To think budgeting culture has become joyless?

[ByNattyFinch]

Budgets are good.
Financial literacy is good.

But AIBU to think some people treat buying a hot drink like a moral failure? Life shouldn’t feel like a spreadsheet.

Because £100 every 6 weeks still isn’t £1000 a year 😂 I’m kidding I also don’t do beauty treatments but just wanted to point that out.

Nobody has said they shouldn’t be allowed to do whatever they want with their money… people just think it’s a waste of money. It’s an opinion not an appeal to change the law to ban takeaway coffees.

Which is a weird opinion to have about what other people spend their money on.

When I got my first job I lived at home paying only a small amount and saved roughly half my salary. I still felt flush as I had been a student for three years with very little money. I could never understand the colleague I sat next to who was in the same situation but could not go out in the week before her pay cheque. I remember asking how much she contributed at home and being shocked when she said nothing.

Some people spend money like they hate it. And some are savers and good at finding bargains.

The cost of living has increased so much that budgeting for me is a necessity. I'd love to grab a coffee without a second thought, but at a fiver a pop, it soon adds up!

If you're in the position to spend without thinking, fab! But "budgeting culture" is more likely "shit, everything costs so much more now and my salary hasn't increased that much".

My nearest town has 5 cafes on our high street, none of them chains.

It would not be as good as the Italian coffee I get which tastes like it's from Rome

Exactly - I said as much a few pages back , people have different tastes and priorities - I have an elderly relative in very late 80s- he has almost a million in bank accounts and shares , been on holiday twicein his life , rents a really grim and these days unsuitable council flat, and has had a really limited dull life despite being very intelligent simply because he is incredibly mean - no kids or partner ever either. The obsession with cafes is nuts, if people enjoy it that’s fine - people bemoan deadly town centres but then have an issue with those who do actually spend it seems

I get an absolute kick out of budgeting as a single parent for many, many years, I had no choice back then. My spreadsheet saved me and takes a couple of minutes every few days to update. I'm now on a 6 figure salary and still have my incoming / outgoing spreadsheet with pay dates and every important calendar date. I have many friends and family who call or message me before buying, especially bigger purchases, as I will find loop holes, codes etc. In 2025 I estimate that I have personally saved around £12k (no spreadsheet for this, I'm not that sad ... 🤔) This is on holidays, travel, weekly shop, appliance purchases, gifts etc. If I 'have' to pay full price for most things, I feel purse-onally violated. It's not for everyone but I love my spreadsheet 🤗

The coffee I buy is not expensive. It’s £5 a bag (as opposed to £5 a cup), lasts me 10 days and is made in an ancient £30 device that makes good coffee far better than anything Costa makes.

Exactly this!

Exactly this. My mum occasionally will ask if we want to go out to lunch but it’s not anywhere special and would still cost us as a family of 4 about £80 and nothing about the meal would be memorable, particularly tasty and it’s no one’s special day so sometimes I decline and offer to cook us lunch or meet her after. Because that £80 swapped for a quick lunch at home, means over the course of the year we can afford a better holiday or trip away.

I try to explain to her I’m not broke, I’ve money in the bank, but I’m making a conscious decision that means I can afford something I want more. Because I earn much more than her, she just thinks I should be spending willy nilly but budgeting towards things that you love is not silly but does take a little discipline

So it’s not good coffee then! £15 a month on cheap coffee but you think you’re better than me because I buy mine ready made is kind of funny

I think some budgetters took it tiny bit personally. Op wasn't moaning about people who budget but people who virtue signal budget.
Most people budget somehow. But not everyone who does goes around judging others and acting like they are better because they don't buy hot drinks (nails, hair, phone) and those who do are, essentially, stupid. I read op as she is talking about the latter group of judging bastards.
IME that's usually people who are not on last penny.

Lavazza is good coffee and better / same than many chains use.

Lavazza is essentially Nescafé but in ground coffee form.

I think not

Lavazza and Nescafé differ significantly in their primary product types, flavor profiles, and approach to coffee, making direct quality comparisons subjective and dependent on the user's preference for instant versus ground/whole bean coffee
.
Core Product Differences

• Lavazza: A traditional Italian coffee company focusing on ground coffee and whole beans for use in espresso machines, Moka pots, and drip coffee makers. Their expertise is in creating specific blends of Arabica and Robusta beans, sourced globally, to offer an authentic Italian espresso experience. They also produce their own pod system (A Modo Mio) and Nespresso-compatible pods.
• Nescafé: Primarily known for pioneering and dominating the instant coffee market (e.g., Nescafé Original, Gold, Azera). They also offer proprietary capsule systems like Dolce Gusto and Nespresso, which provide consistency and convenience.

Quality and Flavor Profiles Feature LavazzaNescafé Primary Format Ground/whole beans, pods Instant coffee, pods Flavor Profile Focuses on classic, strong, rich Italian espresso flavors, often with bold and intense notes. Blends often feature specific regional bean characteristics (e.g., floral, chocolate, fruity). Varies widely by product line. Instant coffees can range from mild and weak to balanced and full-bodied (e.g., Azera). Capsule systems offer a variety of consistent, pre-defined profiles, including many non-coffee options (e.g., teas, cappuccinos). Strength Generally perceived as stronger and hotter in capsule comparisons due to more coffee content per pod (7.5g vs. Nespresso's 5g). Offers a broad range of intensity ratings; instant coffee can sometimes be perceived as weaker or having a "classic instant coffee" taste, though some lines are highly rated. Quality Perception Considered a reputable, quality Italian coffee brand with a focus on traditional coffee expertise. Quality can be superior with proper brewing technique. Quality is heavily dependent on the specific product line. Nespresso is praised for consistency, while some instant lines receive lower ratings. Summary

• If seeking traditional, authentic espresso from beans or ground coffee, Lavazza generally offers a more robust, classic Italian experience.
• If seeking convenience, variety in drink types, or a quick cup of instant coffee, Nescafé provides a wider range of options, though quality varies significantly across its product lines.

You're right.

Budgeting is good - not fun but essential.

But it's not a moral failure to make different choices about what you spend your money on.

Little treats are good for you - assuming you can afford them. DH and I have a personal spending budget each month which we can spend on whatever we want. It's nice to know you can treat yourself now and again and I absolutely do not feel guilty when I spend it.

I'm a spender but I'm finding the older I get the more cross I feel about being ripped off. Its a rare meal out now that I think 'that was wonderful and worth every penny', most places seem to be very expensive for something I can make at home and do it better. I can buy a bottle of very drinkable wine for the same price as a large glass in a pub, now, I love going to the pub and enjoy the social side of life but I'm no longer insensible to the cost of even a small 'treat'.
I've noticed that our friends are sort of going back to the 'dinner party' of years ago, still sociable but a great deal cheaper, still a lot of fun, ( and even later nights!)

As to clothes, don't get me started, so much over priced, badly made tat out there I'm not even budgeting, just not buying.

I also hate the way coffee chains are all over the high street, If I do have a cup of tea out I like an independent with a nice piece of homemade cake, so much nicer.

Incorrect.

I agree

It's not always about whether we can afford eg a takeaway coffee. It's about whether we think that's a good use of the money

I like takeaway coffee. I don't want nice coffee at home, I want it when I've just sat down in the office and am checking my emails. Luckily I only go in twice a week!

Are these people actually saying anything to you that’s judgemental or are they just declining to get a drink? If they’re judging your choice then they’re being unreasonable, but if they don’t want to then that’s none of your business.

Hello ChatGPT