My Latte Factor
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I am a latte junkie. They know me by name at my local Starbucks, which is sad, when I really consider it. They actually have my coffee pre-made and waiting for me. Yes this is true. But recently with the economic downturn, I started to really think about how much my latte addiction was costing me. When I added it up, the cold hard truth was there. I could not believe how much money I was spending at Starbucks. At the rate I was spending I might as well have bought stock in the company.
The realization of how much money I was actually spending was truly a wake up call. I thought of all of the things that I could do with the money that I was spending instead of drinking my money. I was so shocked by the realization of what I was spending per week, that I decided to quit Starbucks cold turkey. I told the girls to stop having my latte ready for me. I was done. At first I frequented Dunkin Donuts, because their coffee was much cheaper, but I was still stuck with that latte factor. I knew that I had to do better.
Quitting Starbucks was so hard, especially in the late afternoon, when I was ready for that second pick me up. I stayed strong and stayed away. Soon, I started to drink the coffee that my office provided, I never realized it before but they were brewing Starbucks coffee. Ah, that sweet, sweet taste of Starbucks. Soon I stopped buying coffee all together, what was the point? There was perfectly good coffee at the office, which was free. As an office of serious coffee drinkers, they bought good coffee.
After I left my job to go back to school, I had the dilemma of getting my morning Starbucks fix. I resisted temptation and I did not go back to that delicious trap. But I had to find a substitute. The school has a cafeteria, where if you buy a cup of coffee, you get free refills all day. That was a good deal, seeing that the original cup only costs $1.25. The only problem was that the coffee was awful. I realized that I was going to have to find some way of bringing my own coffee.
I invested in a coffee maker that I found on sale, and a good thermos as well. Soon, I was back in business. I would fill my thermos and be good for the day. I had never really bought coffee at the grocery store, why would I bother, that’s what Starbucks was for. I found that I could buy Starbucks coffee and grind it fresh right in the store for about $7.00! That’s the price of 2 lattes! The coffee was delicious and the pound lasts a really long time.
I went cold turkey about a year ago, and I am still going strong. I stopped by Starbucks a week ago because someone gave me a gift card. I ordered my usual latte and the price had gone up. I was shocked that I actually paid that price for a cup of coffee! I didn’t want to go back, even though I had a gift card.
When I think about it, there is little value for money, when you consider the alternative of just making your own coffee and taking it with you. I will use the rest of the card so that it does not go to waste, I have been shocked strait. I do miss the creamy taste of a mocha latte from time to time, but my waist does not. I have tried to recreate the taste but, I haven’t had any luck. I came across a video of a woman named Renee who runs another frugality blog, she came up with this recipe to substitute her latte factor. It looks pretty good, I have yet to try it, so if you do and it’s good let me know.
What’s your Latte Factor? What do you regularly spend money on that you can cut out of your life to save money. Add it all up over year and see how much your Latte Factor is really costing you.
As the Economy Gets Worse, So Will Crime
Crime is up. Welcome to this new fiscal reality. Now it’s time for some safety tips for the New Depression.
More and more people are having to go without. Jobs are being lost at an alarming rate. People are getting desperate and because of this crime is on the rise.
Now, I’m not telling everyone to run out an buy a gun, or take drastic measures to protect themselves. I’m merely saying that as the economy gets worse, we need to be more vigilant.
I live in an upper middle class suburb of a major city in the U.S. We are far enough out where people don’t lock their doors, because many feel that crime doesn’t happen here. My little town has had quite a wake up call recently. A neighbor was recently robbed. Someone had their car stolen in the Walgreens parking lot, in broad daylight. Petty theft is on the rise all over. Times are tough and people need money.
There are a few simple steps that you can take to protect yourself without spending a lot of money. Again, I do not tend to alarm, but I do want to bring this issue to light. I know that crime is up much across the country with robberies at the top. In the past few months, in my area robberies have been way up. Before the economy took a down turn, the biggest robbery was maybe a bike.
The first step is simple and it’s free. Lock your doors. I know this seems too simple to even mention but you’d be surprised how many people don’t lock their doors. By doors, I mean not just the house. Lock the car, shed, garage, etc. Anyone can come in and take what they want when the door is not locked. Have the door locked even when you are home. Once you start locking your doors on a regular basis, it will become habit. Also, never leave your car running, ever! It’s just too easy for a crook to hop in and drive away.
The second thing that you can do is to keep an eye on your belongings. Always keep your purse on your body, never leave it in the cart when grocery shopping. I cannot tell you how many purses I have seen sitting on the passenger seat of empty cars. When you leave something like that visible and unattended, you might as well beg a thief to help themselves.
This is the same with a man’s wallet. When in crowded places, watch out for pick pockets. I know that this is rare in most small towns in America, but you’d be surprised what people would do to get by. Also protect what is in your wallet and purse, have the phone numbers of credit cards, and the cell phone company on hand, so that if something is stolen or lost, you can make the necessary calls right away.
The biggest thing to keep in mind is to just be aware of your surroundings and have common sense. If you see something out of the ordinary that seems odd, give the police a call. You don’t have to call 911. Most police departments have a non-emergency phone number that you can call. Most times the police will thank you for keeping a watchful eye. I’ve called them a few times myself and I have never had a negative reaction. It’s their job.
Common sense should guide you. I saw one of the stupidest things while I was out today. Someone had just purchased a 48″ flat screen television and left the box at the end of the driveway for the garbage man to pick up. The driveway was next to a busy highway. This is basically an advertisement to criminals. Common sense would say, never put packages from expensive purchases out on the curb for the garbage men (cut the box down and recycle it). Many towns have recycling centers to dispose of packaging. If the packaging cannot be recycled, I would suggest disguising it so that you can’t tell what went into that package. Don’t advertise to criminals.
The world is not a complete bad place. I am not suggesting you run out and buy a pricey alarm system or something as extreme as a gun. I just want to stress that now is a time for vigilance. Keep an eye on your surrounding and your posessions. Lock your doors. With a little common sense, we can all stay safe. So through these tough times, safety is possible, but it may require just a little more effort.
The One Question that will get you through the New Depression
What do I really NEED?
This should be the new attitude that will get people through the modern day depression. Americans are coming out of a time of enormous prosperity, and great waste. Sure the credit boom was fun, while you were on top, but at the bottom, it is no fun. Those plastic little cards are sneaky, its easier to spend money when you do not see the actual cash coming out of your hand.
Want is a four-letter word.
It’s a dangerous word that needs to be used sparingly. It is okay to want for things, but one must be thankful for what you do have. In our materialistic society it is ingrained in all of us from childhood. Those Saturday morning toy commercials are made to make children want. This disease of want continues into adulthood, but now a $10 toy does not satisfy the want, soon it’s cars and electronics or expensive designer clothing and accessories.
Want and the concept of reason do not coexist for many people. Often when want takes over, rationality flees in the opposite direction.
Now I am not saying that I do not want items that are not basic necessities at times, but I do not run out to the store to purchase that want. It is possible to have rationale in this matter. I must say that this was a long and hard lived trait.
If I really want something, I think long and hard about that purchase. I ask myself, will I really use that? How often will I use the product? What purpose does it really have in my life? Do I think the price is actually representative of the value of the item? Will it go on sale? After I take into account these questions, I discuss it with my husband. I am capable of making rational decisions on my own, but having someone to bounce ideas and thoughts off of is helpful.
When a big purchase comes along that my husband and want to make, it is always a joint decision. We save for what we want, and we pay cash. Recently, my husband said that he would like to upgrade our television to a new HD one. Our current television is old, buttons are broken on it, but the picture is still good. The remote has been lost for centuries.
After much debate, my husband and I decided that if we really wanted a new television, then we would save for it. A little money from each paycheck will go towards that television, into a specially designated savings account. We are grateful for the television we do have and we realize that we do not actually need a new one. But that doesn’t mean a new one wouldn’t be nice, after we’ve earned it.
NEED is the most important word in the English language. So many purchases are made with little to no regard of need. Most purchases are merely based on want. This idea of want is a dangerous one and it’s why the economy is in such trouble. There are many reasons why people shop, some actually need to, some use it as entertainment, therapy, or just a fun way to pass an afternoon.
Shopping is not an entertainment outlet, it is to get what you actually need. Need is a very basic concept, which is confused with want to many. There are 4 basic needs, water, clothing, shelter, and food.
That’s it.
An HD television is not a need, nor is the newest model of car or a designer pair of sunglasses. These basic needs do not have to be the best and most expensive, they have to sustain life, that’s all. I know that sounds harsh but, when you really think about it, it’s true.
Overall, I encourage all of you out there to think about purchases with your head, use rationale, don’t use your heart or emotion. I have to say that like any new way of thinking, this takes practice and time to learn. It took me a couple of years, and at first, I was miserable. I am guilty of being a shopper who enjoyed the entertainment of it. But I must say that I wish I would have been taught early on the difference between wants and needs. The sooner you start to separate these two words, the better and happier you’ll be.
10 Ways to Feed Your Family For Less – Shopping for Groceries with Austerity
It seems to many that feeding a family is becoming increasingly more expensive. However, all is not lost. With a little tweaking and habit change, a good deal of money can be saved. I have seen these tip work in my own life. I spend less on food than I did five years ago and my family dynamic has not changed.
The biggest thing to remember is, the store is not your friend, they are there to extract as much money out of you as possible. This does not mean one needs to be unfriendly but keep in mind, you are in charge when it comes to shopping. Never be embarrassed to put items back, keep a running tally of the cost of the grocery bill, or buy generic. The grocery store is in business because you are a paying customer.
I want to share my best ways for grocery shopping on a budget. I want to stress that I eat well and that I do not go without when it comes to food. Food is a need, not a want. And although I stick to these ten tips I do occasionally break them, every once and a while a small splurge is allowed.
These are my top ten ways for saving money at the grocery store:
Where to Shop
Choose where you shop. Believe it or not price does differ depending on the the store. Aldi is a great place to start, it’s no frills approach does pass down to the consumer. I personally have shopped there. Their food is good quality and is considerably less than your average grocery store. Another place to save is Wal-Mart. Yes, I am not a huge fan of them but when it comes to sticking to a budget, that’s the place to go.
Coupons
Coupons, yeah they seem like a pain, but they do actually save you some money. Wait to see if the local store has double-coupon days, where you coupon now counts for double savings. Don’t cut coupons for food you don’t eat. Just because the coupon came in the Sunday newspaper, does not mean that you have to purchase that item. Also read the fine print on coupons, some are sneaky, by requiring you to buy a larger size, or double of that product.
Sales Flyers
Watch the sales ads, if the item can be frozen and the price is great, get a few and freeze them till you need them. Meat is a great example of this. I wait till chicken breast goes on sale, I look for the bag that has 6 or 7 breasts in them. I don’t eat it all at once and the bag lasts for about a month. This can also be done with vegetables and fruit. I have heard that this can also be done with milk, but I have not tried it.
Store Brand Generics
Generic does not always mean low quality. I am brand loyal on certain items, Oreos, Jiff Peanut Butter… but overall most generic brands are made in the same factories as name brands. Be brave try it. There are differences in some cases, if you don’t like the generic brand try adding some spices to it, really give it a shot if you don’t like it. In the long run you will be amazed how much money could be saved this way. Also, a word to the wise, no one will know the difference when you put it on the dinner table.
Make a List
Make a list. I cannot stress this enough. Go in with the mindset that the only things that go on in the basket are things that are on the list, no exceptions. Leave a pad of paper on the refrigerator, when you run out of something, write it down. Make sure to include household items on you list as well, like toilet paper, and cleaners. In not taking a list to the store, something is always forgotten. This forgetfulness will prompt another trip to the store, which stores are counting on. How many people actually go back to get an item they forgot and only buy that item?
Set a Budget
Set a budget, and stick to it! Keep track of what you are spending while you are shopping, bring a pocket calculator or use one on you cell phone if it has one. Don’t be embarrassed this is a tuff economy, never be ashamed of looking out for yourself and your family. If the calculator is not your thing, try rounding up on prices to the nearest dollar and keep a running tally in your head. I find that this works for me and I always come in under budget.
Plan Your Meals
When making your list think ahead and plan meals, every meal. In doing this, nothing is forgotten at the store and you don’t overspend on things that won’t get eaten. I plan all of my meals when I go. I also plan lunches to take with me during the work week. If you do the math, in most cases it is so much cheaper to bring a planned lunch from home than to eat out. I also know how to allot the food for the week, I know not to eat all of a favorite food when I first get it, it has to last through the week.
Don’t Go Hungry
I know this seems obvious, but it’s true, eat before you go to the store. Hungry people alway buy more, myself included.
Grocery Shopping Only
If you shop at a super-center type grocery store, stick to the food section. Stores with this type of set up depend on you walking through the store, resist the urge. There is a reason the shampoo is on the opposite side of the store.
Don’t be Afraid to Say No
If you are over budget at the check out, don’t be embarrassed to put items back. You are the consumer, you have a choice. It is not a done deal once things are in the grocery sac. I have done this many times. I have come across the rude, nasty and angry doing this, but remember, YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER! The person behind the checkout does not have a job without customers like you shopping. I must honestly say, I see a negative reaction less frequently as the economy worsens. I also find that if you are up front with the cashier and tell them what your budget is and to let you know when the hit it, the checkout seems to go more smoothly. Overall, don’t be embarrassed, you have a right.
Final Thoughts on Saving at the Grocery Store:
I have learned these tricks over time and I have visibly seen my grocery bill go down. My husband and I can get everything we need to eat for the week for about $60. We both eat very well. We do not starve. Clever shopping will fill your cupboards and your tummy. Go out and look for a deal, remain in control of your shopping experience, and plan ahead. Happy Shopping!
