Nothing wrong with buying coffees regularly

[RunnerAddict]

I like to buy a coffee out and about 3/4 times a week - my friends say it’s a waste of money but it’s a small pleasure for me and I enjoy it!

Does anyone else do this or is everyone on the it’s a waste of money train?!

I literally just wrote the same post without seeing yours! 😁

My partner and me get Costa coffees every Saturday and Sunday. I don't care if others think its extravagant. Plenty of those people will happily spend that kind of money in the pub so what's the difference?

@RunnerAddict

I have a cheeky chai latte most days.
I'm a full time foster carer and when I have a child in place, the half hour I get in Starbucks is the quietest, most peaceful half hour I get to myself all day.
I don't buy alcohol very often, or have takeaways, botox, waxes, run a car or do a thousand and one things other people may see as essential which I don't.

Yes it's a bit of a luxury, but isn't that the point of a luxury. It's not a waste to me.

I do have my nails done every month though.

I do the same. I hate staring at home on days off. I used to buy one at work as well. But got a coffee Machine during covid, which has saved me a lot of money. I don’t drink much alcohol or smoke. So this is my indulgence.

Agree , but there are a lot of people talking about Starbucks caramel lattes, and things with syrup from Gregg's, which is fine if that's what you like, but it's probably not what people who have a good coffee machine at home are drinking, so a good bean to cup probably won't hit the spot for them. Whereas I have gone off having coffee out because most of it is too milky and sweet for me.

For me it is all about sitting in the cafe. Is £3/4 worth it to sit and relax for half an hour, alone but in a buzzy environment ? Oh yes.

It's perspective. You could watch a film at home or go to an Everyman. You could buy a steak at Iceland or go to a Michelin starred restaurant.
£500 a year on something that brings you pleasure. Crack on I say (I do love a good coffee shop and I have a quality machine at home).

The £250 I spent on a bean to cup coffee machine was the best investment I've made. I don't drink a lot of coffee, I'm a tea drinker usually but I love a proper fresh coffee first thing in the morning. My machine is 7yrs old now and I love it, I'd replace it tomorrow if it suddenly broke.

I now prefer my own coffee to a coffee shop or cafe. Whilst the initial outlay was expensive and good coffee beans aren't cheap, I would say I've made a decent profit over buying a daily drink. It'd cost me over £1275 a yr at £3.50 a coffee, almost £9k over the 7yrs I've had the machine. So for me, buying coffee out would be a waste of money.

However, I have wasted my money on lots of stupid things over the years so if you enjoy it, don't listen to anyone else.

This. It is about being out as well as nice coffee.

It has gone up a lot lately. £3.00-ish seemed OK, but I do balk at nearly £5.00. I’d not give it up completely but I have cut down.

I would never buy a takeaway coffee, but like to go out for coffee with friends or family. Probably only go twice a month on average. I make proper coffee at home too.

I wouldn't as I'm not keen on coffee anyway. But I only buy drinks out to be sociable or for a longer train journey. As a treat, I'd rather have hot chocolate - but probably less than 10 times a year, if that. I wouldn't buy any drink I could get at home or work on a regular basis for no reason other than it was shop made. But if it makes you happy and you can afford it......

I completely gave up coffee a few years back as it’s so expensive. Once you stop for a while it makes you feel ill to drink it, so I won’t be going back. I used to enjoy it though.

I do drink tea but there’s less temptation to buy it whilst out, because tea is the same everywhere, and I just take my own in a travel cup. Plus it’s not as expensive.

I think it's a waste of money, but I hate coffee and take a packed lunch everywhere so....

I think makeup and nails are a waste of money too, but I don't care that other people disagree.

I'm sure I spend money on other things that some people think are a waste of money too. If you can afford it and it's a small pleasure what's the problem?

I used to, but we got a bean to cup machine so I took one with me, then Costa stopped doing the fancy roast and I didn't like the standard. Life is too short not to have a £3.50 moment of joy if you can afford it.

I'm exactly like this. It is a waste of money but I don't care. It gives me something to look forward to and get out of the office for.

I have one coffee every morning but I make mine at home (and take it in a Hydroflask if I’m working in the office). I have a full barista set-up at home (expensive but worth it) and I find it quite therapeutic weighing my beans out, grinding them, etc. My coffee time every morning is when I plan my day.

I completely get the concept that the cost of a daily frivolous thing can mount up to a significant yearly spend and that looking at it that way could help someone budget better. And that people should have an awareness of the impact of their spending patterns on their overall finances.

But yanbu OP. Coffee is one of life's little pleasures for me and I find joy in little things over big things. If you said to me I could have £1K for an annual holiday or £1ks worth of takeaway coffees spread throughout the year, I'd take the coffee. If it was takeaway coffees or a £1k machine I'd have to think about it a bit more!

Waves .. also in NZ.
Good coffee is a religion here…up the with cheese rolls and the All Blacks.

I buy a coffee out around twice a week

I do not see it as a problem

I’ve stopped buying coffees now but there were few years where my morning and late afternoon daily Starbucks were the highlights of my day.

I used to buy coffees every week day when I worked in the office. I don’t anymore now that I work from home. I buy a coffee about twice a month on average and that’s usually if I’m traveling to London for work or at an airport.

I much prefer making my own at home with my filter coffee machine and milk foamer - and I love how much money I save. I often find coffee shop drinks unsatisfying, so it would be a waste of money for me.

That said I wouldn’t call it a waste of money for you if you enjoy it! People spend their money on different things and there’s probably stuff they splurge on that you wouldn’t. There’s definitely worse things to spend £16 a week on!

I buy books weekly, but a friend of mine never does but she buys coffees daily. I also travel abroad at least once a year whereas she goes on a UK holiday more like once every 3 years. We don’t judge each other!

Your friends sound like misery guts lol

Same here. Watching the world go by.

£5.50? Starbucks are taking the piss.

Depends if you're equally paying all the other household bills