As I may have mentioned oh, a few dozen times, I recently started a new job. New office is across the street from my absolute favorite coffee shop in the city. Like, it’s less than 50 steps away. This new proximity to such caffeinated bliss is becoming a problem. See, I am powerless in the face of precisely pulled espresso and perfectly steamed milk. Couple that with the fact that new office does not have a coffeemaker (wha? How is that possible, you ask? Beats me!) and I’ve been going to Coffeeshop Heaven probably 3 times a week.
Now, anyone who has ever read a personal finance article will tell you that “those daily lattes really add up,” and “if you just stopped getting your daily Starbucks you’d save hundreds of dollars a year.” I’m sure this is technically true: I’m just having a hard time deciding if I care.
Some days, when I’m buying my third cafe au lait of the week, I feel a tinge of guilt. I should be saving this $2.68! Don’t I want to retire someday? But just as often, I think to myself: if I refrain from buying a new sweater this winter, I have just earned myself 20 coffees! Like, doesn’t it seem supremely inefficient to save for retirement in two dollar and sixty-eight cent increments? Wouldn’t it be better to enjoy your thrice-weekly coffee and save money by making smarter purchases on, or foregoing entirely, bigger-ticket items, like cars, or plane tickets, or elective plastic surgery?
I also rationalize by noting that I save money in many other ways. I pack my lunch virtually every day. We only own one car. I buy the $5 bottles of wine for everyday drinking. But what it comes down to is this: I derive a lot of pleasure from those coffees, and I think small daily comforts and pleasures are worth something. I know I’m not the only one who really enjoys a morning espresso drink. I’d be willing to bet the personal finance advice columnists who scold everyone about drinking coffee probably drink it themselves. Most of us have neither the time nor the equipment to brew coffeeshop-quality lattes at home. And while I am all for curbing mindless, unnecessary spending, I am only going to be working across the street from this coffeeshop for a year, and if I want to go there three times a week, I’m going to do it, goddammit.
Listen, I totally agree. I think the whole “save the Starbucks money” thing applies to people who like it, but don’t love it, and could make coffee in their offices, and don’t derive THAT much pleasure from it but just sort of do it because it’s there. It’s all about value for your money, and it sounds like you derive quite a bit of value from your $2.68.
I just did the math. If you spend $2.68 three times a week over 50 weeks (assuming two weeks of vacation where you aren’t in the office), that’s almost exactly $400 in a year. Which, yes, that adds up but I agree, skip a couple bigger purchases that wouldn’t bring you as much value, and call it a day.
I think you’re fine…speaking as someone who finds a way to justify spending $6/day on cancer sticks.
Everything adds up over a year or a month or a lifetime. That’s not the point. The point is to be conscious of how you spend/save, and that’s what you are doing.
My theory is this: We all have our splurges. We have those little things that we like that we choose to spend our money on. And we save money in other areas. As you said, you pack your lunch, buy inexpensive wine and refrain from buying sweaters. For me, I drive a ten year old Honda and spend my money on Starbucks (yes, I stop every morning!) and books. You earn your money and you earn the right to decide how and where to spend it.
amen
Totally. And it isn’t as if we DO then put that $2-something in a retirement fund. I’m not buying coffee drinks three times a week and I’M not putting $7 a week in retirement, so it seems to me like I’m BEHIND on coffee drinks AND retirement, so who wins? YOU.
Agreed. Enjoy and savor!
You are allowed your little pleasures! Especially since you see the bigger picture. Now I am curious what the place is. I know everyone loves Intelligentsia.
I agree with the others. I love coffee splurges!