My "latte factor" is quite literally an iced vanilla latte from Starbucks! I have cut back drastically since I got a Keurig for Christmas (so much more fun than a regular coffee pot!) and now only go to Starbucks about once a week as opposed to 4-5 times a week. When I do go to Starbucks, I make sure to use my gold card, which gets me a free drink after 12 purchases. I cannot give it up completely, and it's a small thing I treat myself to since I rarely go out for drinks or dinners.
My "latte factor" is bottled water! I would typically drink 3 store bought bottled waters a day. Switching to a reusable cup and filtered tap water can save me up to $6 a day. Doesn't sound like a lot per day, but this switch could save me up to $2,000 per year.....and that's just on water! In exchange for the tap water switch, I now have a little extra money for a Starbucks latte a week! :)
So true about the layout of malls and department stores. The best (worst?) example I can think of is Ikea. It's impossible to leave without walking through the entire store! Even the "shortcuts" don't really save you from going to each department.
I'm a scrapbook and card making designer and to save money I stopped my high prices magazines saving about $92.00. I put myself on a spending freeze so I stop, think and then if I must spend money on my crafts.
I try to save around $1000 per month. It's a mandatory item in my budget. But I also calculate in restaurants and coffee shops and what not so I'm not feeling deprived.
My latte factor was getting my nails done twice a month. I stopped when my daughter started college. I've been saving $30 per month. My nails don't look as nice, but I'll live!
My latte factors--the little treats that add up--include the following:
1) Tall Starbucks house brew. I used to buy one for the road when making monthly 125-mile drives to visit friends and relatives. Now I take along my home-brewed coffee. I save about $24 a year.
2) Bottled water. I used to buy small bottles for taking along on hikes, car trips, etc. Now I use reusable bottles filled from my filtered tap at home. In three years, I estimate I've saved at least $600. I have also stopped home delivery of bottled water for a savings of $45 a month.
3) The treat cigar. I used to have a cigar on Sunday evening after dinner. I've stopped that for health reasons and to save a little money. Giving up this habit saves between $78 a year (based on mail-ordering the cigars) and $520 a year (based buying the cigars locally in California.)
4) Bi-weekly manicure. I used to have a simple manicure once every two weeks. Foregoing this treat and doing my own manicures saves about $500 a year.
Total estimated annual savings: approximately $1,500
For years, Amazon has hawked their 'One Click' shopping button, where you can order something with just one click. I never have nor will I ever take advantage of this! I want to have to go screen by screen to make a purchase, because that gives me multiple opportunities to reconsider and ask 'Do I really need this (now)?', 'Can I find this at a better price?' or other such questions. Amazon (and other retailers) put this there for the exact reason that they don't want you to think too much about it, because they know that will only lead to some abandoned sales.
Wonderfully written post and very informative! Nice job! It can be really hard to face your debt head on and admit that you have a problem. I really like the advice about talking to someone about your debt. I think everyone should remember that there are some great Non-Profit Credit Counseling Agencies out there that could help. They should be the first person you talk to about your debt, because the counselors are certified and can work with you to create a monthly budget. When you have a monthly budget in place, you'll be able to figure out how MUCH you can afford to pay your creditors each month. The call to a non-profit credit counseling agency is completely free and confidential. There are no obligations. They are only there to help you get out of debt. Check the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) website to find a reputable non-profit agency. Best of Luck to anyone here that's in debt and Congrats to those of us who are now debt-free! Thanks again for a great post!
My "latte factor" is a protein bar or shak eafter a hard workout. My gym has a smoothie and nutrition section right by the door as you go out and it's very hard sometimes not to do the easy way out and pick up a quick protein to go. The problem is they range from $2-4 and even doing 1 or 2 a week adds up quickly. Am now bringing a protein shake from home to drink in the car!
I don't have much of a "Latte Factor", but I do spend about $80 a week on groceries, some of which are gourmet and expensive. But I do love eating well and $80 a week for our family of 4 doesn't seem too excessive to me. The lattes that I enjoy every few weeks are gifts. I ask for gift cards for Birthday and Christmas and enjoy lattes and lunches out free all year long!! :)
My latte factor would be eating out. I eat out far more than I should. I am currently giving it up for savings and finding creative ways to eat out for free (and get paid) through mystery shopping. I currently am saving about $15 per week at my current rate.
I currently have 8 coldsores right now. Yes 8!! I thought it was just the one until I saw little bumps along the bottom of my lip. This is the worst I've ever had it and I really feel like I've been punched!
I swear by betadine. I've had coldsores since I was a teen and zovirax and tablets never worked for me. Thankfully my aunty introduced me to betadine and it would always prevent them from breaking out. The only negative is the colour and it really dries the lip out, but id rather that than a break out!
Lately though it doesn't seem to be working as good! this is the 2nd outbreak I've had in a month. Usually I only get them once a year. I was out in the sun over the weekend so I blame the uv rays.. I had 30+spf lip balm on but mustn't have worked.
This is just the worst thing ever! It gets to the point where I can't go into work because I constantly need to keep reapplying and if I'm at work I feel like I'm not doing the best job with tackling it. Also who wants to walk around the office with a huge swollen lip covered in brown liquid!
Fingers crossed all 8 coldsores go down tonight.
Oh and I wouldn't even consider it a cluster as they are all individual lumps. Lucky me!! I just want to crawl under a rock and die!
Posts like this just amaze me because I never think of putting these things in the dishwasher, but once you say it, it makes completely sense--and way easier than other ways of trying to scrub random things like a baseball cap. New things to try--and I will be trying that lint screen per one of the comment suggestions!
My "latte factor" is quite literally an iced vanilla latte from Starbucks! I have cut back drastically since I got a Keurig for Christmas (so much more fun than a regular coffee pot!) and now only go to Starbucks about once a week as opposed to 4-5 times a week. When I do go to Starbucks, I make sure to use my gold card, which gets me a free drink after 12 purchases. I cannot give it up completely, and it's a small thing I treat myself to since I rarely go out for drinks or dinners.
My "latte factor" is bottled water! I would typically drink 3 store bought bottled waters a day. Switching to a reusable cup and filtered tap water can save me up to $6 a day. Doesn't sound like a lot per day, but this switch could save me up to $2,000 per year.....and that's just on water! In exchange for the tap water switch, I now have a little extra money for a Starbucks latte a week! :)
So true about the layout of malls and department stores. The best (worst?) example I can think of is Ikea. It's impossible to leave without walking through the entire store! Even the "shortcuts" don't really save you from going to each department.
I'm a scrapbook and card making designer and to save money I stopped my high prices magazines saving about $92.00. I put myself on a spending freeze so I stop, think and then if I must spend money on my crafts.
I try to save around $1000 per month. It's a mandatory item in my budget. But I also calculate in restaurants and coffee shops and what not so I'm not feeling deprived.
My latte factor was getting my nails done twice a month. I stopped when my daughter started college. I've been saving $30 per month. My nails don't look as nice, but I'll live!
The Dunkin' Donuts across from my work! I've mostly cut back, but so tempting when I need an afternoon pick me up!
I try to brew my coffee at home instead of buying it from out. Saves a lot of money.
I don't have any "latte factors" but I did cut cable tv. It was hard at first, but I like it now. I save at least $80 a month.
Ours is Trader Joe's Hummus. OMW...so good. Yes, I could give it up, but right now we don't have too
bethanyg153 at gmail dot com
My "latte factor" is eating out. I am trying to cut back on this.
cokes!
My latte factors--the little treats that add up--include the following:
1) Tall Starbucks house brew. I used to buy one for the road when making monthly 125-mile drives to visit friends and relatives. Now I take along my home-brewed coffee. I save about $24 a year.
2) Bottled water. I used to buy small bottles for taking along on hikes, car trips, etc. Now I use reusable bottles filled from my filtered tap at home. In three years, I estimate I've saved at least $600. I have also stopped home delivery of bottled water for a savings of $45 a month.
3) The treat cigar. I used to have a cigar on Sunday evening after dinner. I've stopped that for health reasons and to save a little money. Giving up this habit saves between $78 a year (based on mail-ordering the cigars) and $520 a year (based buying the cigars locally in California.)
4) Bi-weekly manicure. I used to have a simple manicure once every two weeks. Foregoing this treat and doing my own manicures saves about $500 a year.
Total estimated annual savings: approximately $1,500
For years, Amazon has hawked their 'One Click' shopping button, where you can order something with just one click. I never have nor will I ever take advantage of this! I want to have to go screen by screen to make a purchase, because that gives me multiple opportunities to reconsider and ask 'Do I really need this (now)?', 'Can I find this at a better price?' or other such questions. Amazon (and other retailers) put this there for the exact reason that they don't want you to think too much about it, because they know that will only lead to some abandoned sales.
Wonderfully written post and very informative! Nice job! It can be really hard to face your debt head on and admit that you have a problem. I really like the advice about talking to someone about your debt. I think everyone should remember that there are some great Non-Profit Credit Counseling Agencies out there that could help. They should be the first person you talk to about your debt, because the counselors are certified and can work with you to create a monthly budget. When you have a monthly budget in place, you'll be able to figure out how MUCH you can afford to pay your creditors each month. The call to a non-profit credit counseling agency is completely free and confidential. There are no obligations. They are only there to help you get out of debt. Check the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) website to find a reputable non-profit agency. Best of Luck to anyone here that's in debt and Congrats to those of us who are now debt-free! Thanks again for a great post!
I only drink lattes in the summer and that is only on special occasions. Don't go out of my way to get them so would not miss them.
My "latte factor" is a protein bar or shak eafter a hard workout. My gym has a smoothie and nutrition section right by the door as you go out and it's very hard sometimes not to do the easy way out and pick up a quick protein to go. The problem is they range from $2-4 and even doing 1 or 2 a week adds up quickly. Am now bringing a protein shake from home to drink in the car!
I don't have much of a "Latte Factor", but I do spend about $80 a week on groceries, some of which are gourmet and expensive. But I do love eating well and $80 a week for our family of 4 doesn't seem too excessive to me. The lattes that I enjoy every few weeks are gifts. I ask for gift cards for Birthday and Christmas and enjoy lattes and lunches out free all year long!! :)
My latte factor would be eating out. I eat out far more than I should. I am currently giving it up for savings and finding creative ways to eat out for free (and get paid) through mystery shopping. I currently am saving about $15 per week at my current rate.
I don't drink coffee at all but my husband has given up going out for coffee to save money.
I currently have 8 coldsores right now. Yes 8!! I thought it was just the one until I saw little bumps along the bottom of my lip. This is the worst I've ever had it and I really feel like I've been punched!
I swear by betadine. I've had coldsores since I was a teen and zovirax and tablets never worked for me. Thankfully my aunty introduced me to betadine and it would always prevent them from breaking out. The only negative is the colour and it really dries the lip out, but id rather that than a break out!
Lately though it doesn't seem to be working as good! this is the 2nd outbreak I've had in a month. Usually I only get them once a year. I was out in the sun over the weekend so I blame the uv rays.. I had 30+spf lip balm on but mustn't have worked.
This is just the worst thing ever! It gets to the point where I can't go into work because I constantly need to keep reapplying and if I'm at work I feel like I'm not doing the best job with tackling it. Also who wants to walk around the office with a huge swollen lip covered in brown liquid!
Fingers crossed all 8 coldsores go down tonight.
Oh and I wouldn't even consider it a cluster as they are all individual lumps. Lucky me!! I just want to crawl under a rock and die!
Cigarettes. I quit 20+ years ago. I was a pack a day smoker. Adjusting for inflation, that's a savings of about $25,000.
Posts like this just amaze me because I never think of putting these things in the dishwasher, but once you say it, it makes completely sense--and way easier than other ways of trying to scrub random things like a baseball cap. New things to try--and I will be trying that lint screen per one of the comment suggestions!
Great! Make sure to check the frozen section - some real deals in there. Tx for your comment!
Hi, Max! A friend of mine was just yesterday telling me about these. What a fun idea! Thanks for writing about the specifics.