coffee

The 5 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers

Andrea Cannon — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 08:00:06 +0000

There’s nothing better on a hot day than an ice-cold coffee. With a cold brew coffee maker, you can make all your favorite hot or iced coffeehouse drinks from the comfort of your own home, at a fraction of the cost. The coffee concentrate also stays fresh in the fridge for longer, so you can get more out of your coffee beans.

What is a cold brew coffee maker?

A cold brew coffee maker is a kitchen appliance that allows you to brew smooth, low-acid coffee concentrate with minimal effort. Traditional hot brewing methods release acids, oils, and a bitter flavor. With cold brewing, the grounds never come in contact with hot water, so only the natural flavors are extracted. This results in a smooth coffee concentrate with a less bitter flavor. Cold brew coffee also has less acid than hot-brewed coffee, so it is better for those suffering from acid reflux or sensitive stomachs.

Top 5 cold brew coffee makers

Toddy T2N Cold Brew System

You won’t find a more highly-recommended cold brew system than the easy-to-use Toddy T2N Cold Brew System. Even Stumptown Coffee Roasters recommends it. The cult classic brew system makes about 48 ounces of coffee concentrate, which is about twice what most other models can brew. It promises to brew coffee with 67 percent less acid than coffee made with hot brew methods, so it's easier on sensitive stomachs. The patented cold brew system uses regular coffee beans to brew hot coffee, with no electricity required. It brews smooth, rich, full-flavored coffee concentrate in 12 to 24 hours, and stays fresh in the fridge for up to three weeks.

This has been a favorite for decades. It can also be used to make hot or iced tea, so it offers a great value. The box includes the unbreakable brewing container with handle, glass decanter with lid, two reusable filters, a reusable stopper, and recipe guide. It is recommended by Consumer Reports, Cook’s Illustrated, The Washington Post, CNET, The Independent, and Heavy.com. It is also backed by outstanding online reviews, including more than 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Currently $36.99 on Amazon

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker

The OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker is easy to use, clean, and store. The BPA-free coffee maker features auto-stop when the carafe is removed to prevent a mess. One glass carafe of smooth, strong, low-acid coffee concentrate makes up to 14 beverages. The unique rainmaker function evenly distributes water over coarsely ground coffee for optimal flavor extraction. After 12 to 24 hours, simply flip the Brew-Release switch to start the filtration process.

This can also be used to make iced tea, so it offers a great value. It includes a reusable, removable stainless steel ultrafine mesh filter and a stopper with measurement markings and a silicone seal to keep coffee fresh in the fridge for up to two weeks. It is recommended by Consumer Reports, CNET, Wired, The Independent, The Sweethome, and Heavy.com.

Currently $49.95 on Amazon

Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker

Amazon’s #1 best-seller in coffee servers, the Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker makes at least four cups of smooth coffee with minimal effort. It features a reusable filter and an easy pour spout to reduce drips. The tall, cold coffee maker is made of durable glass with a sturdy handle and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

This is available in three colors to suit your kitchen. It was selected as the best cold brew coffee maker by The Independent and Heavy.com. It is also backed by outstanding online reviews, including more than 1,500 five-star reviews on Amazon. Many reviewers agree that this brews the best coffee they’ve ever tasted.

Currently $14.95 on Amazon

Cold Bruer Drip Coffee Maker

The Cold Bruer Drip Coffee Maker started as a successful Kickstarter project. While it is the most expensive option on our list, reviewers tend to agree that the difference in quality makes the price difference worth it. It also claims to be the fastest per ounce, at a drop of water per second.

The design features premium food-safe silicone and stainless steel, and includes a quality glass pitcher and brew chamber. It makes up to 20 ounces of rich, smooth coffee concentrate with very little acid in as little as four hours, which will last up to two weeks in the fridge. The easy-to-use, slow-drip glass brewer has a flow-through process and adjustable valve, allowing you to make the perfect coffee customized to your liking.

This includes a reusable stainless steel mesh filter and a starter pack of paper top filters. It is available in three colors to suit your kitchen. It is recommended by Consumer Reports, Cook’s Illustrated, and The Independent.

Currently $79.95 on Amazon

Takeya Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker

Amazon’s #1 best-seller in coffee makers, the Takeya Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker makes four servings of rich, smooth tasting coffee with minimal effort. The BPA-free one-quart Tritan pitcher features a soft, nonslip silicone handle to help minimize spills and an airtight, leakproof lid to help lock in freshness and flavor for up to two weeks in the fridge. The fine mesh infuser filters the coffee grounds to remove sediments.

This needs to be stored in the refrigerator up to 36 hours for brewing. It is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and conveniently fits in most refrigerator doors. It can also be used to make iced tea, so it offers a great value. It is frequently recommended online by publications like CNET and Heavy.com. It is also backed by outstanding online reviews, including more than 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Currently $18.99 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best cold brew coffee makers. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: How to Get Fresher Coffee With Stale Bread

Amy Lu — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 08:30:16 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on how to get fresher coffee with stale bread, foods that prevent hair loss, and easy ways to increase the value of your home.

10 Ways for College Students to Save Loads of Money

Amanda Gokee — Tue, 23 May 2017 08:30:12 +0000

Between big expenses like tuition and housing, and smaller everyday expenses such as school supplies and coffee, the costs of being a student can rack up fast. According to the College Board, tuition, fees, and room and board at a public four-year in-state school cost an average of $20,000 a year.

But there are a lot of ways for students to save money. Here are 10 ways to tackle expenses of every size. (See also: 12 Easy Ways to Avoid Student Loan Debt)

Big savings

Tuition and housing make up the bulk of student spending, so finding ways to reduce those costs can pay off big.

1. Look at off-campus housing for lower rent

While living on campus can be a fun college experience, university housing often comes with a big price tag. Room and board at my private university cost approximately $10,000 a year — that's about $1,250 for the eight months school is in session.

You may be able to find more competitive rents off campus. Check websites for apartment listings in your college town.

Also talk with your university's housing department about opportunities for free housing that may be offered if you provide advising services to younger, first-year students. This could result in huge savings and be an interesting college experience.

2. Apply for scholarships to save money on tuition

Tuition is often the most expensive part of going to school, with some private institutions in the United States charging as much as $33,000 — and that doesn't include room and board. While federal financial aid can help, it's often not enough.

There are a plethora of scholarships available, both locally and nationally, that you can apply for. The best part is, unlike federal student loans, scholarships don't have to be repaid. To find them, check with your university's financial aid office, your high school guidance counselor, your parents' employers, and organizations related to your field of study. Also try using the U.S. Department of Labor's free scholarship search tool.

Medium savings

Textbooks, entertainment, and transportation all add significant costs to your overall college bill. Try trimming or offsetting these expenses with these suggestions.

3. Save on textbooks

Textbooks can have a very high price tag. When I was a student, I remember books costing up to $100, and sometimes even more for specialized course booklets that included all of the semester's reading assignments. With multiple classes and most classes assigning at least five books per semester, it was easy to spend at least $500 on books alone in a semester, or $1,000 per academic year.

Buying used textbooks is one way to save. In my experience, they cost about half the price of new books. You can buy books directly from students who have already taken the course or check online retailers like Amazon for deals on used books.

Another option is to rent your textbooks, which means that you will pay a smaller amount upfront to the bookstore, but that the book won't be yours to keep at the end of the semester. Chegg and Amazon both offer rentals, and both claim you can save up to 90 percent by renting.

Alternatively, you can cut out the cost of books entirely by checking them out for free at your college library. Supplies are limited, so you may have to wait to get the book you need, but you can't beat the price. (See also: 20 Places to Buy or Rent Textbooks)

4. Sell back your textbooks at the end of the semester

Chances are, you can get some of your textbook investment back by selling your books when you're done using them. You can likely make back a couple hundred dollars at the end of the semester. One easy option is to use Amazon, which has a streamlined process for buying back books for up to 80 percent of what you originally paid. Amazon will then sell the book used. You can also check with your university bookstore, as it may have a program in place to buy back books.

A third option is to sell the book yourself. By cutting out the middleman, you'll get to pocket more money from the sale. You can ask around, or post notices on bulletin boards or online to find other students who are going to take the same class. If the book is required reading, chances are you will be able to find a buyer fairly easily with just a little bit of extra work.

5. Participate in studies to earn cash

If you don't have the time to commit to a full-time job, there are plenty of ways to earn on campus without the commitment. Check in with different departments about research studies that they may be running.

These opportunities can range from writing tests to filling out questionnaires. Once, I was paid $100 an hour to have scans taken in an MRI machine.

6. Take advantage of free facilities

Familiarize yourself with everything your college or university offers on campus. You can save $50 and up a month on an expensive gym membership, for example, if you have access to this type of amenity for free as a part of your tuition. Some schools also offer free tutoring, software, legal services, and psychological counseling. All of these can save you money.

7. Reduce transportation costs

If you live off campus, consider ditching your car for an economic bicycle that will get you to class for free, saving you on the cost of gas, maintenance, and parking. Public transportation may be another way to get where you need to go without paying car and parking expenses. When you go home at the end of the semester, check with friends and on-campus forums to find out if you can find a ride with someone and split the gas costs.

Small Savings

Even small savings can add up. Check out these ways to pare your everyday expenses.

8. Save on coffee

Some college students have a costly coffee dependency, and at a cafe you can expect to spend as much as $3 to $4 on a coffee. If you are buying coffee once or twice a day, in a month you could be spending over $150!

While a coffee maker might cost you a little bit up front, if you are a big coffee drinker it will pay for itself within the first month. Plus, with Italian coffee makers (around $30, depending on which size pot you choose), you can get stronger coffee and a better buzz for late night studying or just getting to your 5 o'clock class.

The Handpresso is a handheld espresso machine that is as convenient as it is cheap. Simply pump, add boiling water, a coffee pod or loose espresso grounds, and press a button for delicious coffee. Based on my experience buying ground coffee and milk in the grocery store, an Americano with milk only costs around 30 cents per coffee using this machine.

If you make two 30-cent coffees per day, rather than buying two at $3 a cup, by the end of the year you could save nearly $2,000 in coffee expenses!

9. Find free events and entertainment

Check if your university offers free lectures, movie screenings, concerts, or other arts events instead of paying big bucks to go to ticketed events. You'll be surprised how much you can do for free with just a student ID. Signing up for a newsletter will help you to stay on top of the cool speakers that the university is hosting.

Also use your college library, not just for studying but for entertainment options. Take advantage of newspapers, magazines, and movies that the library offers you to check-out, all completely free. By opting for this type of entertainment and reading materials, you can save a lot of money. With the average movie ticket costing around $9, if you instead go to two free movies per month or watch DVDs from the library, you'll save over $200 by the end of the year.

10. Stay in style for less

Trends move fast, and buying new clothes all the time can add up to significant costs for students. You don't have to completely forget about fashion for four years to stick to a tight budget. Check out thrift stores for fashions at a tiny fraction of the cost of new clothing. Also, find out about consigning the items you no longer want at the end of the semester.

Doing the math

Each item on this list may not seem like a lot — a coffee here, a movie ticket there — but when you add it all up over the course of the year, it can mean big savings for students. It's worth the effort to examine which of these costs you could cut, and then start realizing those savings.

This article is from Amanda Gokee of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 5 Best Descalers

Andrea Cannon — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 10:00:16 +0000

Descalers are a must-have if you have hard water in your area. Limescale can accumulate in your machine’s tubes, pumps, and inner workings over time. If you don’t descale, your brewer won’t work as well, so coffee takes longer to brew and it won’t taste as good. Regularly descaling can help remove mineral buildup to return your machine to like-new conditions, thereby improving performance.

A good descaler can make your machine work optimally again and can even extend the life of your machine, so you get a better value out of it. In most cases, you should use a descaler about once every three to six months to preserve your coffee maker.

What Are Descalers?

Descalers are chemical agents used to remove calcium deposits, limescale, and any other non-soluble sediments from any metal surfaces in contact with hot water. They release hydrogen ions when dissolved in water, which eat away at the scale and deposited minerals. They are commonly used to safely clean coffee and espresso machines, boilers, heat exchangers, water heaters, kettles, and septic tanks.

If you’re looking for a permanent solution, you won’t find better than the Eddy Water Descaler Electronic Water Softener. However, if you want something more affordable that you can use once a season, consider the options below.

Top 5 Descalers

Keurig Descaling Solution

If your Keurig indicates that it’s time for a descaling, then you won’t find better than the Keurig Descaling Solution, Amazon’s #1 best-seller in coffee and espresso machine cleaning products. It quickly removes mineral buildup without leaving any odors behind. It is easy to use and can restore your Keurig brewer to like-new conditions. It can even help extend your brewer’s life. This is the only Keurig approved solution, so you know it will work well in your brewer. It is backed by outstanding online reviews, including more than 700 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Currently $9.65 on Amazon

Durgol Swiss Espresso Descaler

The Durgol Swiss Espresso Descaler/Decalcifier is safe for use on all brands of coffee or espresso machines. It cleans 99.99% of bacteria quickly and effectively to safely decalcify, descale, clean, and protect your machine. It can even help prevent corrosion and limescale buildup to promote proper flow. It won’t leave any unpleasant odors, aftertaste, or residue behind. The food-safe, eco-friendly solution is powerful, but gentle on machines and won’t damage components. It also works well on filter machines, electric water heaters, and tea kettles.

This claims to work 10 times faster than other decalcification processes. It also claims to be the only descaler that removes 100% of limescale. You simply pour the solution into the water tank, so it couldn’t be easier to use. Each bottle is the perfect amount for one use. It is backed by outstanding online reviews, including more than 500 five-star reviews on Amazon. If you need a universal solution, then the Durgol Universal Express Multipurpose Descaler/Decalcifier works well on things like ceramic tiles, faucets, kettles, shower heads, and irons.

Currently $15.95 on Amazon

Urnex Dezcal

Amazon’s Choice for descalers, the Urnex Dezcal Activated Scale Remover is ideal for regular maintenance and can be used as often as once per month. It can safely clean, descale, and protect your coffee or espresso maker. It also offers fast, effective descaling of boilers, heating elements, faucets, and spray heads. The nontoxic, biodegradable powdered descaler helps remove stubborn hard water deposits, scale, and calcification so your items can work like new again. The five-pack has outstanding online reviews and many reviewers agreed that it works better than anything else they’ve tried.

Currently $8.31 on Amazon

De'Longhi EcoDeCalk Natural Descaler

The De'Longhi EcoDeCalk Natural Descaler for Coffee Machines works quickly to dissolve limescale deposits. The all-natural formula can help ensure your coffee machine works optimally. The company claims that laboratory tests prove that it’s also up to three times more effective than traditional descalers. It is frequently recommended online for all types of coffee machines.

Currently $11.99 on Amazon

Saniflo Descaler

If you need a descaler for something larger, such as your toilet, then you won’t find better than the Saniflo 052 Descaler. The 1.25-gallon jug of descaler cleans and disinfects without harming your septic tank. The ultra-concentrated phosphoric acid formula is specifically designed for use with Saniflo products. It is easy to use and will keep your pumps maintenance free. It can even help prolong unit life. This has outstanding reviews online and is frequently recommended for big jobs.

Currently $37.40 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best descalers. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Breakfast Foods to Help You Ace Your Job Interview

Marla Walters — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 10:30:17 +0000

Your wardrobe is ready, you have practiced the tough questions, and you've visualized the job interview. What else can you do to increase your odds of success? Try eating a balanced breakfast that will keep you alert, provide you with energy, and sharpen your memory. Here are 10 suggestions to start your big day off right.

1. Coffee

Coffee will help you stay alert and focused. The trick is to not over-caffeinate, because that will make you jittery and shaky. One to two cups should be your limit. Not a coffee drinker? Try some green tea, which is also an energy stimulant.

2. Eggs

You'll need protein for energy to get through an interview, which can be exhausting. There are about five grams of protein in an egg, along with iron, vitamins, and minerals. Eggs also contain choline, which may delay fatigue. Choose your preferred way to prepare eggs and get crackin'.

3. A Whole Wheat Carb Option

Sorry, but doughnuts are not what we want to eat on the day of an important job interview. Complex carbs are what you're after, such as a bowl of oatmeal, whole wheat toast, whole grain pancakes, or whole grain cereal. Think of complex carbs as fuel to keep your brain moving, which will be handy when you get the "Tell me about a time when you had a difficult situation at work" query. As a bonus, whole grains release glucose slowly, which will keep you alert for longer.

4. Salmon

Try tucking some smoked salmon into an omelet with a little sour cream. Salmon is an oily, cold-water fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3's will help you with your concentration.

5. Yogurt

Interview questions like "What salary range are you looking for?" can make you downright queasy. If you have a nervous stomach, it's time to make yogurt your new BFF, pre-interview. Good, healthy bacteria found in yogurt will give you a boost of energy and help you digest food. Look for plain yogurt with no added sugar or flavors, which might cause stomach irritation.

6. Blueberries

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that blueberries may help to improve memory function, so count on those little blue orbs to help with the "What do you know about our company?" question. Sprinkle berries over yogurt, cereal, or pancakes.

7. Avocados

Mash some avocado on whole grain toast, and you'll be better prepared for the tough questions. Avocados contain vitamin K and folate, as well as good fats. Folate helps with cognition, which may help you keep calm under stress.

8. Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are generally good for you to eat, for all kinds of reasons, but walnuts specifically seem to support "inferential reasoning" ability, which will come in handy if you get a question like "How did you manage to finish that project by the required deadline?"

9. Almond Butter

A super source of protein, almond butter is filled with good fats and less saturated fat than peanut butter. Try spreading it on apple or banana slices.

10. Water

I realize that water isn't a food, but your brain will be all kinds of foggy if you don't keep yourself hydrated. If you're thirsty, you'll have a harder time staying focused. If you're offered a glass of water in the interview, it's not a bad idea to accept, both for hydration and just in case your mouth goes dry.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Marla Walters of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

A Simple Plan for Saving Up a $2000 Fun Fund

Amanda Gokee — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 10:30:28 +0000

What are your big plans for this year? Buying a house? Going back to school? Or simply taking that dream vacation? Big purchases require thousands of dollars, but the good news is there are simple steps to ensure you will meet your goal.

First, establish a clear plan and set goals that are attainable. How much money do you need to save, and when do you need it? The formula for saving money is simple enough: earn more, spend less. Here are some ways that you can do both of those things to put several thousand dollars extra into your bank account this year!

Ask for a Raise

If you have a good track record at your job and you've never gotten a raise — or it's been awhile since you did — this could be a good time to set up a meeting with your boss. Normally, employee evaluations are carried out annually, so if you're coming up on the one-year mark, this is an especially good time to bring up the subject.

People often feel uncomfortable asking for a raise, but it's a normal and natural conversation to have. However, it's critical that you come to the table prepared.

When you sit down with your boss, be clear about what you're asking for and why. Get specific about how much you want to make. The average annual raise in 2017 is expected to be 3.1% according to a WorldatWork Salary Budget Survey. Stellar performers may earn more.

If you think you fall into the latter category, you should have strong evidence of why you deserve an above-average raise. Cite examples of successful projects you've managed, or great sales you've driven. You may also want to check out the average salary for your position in your industry. If you're being paid below market rate, add that to your argument.

Of course, once you've secured a raise, be sure to save it instead of spending it. Let's say you're earning $3,000 a month and you get a raise of 3%. That translates into an extra $90 a month that you can put into your savings account. Make it easy on yourself by setting up a direct deposit of that amount into your savings account. That way, saving becomes automatic. (See also: 8 Money Moves to Make the Moment You Get a Promotion)

Seek Out Non-Traditional Sources of Income

If you're trying to earn more, it can also be helpful to augment your income beyond what you're earning every month in salary.

Luckily, with the sharing or "gig" economy, there are many new ways to earn money outside of your 9-to-5. These earnings can add up fast, and often this "work" is very flexible and can fit in easily with your schedule. (See also: 5 Websites That Can Seriously Pad Your Pockets)

Offer a Room on Airbnb

If you have a home or apartment with extra space, consider listing your space on Airbnb or another short-term rental website. Prices vary dramatically depending on where you live and the quality of the space you're renting. For instance, in Los Angeles prices range from $17 a night for a small, basic room to more than $1,000 a night for use of a whole luxury home. The average price of a private room is $73.

Let's say you'll rent a spare room at that average rate for 10 days per month. That would equate to monthly earnings of $730. Subtract taxes, cleaning supplies, and any other materials you need to buy to keep up with your guests, and you should still clear around $500 a month.

Keep in mind it will take some time for you to accumulate positive reviews, and certain times of year may have slower traffic than others. Also, many cities are regulating short-term rentals, which may impact how much money you can expect to make. Investigate the rules, then see how much you can make.

Become a "Tasker" on TaskRabbit

If TaskRabbit exists in your area, this is another great way to earn extra money toward your savings goal. Once you've been approved as a Tasker you can view the gigs people are offering. They can be anything from running errands, to waiting in line for a restaurant that doesn't take reservations, to making deliveries or helping plan a wedding.

You get to set your rates and see tasks that correspond. If you set it lower — at say, $10 an hour — you may find more jobs than if you set it at $30 an hour. You choose which tasks fit into your schedule and how many jobs you want to take on in a month.

Just by doing three two-hour tasks at $20 an hour, you could earn an extra $120 a month. (See also: Can You Really Make a Living in the Gig Economy?)

Drive for a Ride-sharing Company

Signing up to drive for Uber, Lyft, or any other ride-sharing company is another way to use the gig economy to earn some extra money. You'll need a four-door car in most cases, and you must be at least 21 years old with a clean driving record and car insurance.

Uber is considered to pay better than other companies. An Uber study showed that its drivers in the company's top 20 markets average $19 an hour. Work 15 hours a week and you could gross $1,140. You'll have to pay taxes, vehicle upkeep, and insurance out of that. But you can work as much as you want, whenever you have the time, so it can be a good way to rack up several thousand dollars in just a few months. (Start driving for Uber today!)

Spend Less Money

There are a lot of incidental expenses that are easy enough to ignore in your day-to-day routine, but when you closely examine your monthly spending, it's often surprising just how much money these expenses eat away. Reduce them as much as possible to put more of your money into savings.

Kick the Coffee Shop Habit

This is a typical example, but it's worth mentioning because working Americans spent an average of about $21 a week on coffee in 2013, according to a survey by financial staffing firm Accounting Principals. The cost to make a cup of coffee at home is around 50 cents. If you drink two cups a day, that works out to about $7 a week. Over the course of a year you could save nearly $730 by making a habit of brewing your coffee at home.

Cut the Cord

Look at trimming bigger expenses, too. For instance, if having a landline is not essential for your work and you can use your cellphone, this could be an easy place to save $15–$30 a month. If you throw cable TV into the mix, you're looking at a savings of anywhere from $20 to $100 or more, depending on the package you have. Those savings can help you get to your goal quicker while minimizing the extra work you may have to take on. (See also: 8 Affordable Alternatives to cable TV That Will Keep You Entertained)

Buy Necessary Household Items in Bulk

Unlike going to Starbucks every day, there are some expenses that simply can't be avoided. Make a list of the things you buy every month that are absolute necessities. Think of things like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, soap, and food staples that you always need to have on hand. These are prime items to buy in bulk, especially if you have a family.

You can save 10–70% on certain bulk items, but you need to be an astute shopper and judge how much you'll really use to figure out if the items will actually save you money in the long run. It's not a bargain if you end up having to throw out expired products or rotten food.

Track Progress in Writing

One final tip: It's important to write things down when you're serious about saving. Writing down your goal will help you to mentally commit to it.

Record both your savings and your expenses, so you can identify areas where you're doing well and areas where you could improve. This will let you check in and re-evaluate every month to make sure you stay on track.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Amanda Gokee of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Here's How Much More You're Paying for These 6 Convenience Buys

Dr Penny Pincher — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 11:00:10 +0000

Sometimes it makes sense to trade money in exchange for saving time. I could buy wheat, mill it into flour myself, and make my own bread for less than the price of a loaf of bread at the store. This would save me a little money, but it would could cost me a lot of time. Convenience is sometimes worth paying the extra money.

Most of the things we buy could be considered "convenience items" to some extent. Why buy jelly when you could buy fruit and make your own for less? Because buying jelly is a lot more convenient than the hard work and time it would take to make it yourself.

But at some point, the value obtained from buying convenience items diminishes. One grocery store actually sold pre-peeled oranges at $5.99 per pound, which works out to about $3 per orange. Would you pay around $2.50 extra to buy an orange that is already peeled? You'll need to decide for yourself how much you are willing to pay for convenience.

Here are some convenience buys that may not be worth the extra money.

1. Bottled Water

You can fill your own bottle with water at home for less than one cent, but buying a bottle of water costs over $1 — 100 times more! Most bottled water is sourced from city drinking water supplies, so it is often no better than your own tap water from home.

The cost of convenience: 10,000% extra

2. Vending Machine Items

You can get all kinds of convenient single serving items at a vending machine: candy bars, granola bars, cookies, packs of gum. Most of these items could be obtained for half the price at a grocery store or discount store. Instead of feeding your money to the vending machine, buy snack items in bulk on sale at the grocery or discount store and pocket the savings. Just be sure to pace yourself so you don't consume your snack supply too fast!

The cost of convenience: 100% extra

3. Prepared Fruits and Vegetables

Grocery stores offer convenient containers of prepared fruit and vegetables starting at about $5 per pound. These item are washed, peeled, sliced, and ready-to-eat. But how much is this convenience costing you?

Let's take a container of pre-sliced carrots and celery as an example. This prepared item costs $5 per pound, while whole carrots and celery stalks cost about $1 per pound. Paying $4 extra for something I could do myself in a few minutes does not seem like a good value to me. I have started keeping a bowl of carrots and celery in the refrigerator that I prepare myself for healthy and economical snacks.

The cost of convenience: 400% extra

4. Convenient Coffee

Lots of people pick up their morning coffee at a coffee shop, fast food place, or convenience store. I used to do this too until I realized I could make better coffee at home for less than half the cost. Now, I grind whole coffee beans just before brewing, and use a thermal travel mug to take coffee on my commute. The total cost is about 60 cents for a 16 oz mug. I find that making my own coffee takes only a few minutes and is more convenient than driving somewhere and waiting in line to pick it up anyway.

Some people use single-serve pods in convenient coffee brewing machines instead of handling coffee grounds or beans, but these pods cost at least twice as much to brew the same amount of coffee.

The cost of convenience: 230% extra

5. Single Serve Beverages

It is shocking how much more expensive it is to buy milk and soda in smaller bottles. At my grocery store, milk costs $3.49 per gallon. The same milk costs $1.39 for a 16 oz. bottle. The cost per gallon for the milk in the smaller bottle works out to $11.12 gallon!

A two liter bottle of soda often sells for about $2, while a 20 oz. bottle of the exact same soda sells for $1.89. You would have to buy $6.29 of soda in 20 oz. bottles to get two liters of soda.

The best way to avoid paying a lot more for the convenience of a smaller serving size is to buy the large size and use your own cups or containers to make individual servings.

The cost of convenience: 220% extra

6. Hot Sandwiches

When you are tired and hungry, it is almost impossible to resist immediate access to a hot sandwich. That is why ready-to-eat hot food items are so popular at convenience stores and fast food drive through windows. But as usual, convenience comes at a cost. At around $4, a ready-to-eat hot sandwich costs about twice as much as homemade.

Try to bring some transportable snacks such as apples, bananas, or a granola bar with you to help you make it home without picking up a hot sandwich on the way.

The cost of convenience: 100% extra

This article is from Dr Penny Pincher of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

12 Frugal Skills You Must Have to Survive Mondays

Andrea Cannon — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 10:30:27 +0000

Mondays are difficult for everyone. The beginning of a new workweek means you can't sleep in, you have to manage office politics again, and you need to deal with the stress of your day-to-day grind once again. However, we've come up with some frugal skills that can help you better survive Monday, that doesn't cost much or anything at all.

1. Become an Early Bird

It may seem crazy to wake up early on a Monday, but this can be the best way to get your day and week started on the right path. You'll feel more productive first thing in the morning, which can carry over into your workday. You can get your day started off right by taking some time to have coffee and catch up on the news, or have a relaxing stretch to wake up your body and mind. Get to bed early on Sunday night so that it's easier to wake up early on Monday and to ensure you don't go to work feeling drowsy.

2. Don't Skip Breakfast (or Coffee)

Breakfast is an important part of every day, but that's especially true on Mondays. Going to work hungry will only make the workday more difficult. Having a balanced breakfast can help boost your metabolism, energy, and productivity.

Coffee is another essential part of any Monday morning. It can make you more alert and productive, provide the much-needed energy you crave, and is just a fun way to enjoy the morning. On Mondays, consider dolling up your coffee a bit, with seasonal creamers, frothy milk, or a dollop of whipped cream.

3. Have a Plan, But Take It Easy

Fill in your calendar and to-do list over the weekend, so you can begin Monday with an organized mind. However, you don't want to add too much to your plate. Monday is already stressful enough, so take it easy on yourself and spread your tasks out throughout the week. If you feel stressed, move anything that you can from your Monday to-do list to your Tuesday to-do list. Make sure to also schedule any Monday meetings for after lunch, so you have some time to break into Monday.

4. Focus on the Positives

Over the weekend, focus on what's good about your job. This can put you in a positive frame of mind and will make you more grateful to return to work on Monday.

5. Embrace the Calming Power of Music

Listen to upbeat music that puts you in a good mood on your commute to work and/or while you get ready in the morning. It can boost your energy and put you in a positive frame of mind.

6. Wear What Makes You Happy

Consider wearing your favorite outfit or taking a few extra minutes on your morning skin care or hair routine so you feel more confident throughout the day. If you have a new outfit or accessory, wear it on Monday. If you don't have a new outfit to show off, consider breaking out your new pen or upgrading your office supplies on Monday.

7. Make Monday Your Splurge Day

If you've been good and eat at home for most meals, then you deserve a splurge day. Make Mondays your splurge days so you have something to look forward to. Whether that means going to favorite coffee shop for a latte and pastry or going out with friends for a once-a-week lunch outing, it can make your Monday more bearable (and maybe even fun).

If you're trying to stay healthy and watch what you eat, then Mondays can be your splurge days, where you can have an indulgent dessert or treat yourself to fast food. Knowing that your splurge day is approaching on Monday can also help keep you on track over the weekend, and limit your overall restaurant spending if you keep it to one day per week.

8. Plan Fun Activities

One of the best things to do when tackling stressful situations like interviews, auditions, speeches, and stressful Monday mornings, is to plan something fun for that evening. It gives you incentive to get through the day and will keep you in a positive frame of mind. Knowing that you have something fun coming up can even make the day go by more quickly. Whether you plan a date night, meet with coworkers for happy hour, or simply plan a quiet and frugal home spa night (complete with a bath, facial mask, and calming music), make plans that you can look forward to throughout the day. If you consistently do this every week, you will actually look forward to Mondays before you know it.

9. Avoid Office Politics

Poisonous coworkers can make a stressful Monday morning even worse. Try avoiding office politics and any coworkers that might make your day more difficult. Politely let any coworkers know that you're very busy if they come around your workspace.

If your boss tends to make Mondays even more stressful, stay calm and try not to let any negativity affect your attitude or productivity. Get your work done to the best of your abilities so that your boss has less incentive to visit your desk. You may even consider getting into the office five minutes earlier, so that you can get your coffee and settle in before the boss even gets there.

10. Take Your Breaks

Taking your daily breaks is especially important on a Monday, which can already be more stressful than the average workday. If you're having a particularly difficult Monday, consider getting some fresh air, or taking deep breaths during your daily break. You might even want to schedule a walk with a coworker during your lunch break to boost your mood and energy.

11. Don't Slack On Friday

If you leave most of your work for Monday morning, make a bigger effort to get more done on Friday. That way, you won't have as much to deal with when you return to the office on Monday. This can also make your weekend more relaxing because you won't have so much work hanging over your head.

12. Take Advantage of the Weekend

The weekend is usually reserved for having fun and getting things done, but it's also important to focus on relaxing and refreshing yourself for the upcoming week. Unplug for the weekend. Don't check your email or voicemail unless you need to, especially if you won't respond until Monday anyway.

By getting enough sleep, exercising, and setting some time aside for yourself, you can enter the workweek more rested and ready to tackle the work at hand. Take a bath, take a nap, ask your spouse for a massage, and get in a good amount of exercise over the weekend; your body will thank you for it on Monday.

This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Things Americans Spend Too Much On

Mikey Rox — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 09:00:11 +0000

We're all guilty of spending too much money at some point or another. Even when we know the importance of a good budget and have a regular savings routine, we can get off track. Because Americans are big spenders in general, it should come as no surprise that we spend way too much on stuff we don't need — and, interestingly, stuff we do need.

Whether you realize it or not, here are five things you're probably spending too much on.

1. Groceries

We need food for survival, and because food is a necessity, some people never think to calculate how much they actually spend on food on a yearly basis. They don't know if they're spending too much.

There are no hard and fast rules regarding how much we should spend on food every year. But considering how a trip to the grocery store can be just as tempting as walking through a clothing store, there's a good chance that we're spending more than we need.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a family earning $69,629 in 2015 spent an average of $7,023 on food (includes food at home and away from home), which comes to about $585 a month. The cost of food periodically increases, so we can expect slight increases in our grocery bill. But there are plenty of ways to shave down this number and save.

Clipping coupons, signing up for grocery store loyalty cards, and resisting the urge to stock our carts with stuff we don't need — such as unhealthy snacks — can result in big savings. And if we limit the amount of times we dine out every month, the savings increase.

If you reduce your grocery bill by as little as $20 a week, that's a savings of $1,000 a year. Buying less also makes sense considering how "a four-person family loses about $1,500 a year on wasted food," according to the National Resources Defense Council.

2. Bottled Water

If you're looking for ways to save on groceries, you can start by cutting bottled water from your grocery list. Bottled water has become a necessity in many U.S. households, with many people preferring this over tap water for various reasons. Some people don't trust their city's water supply and others simply enjoy the taste of bottled water.

But our love affair with bottled water is costly. On average, Americans spend about $11.8 billion on bottled water every year, and the average person in American consumes 167 plastic water bottles annually. Given the average cost of $1.45 per bottle, that's $242 a year per person, which is expensive considering how we can purchase a reusable water filter for $30 or $40.

3. Coffee

If you broke the habit of buying coffee every day, you probably think you're saving money — and maybe you are. Brewing your own coffee at home is supposed to save, yet a new study found that Americans are spending more on coffee than ever before, despite drinking less due to single-serve coffee machines.

It's predicted that Americans will spend $13.6 billion on coffee in 2016, which is up from the expected $12.8 billion in 2015. This is primarily due to the fact that more Americans are drinking single-serve cups and paying a premium for this convenience. Using K-cups can cost up to five times more than using a coffee pot. Fortunately, there are ways to save like purchasing a reusable filter for Keurigs and other single-serve coffee pots, as well as skipping the grocery store and buying K-cups from discount stores or online from Amazon and eBay.

4. Housing

Once you're ready to buy a house, you'll seek a property that offers everything you're looking for and more. But getting everything you want comes at a price, and unfortunately, some people buy more house than they can afford.

A competent mortgage lender won't approve a loan for more than you can afford. But if you have excellent credit, some lenders are flexible and they'll allow you to spend a greater percentage of your gross income on housing. But just because you're approved for a particular loan amount doesn't mean you should spend your max.

Whether you're renting or buying, keeping house payments below your means creates more disposable income that can go toward saving a rainy-day fund or paying off debt. According to a 2014 report, millions of Americans spend too much of their monthly incomes on housing — more than 30% of their income. Ideally, house payments should be no more than 28% of your gross income.

5. Weddings

Weddings are a special day. If you stay together forever, this can become one of the best days of your life. But just because weddings are a memorable event doesn't mean you should wipe out your savings or go into debt.

In 2015, the average cost of a wedding increased to $32,641. Some people could argue this is a reasonable amount. But given how nearly one in two marriages in the U.S. ends in divorce, spending this type of cash is a waste of money.

Even if a marriage never crumbles, $32,000 is too much to spend on a day that's only the beginning of your journey together. Rather than begin a marriage in debt or wipe out your savings account, plan an inexpensive ceremony and put the majority of the money toward a home purchase or save it for the future.

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: How to Make Over $100,000 by Skipping Coffee

Amy Lu — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 09:30:24 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on how to make $100,000 by skipping coffee, items you should always buy at thrift stores, and easy ways to get rid of pimples.

Easy Ways to Save on 7 Everyday Buys

Nick Wharton — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 10:30:05 +0000

There are some payments and purchases you make because you have to, like gas, insurance, and a mortgage — but there are others that you make because they make you feel good. By saving money on your favorite purchases, you'll likely purchase them more often and thus, have a happier and more fulfilling life.

Here's how you can save money on your favorite everyday things.

1. Restaurants

We all love dining out for a meal. But dinner at a nice restaurant can quickly eat up your budget, especially if you're going out two or three times a week. If you're a person who loves to go out for food, there are three things you should explore:

Groupon: With restaurant discounts of up to 75%, you could essentially go out three times as often as you do now, for the same price.
Restaurant.com: Get $25 certificates for as low as $4. Note that they have a new batch of certificates at the beginning of each month, and costs will keep going down as the month progresses, but it also might mean that the certificates for the restaurants you want will be sold out. No matter when you buy them, you'll still get a nice discount on your meal.
Rewards Credit Cards for Dining Out: Use the best credit card that offers rewards at restaurants, or a general cash back credit card that gives you cash back on your purchases.

2. Travel

Once you become a Groupon member, you can get discounts on vacation packages, but once you're in the country, you should also look for local discount cards. Simply run a Google search with your planned destination and "discount card." It should be something like this: "Venice Discount Card."

The Venice discount card has excellent discounts on transport, sights, and cultural events. You can find similar discount cards in Bangkok, Cancun, Paris, London and pretty much every major tourist town.

You may be surprised how often there's a discount card on offer and these things can save you a lot of money! In Malta for example, the Malta Discount Card saves 50% off at dozens of restaurants, as well as discounts on tours, attractions, and water sports. You're likely to pay off the cost of the card within a day, so I recommend always searching for them before going anywhere.

3. Alcohol

Costco, Costco, Costco. You probably already have a number of Kirkland products in your house, but did you know that Kirkland alcohol was compared in a blind taste test and the tasters couldn't decide if the expensive brands were better than Kirkland?

They weren't drinking the liquor with mixers, either. Straight up, these people couldn't agree on the better booze. The Kirkland brand alcohol is as much as 75% cheaper, and if the experts can't tell the difference, you should probably get your buzz on for a bit less with the Costco brand. (See also: Get Cash Back on Your Costco Shopping)

4. Movies

Head to the library. You remember that stuffy, quiet place where you had to go to get information in the '80s? As libraries are becoming more and more obsolete, they've made some efforts to bring in new clientele. One of the ways they've done this is by adding DVDs to their inventory.

Go to the library, apply for a library card, and take out as many DVDs as you want. They even stock some TV series box sets, so you can save a few bucks of your cable bill as well.

5. Coffee

Stop going to Starbucks! That $3 Americano that you're buying could be made at home for much less.

Pick up a 2.2 pound bag of delicious Lavazza Espresso on Amazon for under $20, then buy yourself a Handpresso machine. This thing can make the perfect cup of espresso every time, plus it's compact, and you don't need electricity to use it so you can take it anywhere.

That 2.2 pound bag of coffee will make 120 cups of Americano coffee, meaning that each cup will cost you less than 17 cents, rather than $3. By the time you finish that bag, you'll have saved $340 on coffee, which pays off the cost of the Handpresso machine two times over!

6. Yoga

Your yoga instructor may not be happy that I'm telling you this, but you can get free Yoga classes on YouTube every day. There are some excellent channels like Free Yoga TV, that have professional yogis giving quality classes online for zero dollars.

The best part of YouTube yoga, is that you can play it from your smartphone and turn pretty much anywhere into your own personal yoga studio. No more having to head to the gym or yoga center. Lock the door in your office, lay down a mat, and stretch to your heart's content.

7. Groceries

If you're not a foodie who loves to cook at home, maybe groceries aren't one of your favorite purchases. But even so, they're a costly budget item that everyone has to purchase every week. With Grocery Pal, Coupon Sherpa, and the right credit cards, you can save a lot of money on your groceries.

Grocery Pal helps you find weekly sales at your local supermarkets, like Safeway, Whole Foods, Smart&Final, Walmart, Target, and more. Coupon Sherpa helps you find all the right coupons for the stuff in your cart, and credit cards that reward grocery purchases will put more money back into your wallet.

This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Flashback Friday: 41 Coffee Hacks That Will Instantly Improve Your Morning

Chrissa Hardy — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 10:00:08 +0000

Most mornings, for most people, are basically a nightmare. That is, until the first drop of glorious java touches our tongues. Then the world is a much better place. Coffee is such an important part of our daily routines, so why should we ever settle for overpriced coffee that isn't as tasty as it could be? Here are 41 coffee hacks that will instantly brighten your day.

9 Ways to Save Money on Your Cup of Coffee — There are lots of scenarios in which "you get what you pay for" is an accurate consumer mindset to have. Coffee does not have to be one of them. Save your hard-earned money and get your morning cuppa joe for less.

Better Brewing: 12 Ways to Make Coffee at Home — If you're a loyal home-brewer, you're already a winner in frugal living. But don't settle for bland coffee when you brew a cup at home that tastes better than any barista could make. Step up your coffee game!

4 Starbucks Drinks You Can Easily Make Yourself — Starbucks has so many delicious caffeinated treats, it's a little intimidating to try to recreate any of them at home. But you can! And these four are just as good as the in-store versions.

French Press Coffee: Step-by-Step Guide to Handcrafted Coffee — When people go French Press, they hardly ever go back. Perfect your pressin' skills and make the best coffee you've ever had, with this handy guide.

7 Starbucks Savings Hacks That Actually Work — If going into Starbucks each morning is more your style, then asking for "half ice" and bringing your own cup are just two of the ways you can save big on your Starbucks budget.

8 Ways to Get Your Morning Coffee for Free — Take those coffee savings one step further by resolving to pay zero dollars on your daily cup using these incredibly brilliant savings hacks. Because nothing compares to the taste coffee you didn't have to pay for, am I right?

What are some other coffee hacks we should try? Share with us in the comments!

This article is from Chrissa Hardy of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Starbucks Savings Hacks That Actually Work

Kyle James — Mon, 16 May 2016 09:30:18 +0000

Frugal folks like us tend to have a love-hate relationship with Starbucks. We love the tasty goodness of their beverages, but hate the high cost of something we can often do at home for pennies on the dollar. But I'm here to tell you that Starbucks doesn't have to be expensive if you can incorporate some clever money-saving hacks into your coffee routine.

The best thing about these tips is they won't make you look cheap, and more importantly, they won't make the barista hate you.

1. Order a Tall in a Grande Cup

When ordering a regular cup of brewed coffee at Starbucks, and not a $5 milkshake, consider ordering a Tall coffee in a Grande cup. Not only will the barista happily oblige, but once they're done filling your cup, you'll often end up with close to a Grande serving size of coffee. Then you can add your milk or cream and end up with practically a full cup for less money. This obviously works for other sizes, too. For example, you could order a Grande coffee and ask for it in a Venti cup.

So if you like to add cream or milk to your coffee, this is a great hack as you'll never have to make room for it by dumping out some coffee into the garbage can. Because no matter how much "room" you ask for, it never seems to be enough as Starbucks coffee is quite strong and many like it with a good amount of the white stuff.

2. Score Free Refills

A great hack that'll score you more coffee for less is to take advantage of Starbuck's free refill policy. To make it happen, simply sign up for their Rewards Program and get free in-store refills on hot or cold brewed coffee or tea. Be warned, once you leave the Starbucks location, you can't come back in later and get your refill. I started taking advantage of their free refills last year and instead of drinking it, I'd refrigerate the second free cup for later. Then when I needed a pick-me-up in the afternoon, I'd use it make a tasty iced beverage.

3. Ask for "Half Ice"

The next time you order an iced beverage, consider asking for "half ice." If you've ever seen a barista add ice to your cup, you know just how much frozen water they put in there. So by politely asking for less ice, you'll often end up with the next size beverage for free. While you might not always get half as much ice, must employees that I've seen will definitely add a little less to your cup.

4. Get Your Caffeine Fix With a "Short"

Most loyal Starbucks enthusiasts know the main cup sizes to be Tall, Grande, Venti, and Trenta. But are you aware that there is a fifth size called a "Short?" It's smaller (8 oz.) and cheaper than the 12 oz. Tall and an excellent way to get your caffeine fix on the cheap. For example, a Short cappuccino has the same amount of espresso as the Tall size. So if a caffeine pick-me-up is your main objective, ordering a Short is the cheapest route to go.

5. Split and Save

If you've ever ordered a "Venti" anything from Starbucks, you already know what an enormous size it is. Heck, it's so big, you can use the empty cup as a gas can if you like. So if you're driving through a Starbucks with your spouse or friend, and you're both craving the same cold drink, just order a Venti and politely ask if they can split it for you. While they'll typically not divide it for you, they'll always give you an empty cup so you can do it yourself.

Let's do the math on this hack. A Venti Cold size comes in a 24 oz. cup. So if you split it, you each get 12 oz., which is just a bit smaller than the 14 oz. Grande. A Venti iced coffee will cost you around $2.95 where the smaller Grande will cost you $2.45. So after you've added a little creamer, you've essentially gotten two Grande sizes for about $1.50 each by splitting a Venti.

6. Bring Your Own Cup

If you bring in your own cup to any Starbucks, you'll get $0.10 off your beverage, any size. They'll do the same thing if you bring in a competitor's cup, except they'll replace it with one of their own. Definitely not a huge savings, but it will add up over time, plus you keep a bunch of cups from ending up in the landfill.

7. Drinking With Friends?

The next time you're meeting up with friends at your local Starbucks, consider ordering a French Press to share. It usually comes in a 32 or 45 oz. size and the coffee beans are ground, poured, and plunged before being delivered to your table. You can typically get 6-8 normal sized cups of coffee out of a single press. Aside from the delicious fresh taste, the cost makes it a very attractive choice if everyone is drinking coffee. Expect to only have to pay in the $3.50 to $5 range, depending on the size of the press and the particular Starbucks location.

How do you save money at Starbucks? Or do you just stay home and brew your own?

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Money Saving Travel Gadgets

Nick Wharton — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:00:11 +0000

There are countless gadgets out there that can help you travel safer, easier, and more efficiently, but there are only a few that can really save you a lot of money while on the road. Here is a list of my favorite travel gadgets. Many of them can actually pay themselves off in no time at all!

1. Handpresso

This portable espresso maker probably paid itself off in the first month that I traveled with it. You can pick one up on Amazon for around $140, and basically all you need to pour a perfect cup of espresso coffee is hot water and about 30–35 compressions of the built-in pump.

I picked up the Handpresso for my travels through Europe, where small cups of espresso can cost as much as €2 each. Instead of spending that much at a cafe, I buy a 250 gram bag of Lavazza coffee for €2 and it's good for around 35 cups of coffee.

That means that after going through one bag (which usually takes about two weeks), I've saved myself over €68 ($75). If you prefer lattes, you'll save even more money because you can buy milk for cheap at the supermarket and make a latte at home for about 25 cents, but in an Italian cafe a latte will probably cost you around €4!

Bonus Gadget: If you're worried about not having a kettle in your hotel room for boiling water, consider traveling with a portable coil water heater as well.

2. Luggage Scale

Baggage fees are getting more and more ridiculous on airlines around the world. The idea of having one free checked bag is slowly fading into distant memory, especially with North American carriers.

This means that every pound you put under the plane counts. Instead of walking up to the check-in counter with that dreaded feeling of not knowing if your bags are overweight, pick up a luggage scale on Amazon for under $15.

It only takes one flight to pay this thing off. Usually if you're over by just two pounds you'll have to pay $15 extra, so by weighing your suitcase before arriving at the airport, you can take out that heavy sweater and wear it on the plane instead of paying a surcharge for overweight checked luggage.

3. Luggage GPS

As someone who has recently had his luggage lost by an airline, I can't recommend this gadget enough. Usually if an airline misplaces your baggage, they'll locate it eventually, but it can take days. When Turkish lost my bags earlier this year, I had to buy a whole new wardrobe in order to survive the cold Istanbul winter.

Had I tagged my bag with a luggage GPS, I could have used the app to tell Turkish that it was sitting in New York, given them the exact coordinates and I probably would have had my bag back in a day, rather than a week.

You can also tag your purse, golf clubs, and even your children with a tracker. Never lose something that's important to you again.

4. Steripen

You may not know how expensive bottled water can be until you travel to a place where it's not safe to drink tap water. On a hot day in Europe for example, you may find that you drink over 50 ounces of water. This can cost over €5 per day.

A Steripen uses Ultraviolet rays to purify 33 ounces of water in 90 seconds. All you have to do is submerge the pen and press a button. This simple, handheld tool can save money and a ton of plastic by not disposing of all those bottles..

One thing to note is that the Steripen removes bacteria and contaminants from the water but doesn't really help the taste. To combat funky flavored H2O, consider packing some flavoring packets or better yet, electrolyte powder.

5. Wi-Fi Range Extender

I have to say that this gadget has saved me a ton of hassle and has probably paid itself off as well. All you have to do is plug it into the wall, press a button to hook it up to the router, and the range extender can get rid of dead spots in your hotel, at the airport, or at the train station.

No more having to go to a cafe and buy a coffee just to get a decent Wi-Fi connection. This thing should give enough of a signal boost to give you full bars, even if the router isn't nearby.

What's Your Favorite Travel Gadget?

My favorite money-saving gadget that I picked up this year has to be the Handpresso pump, but I love all of the items on this list. As a full-time traveler, I'm always looking for new tools to save money and make travel easier. What's your favorite travel gadget? Does it save you money? Tell me about it in the comments below.

This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

4 Starbucks Drinks You Can Easily Make Yourself

Ashley Eneriz — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 10:00:09 +0000

Does it seem like most articles on saving money say things like this?

"Cut out your daily Starbucks latte to effortlessly save $40 a week."

While that advice is effective and accurate, it forgets one major thing. What about those of us who can't make it through the week without our favorite caffeinated beverage? Yes, cutting Starbucks from your budget cold-turkey will save you a noticeable amount of money, but these easy, DIY Starbucks drinks will keep your budget in check.

Iced Tea and Iced Tea Lemonade

Let's start with the easiest of the Starbucks drinks to duplicate at home — the teas and tea lemonades. Starbucks used to use the Tazo brand tea for its teas, but switched to Teavana. As an avid Starbucks tea drinker, I don't notice a huge difference, which means you can stick with Tazo's Zen, Passion, or Awake tea bags for your DIY brew.

To get the right tea brew, pour 3-4 cups of boiling water over four tea bags. Green and black teas will steep about 3-5 minutes, and Passion tea and other fruity teas will steep a minute or two longer. Add three cups of cold water on top and store your pitcher of tea in the refrigerator.

To make your tea or tea lemonade Starbucks-style, a shaker cup is key. The shaking method that baristas use isn't just to mix everything together, it actually aerates the tea and makes the drink taste better. I have been drinking Starbucks teas for almost a decade, and I can tell you that there is a noticeable difference in taste between a shaken and a non-shaken tea.

A shaker cup like the Blender Bottle works perfectly for shaking your teas. For sweetened teas, use six pumps of sweetener or save even more money an make your own with sugar and water. Then fill the shaker with one-third tea, one-third water or lemonade, and add ice to the top. Shake and enjoy.

Iced Coffee

The secret to Starbucks iced coffee is that it's brewed very strong. It's important to start with a strong ground coffee, using your favorite brand. In my experience, the more affordable brands, like Folgers, don't brew strong or deep enough, but go with your preference.

Once your coffee is brewed, allow to cool and store in the refrigerator. You can sweeten it with a homemade classic syrup or another DIY flavored syrup, such as white mocha or vanilla syrup. Add half-and-half or milk, and then top off with ice. Yum!

Caramel Macchiato

It's no secret that Starbucks uses an espresso machine to pour their shots. If you have an espresso machine, then you will have an easy time being your own barista. However, for those of us working with just a coffee maker or coffee press, it is still possible to get close to the espresso taste. I recommend brewing Starbucks espresso ground coffee, which are the same beans Starbucks baristas use in their machines. Brew your coffee stronger than usual.

For a caramel macchiato, start by squirting 5-6 pumps of vanilla syrup in your cup. You can buy a bottle of vanilla syrup or make your own by boiling two cups of sugar with two cups of water, and adding a 1-2 tablespoons of vanilla extract. For hot drinks, fill your cup with ¾ cup of warmed milk.

If you have a milk frother, froth a little bit of milk to make a foam to go on top. Pour strong coffee on top of your foam and milk, then drizzle a caramel syrup in a hashtag pattern. You can use an inexpensive caramel sauce, like Smucker's caramel sundae sauce, or make your own with heavy cream, butter, and brown sugar. (See also: Don't Tell Anyone: 11 Secret Starbucks Saving Tips)

Caramel Frappuccino

Starbucks Frappuccinos are more like milkshakes than coffee, but man, are they tasty! To make the popular caramel frappuccino at home, brew strong coffee. Try brewing your coffee with two tablespoons of ground coffee per cup of water for stronger results.

Then you will blend one cup of low-fat milk, one cup of coffee, and two cups of ice, just like this copycat recipe suggests. Instead of blending in caramel sauce or sugar, I recommend making simple syrup and add caramel extract to it. Then blend 5-6 tablespoons of that syrup into your frappuccino with a teaspoon o xantham gum or glucomannan powder for a frothier, thicker frappuccino. Finally, top your drink with whipped cream and caramel sauce.

As long as you have strong coffee and the right flavored syrup, you can technically make any latte or frappuccino. Even though Starbucks has a large menu, as a former barista, I can tell you that majority of the drinks are the same, just with different syrups. For example, the only difference between a white mocha and a vanilla latte is the syrup used.

What's your favorite Starbucks drink and have you tried a DIY version for it? Share with us in the comments below!

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

coffee

The 5 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers

What is a cold brew coffee maker?

Top 5 cold brew coffee makers

Toddy T2N Cold Brew System

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker

Cold Bruer Drip Coffee Maker

Takeya Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker

Like this article? Pin it!

Best Money Tips: How to Get Fresher Coffee With Stale Bread

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

10 Ways for College Students to Save Loads of Money

Big savings

1. Look at off-campus housing for lower rent

2. Apply for scholarships to save money on tuition

Medium savings

3. Save on textbooks

4. Sell back your textbooks at the end of the semester

5. Participate in studies to earn cash

6. Take advantage of free facilities

7. Reduce transportation costs

Small Savings

8. Save on coffee

9. Find free events and entertainment

10. Stay in style for less

Doing the math

The 5 Best Descalers

What Are Descalers?

Top 5 Descalers

Keurig Descaling Solution

Durgol Swiss Espresso Descaler

Urnex Dezcal

De'Longhi EcoDeCalk Natural Descaler

Saniflo Descaler

10 Breakfast Foods to Help You Ace Your Job Interview

1. Coffee

2. Eggs

3. A Whole Wheat Carb Option

4. Salmon

5. Yogurt

6. Blueberries

7. Avocados

8. Nuts and Seeds

9. Almond Butter

10. Water

Like this article? Pin it!

A Simple Plan for Saving Up a $2000 Fun Fund

Ask for a Raise

Seek Out Non-Traditional Sources of Income

Offer a Room on Airbnb

Become a "Tasker" on TaskRabbit

Drive for a Ride-sharing Company

Spend Less Money

Kick the Coffee Shop Habit

Cut the Cord

Buy Necessary Household Items in Bulk

Track Progress in Writing

Like this article? Pin it!

Here's How Much More You're Paying for These 6 Convenience Buys

1. Bottled Water

2. Vending Machine Items

3. Prepared Fruits and Vegetables

4. Convenient Coffee

5. Single Serve Beverages

6. Hot Sandwiches

12 Frugal Skills You Must Have to Survive Mondays

1. Become an Early Bird

2. Don't Skip Breakfast (or Coffee)

3. Have a Plan, But Take It Easy

4. Focus on the Positives

5. Embrace the Calming Power of Music

6. Wear What Makes You Happy

7. Make Monday Your Splurge Day

8. Plan Fun Activities

9. Avoid Office Politics

10. Take Your Breaks

11. Don't Slack On Friday

12. Take Advantage of the Weekend