To wonder how many things I haven't bought because of coffee??

[NotDead]

its prob quite a lot.. could it be as much as a house deposit over 10 years? Do I include cake?

[ihearsounds]

I spend way too much on coffee. Bag and a half of coffee a week, £260 a year. Jar of coffee a week, £156 a year. Coffee out, £300 a year..

[Remotecontrolduck]

If it makes you happy, then it's not really a waste (providing essential bills etc are covered ahead of coffee spending!)

I love my coffee and buy it several times a week. I don't smoke or drink so that's my little indulgence. You could tot up the amount you spend on clothes/make up/a hobby and berate yourself for it but life's too short. £2 odd a day on something you really enjoy seems an excellent deal to me.

That said £30 a day on lunches is just awful!

[Trills]

After reading this thread I bought myself a coffee on the way to work yesterday. I enjoyed it very much.

[NotDead]

I had a ponder in a shop. didn't buy a shirt and resolved to not have coffee out for two weeks and then buy it.

Guess what I did to reward myself for my resolve? a blummen espresso in neros.

I need help.

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

Thank God I do not have a coffee shop habit. Clothes, shoes, scarves and handbags though - well I dread to think.

[chrome100]

I eat most of my meals out every weekend (nowhere fancy, just a cheap sandwich for lunch, takeaways etc). I admit it's hugely extravagant but I justify it to myself by saying I don't run a car so that saves me a fortune, my rent is dirt cheap thanks to sharing with other people and I am lucky enough to have a gym at work so go for free all of which save me money. It's swings and roundabouts.

[delasi]

I think the issue is more spending lots of money on bad coffee and lunches. I agree - little treats are nice and it's miserable when you can't do it, but if it's just basic and not a treat then I don't like spending the money!

If I get coffee on the way to work and buy my lunch out, it will cost about £2.90 for the coffee and a minimum of £4 for a basic lunch (sandwich, snack/fruit). The coffee in most chains is pretty bleurgh. That's nearly £7 on food and drink that I don't particularly care for.

We bought a Nespresso some months back and spend approx. £20/month on capsules and it is great, I always like the coffee I get and if I want a coffee on the way to work I put it in a little hot mug thing. In summer I made it chilled the night before and had a cold coffee on my way in I do not worry about those £20 at all, or the initial outlay, I saved up and it was worth it. I no longer buy coffee out as I can't bring myself to pay for bad coffee! I already bring in leftovers for lunch, plus snacks for throughout the day and a huge water bottle, mainly because our food tastes better and is more filling than a sandwich or salad or KitKat from a local shop. It's win-win that it's also so much cheaper.

MrsKoala That's a great breakfast tip! Thanks!

[Momaz]

hmmm I'd never really added it up before doh!

[tryingtoleave]

There was a mother at dd's ballet class who told me she had bought a $3000 coffee machine for her home, so now she had to carry a thermos of coffee around with her because she couldn't justify buying coffee out. That was misguided, I thought.

[GemmaTeller]

Costco do free coffee and croissants in the morning (disclaimer, might the first hour for business card holders or some such,)

When I went out to work I gave myself £10 a week to spend on 'treats' and the trick was to try and get to friday and not break into it, thereby having a crisp tenner to put in my secret savings fund

DH used to make extra at tea time so I could take some for my lunch the next day, sheperds pie, pasta, risotto, lasagne etc., yum! (everyone in the office used to say 'whats he made you today' and 'how spoilt are you')

[CaptainSweatPants]

Gawd I really need a coffee now
wonder if work will notice if I sneak out?!

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Do you enjoy it though?

[mrsmalcolmreynolds]

even - emoticon fail

[mrsmalcolmreynolds]

Like a PP I am [shocked] at a tenner for coffee and a bacon sandwich! And I live in commuter Surrey..

[BornToFolk]

It is the best 1.90 I spend a day. I enjoy every drop and don't regret a penny.

Yeah, this. I buy coffee at work once or twice a week as a little treat. I used to have it

I think you'd drive yourself potty counting up every wasted penny.
I do feel slightly sick at the thought of the money I frittered in my twenties when I had lots of disposable cash and no responsibilities but I'm not sure I would have done it any differently.

[SuperiorCat]

If you're passing a Waitrose, grab a card and you get a free one per day

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

YANBU to wonder about pretty much anything you like

I spend quite a bit on coffee these days. But it's something I really enjoy, not just the actual coffee, but sitting in a coffee shop, watching the world go by. I considered how much it 'adds up to' and over a year I am happy to spend 'that amount' on something that makes me happy. Yes, it probably amounts to a nice long weekend away (even maybe a 'cheap' week for one person) but instead of having one nice weekend (or one nice cheap week) this spreads the joy out over the year - I'm happy with my decision :)

Also, I don't buy many magazines (one photography one a month and occasionally a 'house' one), make up, (& other than essentials) clothes, bags, shoes, stuff for the house/garden - I'm pretty 'low maintenance' except for my 'coffee habit' :)

[MrsKoala]

One near dh's old work in London Bridge, but i'm sure they would have called it a grande cappuccino and bacon and brie panino or summat!

[TheDoctrineOfSpike]

What the hell kind of cafe charges £10 for coffee and a bacon sandwich?

[Trills]

The Demotivator will add up your expenditure and put it in terms of how many days or weeks worth of work is being frittered.

[bigkidsdidit]

Before DC I worked off Oxford st and used to buy breakfast in caffe Nero and lunch in pret every day. Easily £12-15 a day. What's that - £200 a month? Jeepers. Now I walk to work but where I live there are no coffee shops and I work in a hospital with only a horrid canteen so I save a fortune.

I don't regret spending it, but I do wish I'd bought a Chanel handbag instead!

[TheWomanTheyCallJayne]

Second the bodum thermoses. I borrowed a friends spare on holiday and bought one the second we got home
I think I can count count on one hand the amount of times I've bought a coffee from a Starbucks or Costa type place
In fact I can think of once. Sadly I have no house either

[aturtlenamedmack]

Waitrose cards for you all!!!

[ZingDollyChops]

I never buy coffee. I'm minted.

[DontmindifIdo]

Hmm, I usually drink strong black coffee at home or in the office (which I don't pay for), but yes, have bought a lot out and about over the years. I figure, it's cheaper than the cost of the legal team we'd have to hire to defend me for murdering DH/DS/other commuters who breathe loudly/collegues being irritating should I attempt to stop having it for any length of time.

(I gave up coffee for lent once, I nearly lost my job, I was a horrible, horrible person to be around, I realised all the rest of the office was avoiding me 10 days in - got it down to 2 cups a day when pg, couldn't do none at all, it's not fair on anyone.)