I still go out at least twice a week for Starbucks. I use coupons and family gives me gift cards, too. I just find that the coffee perk, the short walk away from my office, the camaraderie of talking to my co-worker during this time and the little feeling of having a splurge is priceless.
My latte factor would be magazines. I love to read through magazines and used to spend so much money each month on them. At about $5 each, they really add up! I now have subscriptions to the two that I enjoy most (saving money from buying directly from the shelf) and may occasionally buy one if something really stands out. I save $10-15 per month with this habit change!
A quick stop at the grocery store. I know I just need kale and milk...and WOW, yogurt is on sale 10 for $10 and my favorite greens are buy one get one free. Don't those bananas look great? We haven't had baby bok choy in a while. I think we are getting low on butter and cereal, too.
Before you know it, I'm $50 poorer on stuff that I really didn't need right now. It never goes to waste but I didn't really need to spend it. That's why I try to go food shopping every 6 weeks and keep the salad, milk and fresh veggie runs to just 1/ week.
I've never really thought about it before, but I guess I've got a few:
- getting my toenails done when I get my nails done, which I gave up sometime last year and opted to do it myself. It was $15 just for the paint (not even a pedicure), and that was probably once every 2 or 3 months.
- soda bought individually . . . I still buy them, but I don't buy smaller than a 2-liter if I have an option (that's the cheapest option here). It's not giving it up entirely, but at the convenience store nearest my apartment this saves about $1.50 - $3 per day for any day I would have bought an individual bottle (not every day, but still - adds up!)
- restaurant meals used to be more of a norm - probably at least once every week or two and often more than once a week. AT $10-$20, that also adds up! I still go to restaurants, just not every week.
- getting my hair professionally cut and colored cost me over $400 last year *before* I gave it up part way through the year. My hair still looks good and it only costs me $4 per box of hair dye that I do myself. I'll probably go back once or twice this year to get the cut "fixed" though, lol
- one that I haven't given up is little snacks at the convenience store . . . . I do try to cut back (not every day!) . . . . oddly, it helps to buy them individually because it means I have to put in more effort (versus having a bulk purchase at home) and thus don't buy as much junk food. Good for my waist, not my wallet.
1. My coworker and I recently started a "coffee club" to cut back on work coffee purchases. I brought an old coffee maker to work and we take turns purchasing bags of coffee. Each morning we split a pot of brewed coffee.
2. I asked for and received a roku as a birthday present. I have a monthly Hulu + subscription at $7.99. Between the roku and hulu + subscription, I eliminated any need for expensive cable.
These tips are great. Most of the tips offered in this article involve other people and positive behaviors, this is critical. Personal Finance shouldn't be personal especially if you are having troubles managing your credit card use. I particularity like the loss aversion method, setting aside a sum of money to encourage better credit card use.
Personal trainers, and figure competitions were my latte factor. About 2 yrs ago I stopped paying 400 bucks a month for a trainer, got my own ISSA training certification, and work out on my own now. Also quite competing due to extreme dieting and metabolism damage.
My latte factor is eating out. After a few too many unsatisfying restaurant meals, I realized that there are some things I can make better and cheaper at home, but some things are worth splurging on, so I save my money for those things. For me, that's sushi, really great French fries, and a really great burger (obviously not eaten all at the same time!). When I do go out, I usually drink water to save money on overpriced sodas, and I'm not too proud to take leftovers home.
I don't drink coffee or have a latte factor that I can think of off hand. Occasionally I indulge in chocolate but it's rare. Amazon holds a certain magnetism for me though.
GREAT ARTICLE! ...And us revolutionaries are consuming less, watching our mileage, lowering our heating, growing food at home, etc., thus conserving/protecting resources, and not cluttering up the planet with needless waste.
A year ago, I would get a cup of coffee anyday that I was out and about. Now I only get take out coffee when traveling long distance. Maybe once a month.
Sweets/sweet snacks! There is a coffee shop next door to where I work that offers a 2-for-1 sale between 6 pm. and 7 p.m. every day...donuts, scones, cookies - I have to resist for my waistline almost as much as my wallet.
I've given up a few things like this -- buying espresso drinks on the weekends and replacing Diet Coke with sparkling water (way cheaper and healthier).
My "Latte Factor" is buying lunch or snacks at school to save the hassel of bringing/making lunch and washing dishes. Now I try to cook in bulk and have saved almost $100 a month.
I gave up the idea of ever ordering lattes. I always order just plain black coffee. That costs enough as it is. Anything else just adds up too fast and is usually packed with sugar. So I avoid the sweet stuff. Plain black coffee does it for me.
I still go out at least twice a week for Starbucks. I use coupons and family gives me gift cards, too. I just find that the coffee perk, the short walk away from my office, the camaraderie of talking to my co-worker during this time and the little feeling of having a splurge is priceless.
My weekly bottle of red wine at $15.00 a pop. I gave it up in August 2012, saving $60 per month.
I gave up cable. I miss live sports, but otherwise it's not so bad!
Books- used, new, print, and e-books! :)
My latte factor would be magazines. I love to read through magazines and used to spend so much money each month on them. At about $5 each, they really add up! I now have subscriptions to the two that I enjoy most (saving money from buying directly from the shelf) and may occasionally buy one if something really stands out. I save $10-15 per month with this habit change!
the occassional cup of coffee at home does good for me. Instant hazelnut...enough for one good cup and i'm set.
I stopped buying alcohol for home consumption years ago because of the price tag, and I rarely buy alcohol when I go out.
A quick stop at the grocery store. I know I just need kale and milk...and WOW, yogurt is on sale 10 for $10 and my favorite greens are buy one get one free. Don't those bananas look great? We haven't had baby bok choy in a while. I think we are getting low on butter and cereal, too.
Before you know it, I'm $50 poorer on stuff that I really didn't need right now. It never goes to waste but I didn't really need to spend it. That's why I try to go food shopping every 6 weeks and keep the salad, milk and fresh veggie runs to just 1/ week.
I've never really thought about it before, but I guess I've got a few:
- getting my toenails done when I get my nails done, which I gave up sometime last year and opted to do it myself. It was $15 just for the paint (not even a pedicure), and that was probably once every 2 or 3 months.
- soda bought individually . . . I still buy them, but I don't buy smaller than a 2-liter if I have an option (that's the cheapest option here). It's not giving it up entirely, but at the convenience store nearest my apartment this saves about $1.50 - $3 per day for any day I would have bought an individual bottle (not every day, but still - adds up!)
- restaurant meals used to be more of a norm - probably at least once every week or two and often more than once a week. AT $10-$20, that also adds up! I still go to restaurants, just not every week.
- getting my hair professionally cut and colored cost me over $400 last year *before* I gave it up part way through the year. My hair still looks good and it only costs me $4 per box of hair dye that I do myself. I'll probably go back once or twice this year to get the cut "fixed" though, lol
- one that I haven't given up is little snacks at the convenience store . . . . I do try to cut back (not every day!) . . . . oddly, it helps to buy them individually because it means I have to put in more effort (versus having a bulk purchase at home) and thus don't buy as much junk food. Good for my waist, not my wallet.
I have two:
1. My coworker and I recently started a "coffee club" to cut back on work coffee purchases. I brought an old coffee maker to work and we take turns purchasing bags of coffee. Each morning we split a pot of brewed coffee.
2. I asked for and received a roku as a birthday present. I have a monthly Hulu + subscription at $7.99. Between the roku and hulu + subscription, I eliminated any need for expensive cable.
Holy sh.... looks like you are my double. I have the exact same taste.
These tips are great. Most of the tips offered in this article involve other people and positive behaviors, this is critical. Personal Finance shouldn't be personal especially if you are having troubles managing your credit card use. I particularity like the loss aversion method, setting aside a sum of money to encourage better credit card use.
Personal trainers, and figure competitions were my latte factor. About 2 yrs ago I stopped paying 400 bucks a month for a trainer, got my own ISSA training certification, and work out on my own now. Also quite competing due to extreme dieting and metabolism damage.
My latte factor is eating out. After a few too many unsatisfying restaurant meals, I realized that there are some things I can make better and cheaper at home, but some things are worth splurging on, so I save my money for those things. For me, that's sushi, really great French fries, and a really great burger (obviously not eaten all at the same time!). When I do go out, I usually drink water to save money on overpriced sodas, and I'm not too proud to take leftovers home.
I don't drink coffee or have a latte factor that I can think of off hand. Occasionally I indulge in chocolate but it's rare. Amazon holds a certain magnetism for me though.
GREAT ARTICLE! ...And us revolutionaries are consuming less, watching our mileage, lowering our heating, growing food at home, etc., thus conserving/protecting resources, and not cluttering up the planet with needless waste.
Delivered pizza! We switched to grocery store frozen pizza at half the price and saved hundreds per year.
Mine is gaterade or other hydration drinks. So I started buying the powder and mixing my own.
A year ago, I would get a cup of coffee anyday that I was out and about. Now I only get take out coffee when traveling long distance. Maybe once a month.
Sweets/sweet snacks! There is a coffee shop next door to where I work that offers a 2-for-1 sale between 6 pm. and 7 p.m. every day...donuts, scones, cookies - I have to resist for my waistline almost as much as my wallet.
I've given up a few things like this -- buying espresso drinks on the weekends and replacing Diet Coke with sparkling water (way cheaper and healthier).
Kindle books. I do use the library first whenever possible, but when that is not an option I am more apt to spend on than any other area.
My latte factor is definitely lattes. Soy lattes, to be exact!
My "Latte Factor" is buying lunch or snacks at school to save the hassel of bringing/making lunch and washing dishes. Now I try to cook in bulk and have saved almost $100 a month.
I gave up the idea of ever ordering lattes. I always order just plain black coffee. That costs enough as it is. Anything else just adds up too fast and is usually packed with sugar. So I avoid the sweet stuff. Plain black coffee does it for me.