To think budgeting culture has become joyless?

I do wonder whether OP thinks budgeting is supposed to be joyful? It can’t ever be anything but joyless surely, otherwise we’d live like that all the time.

I buy other hot drinks in cafes instead of coffee. I spend loads.

I haven’t got a coffee machine.

It is a waste of money however you want to justify it.

No it doesn't. I had one. They are shit. Take forever, need to be monitored, hard to clean, won't go on my gas hob as the base is too small and only makes a small amount of espresso.

No I don't know what you're talking about really. We all know coffees are expensive but I don't feel like anyone is judging me if I buy one. Maybe you're taking things too seriously?

Again: it isn’t a waste of money if someone likes what they get for that money. So yes, it is about personal taste. People should spend their money on things that meet their taste, not things that meet your, completely different, taste.

If would be a waste of your money, because you dislike the product and get no enjoyment from it. But if someone gets enjoyment from it, they are not wasting their money.

Your coffee machine was a good investment for you, but would be a waste of money for me because I don’t like coffee. Similarly, the £179 I just spent on a replacement nib for a fountain pen would be a massive waste of money for anyone who doesn’t enjoy using fountain pens, but it was money well spent for me. Do you see how this works?

It isn’t “wasting money” if it’s something you get enjoyment from and can afford though is it?

I was bored today and drove to the drive through Costa for a chai latte and croissant for something to do even though I wasn’t particularly hungry or thirsty. It got me out of the house and I sat in my car for a while enjoying listening to the radio and being alone sipping my drink and eating my pastry.

I also get my nails done once a month and my hair every 6 weeks bc I find it relaxing and I can afford it. I could do both these things at home.

I could probably afford an extra holiday or two if I stopped doing this but I don’t want to as I enjoy it and having one main holiday in the summer and a few weekends away is enough for me.

What I don’t understand is people who don’t understand that everyone is different and enjoys spending their time and money doing different things. I think those Dyson air wraps are a terrible waste of money. I think buying 5 grand tv’s/the latest iPhone is silly - but I understand that everyone enjoys spending their money on different things. Weird to be so virtue signally about hot drinks! I actually prefer my own homemade coffee also but sometimes I want to get out of the house and go and sit somewhere different - is that really so hard to understand? Where do you draw the line? Do you think it’s a waste of money to go out for meals because you could rustle up something similar in your own kitchen?

Weird.

And I think the money you spend on your coffee each month is a waste of money

Not really. A 90% mark up on £100 a month of sugary shite IS a waste of money.

I live quite rurally but commute to London and buy a coffee from the booth at the local station twice a week which is run by a local guy. Really good coffee and am happy to support a small business.

In your opinion

4 coffees a year is different. It’s a treat. £100 a month is however a waste of money.

In your opinion

Who says I’m going to a chain?

You are not the one going. I like going. Why do you care?

I haven’t got a coffee machine but a £30 Bialetti I bought years ago that makes far better coffee than most coffee chains.

Why are you so angry?

I drink, at most, about four coffees a year. I don’t like it very much. I drink tea at home and other hot drinks while I’m out. But I don’t go around shitting my pants in fury and telling everyone they should drink tea because I happen to think it’s better.

It’s obvious that you’ve made coffee into your entire personality and I’m sorry if that’s all you’ve got in your life but honestly, getting this angry about someone buying a drink they happen to like the taste of is not fucking normal.

They are never nice cafes. Chains have extinguished the nice independent cafe sector.

Why do you care? It is not your money or taste buds.
Have your coffee at home. I will have mine in a nice cafe with a group of people.

You’re chucking your money away on coffee machines instead.

I get a skimmed milk cappuccino with 0 sugar caramel syrup. Not awful for the waist line but brilliant for my mood!

It’s not about personal taste but wasting money.

Ok but one of us is chucking money away on poor quality, high sugar/ high calorie over priced drinks - the other isn’t.

See how we have different opinions and different things we want to spend our money on?

Do you think they should sell the coffees for cost price then? How would they pay their staff or the bills?

Again, it’s not a waste of money for people who are enjoying them and it’s nonsensical to think they are wrong to consume the things they prefer.

Anyone who thinks their own personal taste is a benchmark of correctness and that everyone should therefore do things their way has an ego the size of Brazil and is unbearable to be around.

They are rarely clean, hot or staffed.