elm Street alone in August. Has anyone else had a friend or relative call them out on a small habit that was secretly draining their wallet?

2 comments

2 Comments

susan35020d ago

$63 at one Starbucks is brutal but honestly pretty normal. My brother called me out on the same thing and I was blowing $47 a month just on the drive-threw caramel macchiatos. I switched to making cold brew at home with a $20 pitcher from Target and it paid for itself in like two weeks. If you don't want to quit cold turkey, try setting a weekly cash limit like $10 and stick to it. The spreadsheet trick works because seeing it in black and white makes you feel dumb enough to change.

eric_wright7719d ago

$47 a month on caramel macchiatos is wild but I get it. My buddy Dave spent $80 one month at Dunkin just on iced coffees and bacon egg wraps. He started keeping the receipts on his fridge. Said looking at that stack every morning made him feel like a total idiot. Now he buys the big tub of Folgers and a box of frozen wraps from Costco. Saves like $60 a month easy.