At least here on BudgetsAreSexy ;) It’s not *exactly* personal finance related but it does mean FREE coffee for some of you. And actually, YOU guys will be the frugal rock stars today since you’ll have to drop your coffee-saving tips to win!
Everyone knows Starbucks so I’m not gonna pimp what they do, but I will say they expanded their packaged coffee portfolio they sell in grocery stores. So for people who want to try a new blend but don’t want to commit to a larger size, they’re now rockin’ 5-ounce sizes for ya. And they’ve still got their 20 oz’ers around too (as you can see in that pic) which according to their stats means you’re getting each cup for only 25 cents! Not bad if you’re good at making it at home (I’m surprisingly getting better at this… although we did have that incident).
Okay, so what can you win? A Starbucks V.I.P. Package!
- A coffee mug! Simple, yet sleek (I use mine all the time)
- One 20 oz bag of coffee. Which would last 2 days in our household ;)
- THREE 5 oz bags of coffee. Great for snacks! haha… j/k, you’re set for 2+ months here.
To win all this coffee goodness:
- Share a way YOU save on coffee (or tea? beer? water?) in the comments below.
- Leave a way for me to holler at ya. Email, blog, twitter, cell # (just kidding)
TWO lucky winners will win their very own V.I.P. Starbucks package, drawn by none other than Random.org, and ending @ Midnight this Saturday – Feb, 27th. Now tell us all your secrets! (and when you’re ready to hire me Starbucks, you just let me know)
*************
*GIVEAWAY OVER* The lucky winners are Kevin and Miss Information! Congrats guys :)
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My wife and I always make regular coffee at home. Here in Japan one cup of coffee at a store (including Starbucks) is always more than $3.50. We've seen a single cup of regular for $6. On those special days when we do go to Starbucks we usually get one of the specialty drinks (it's only a $1.50 more) and share it. http://tylerandalyssa.wordpress.com
I am not a big fan of the cheaper Maxwell House or Folgers. Every once and awhile, I will encounter a free sample of coffee online, such as Dunkin Donuts or Millstone coffee. Aside from that, I try to equate the prices of coffee in the supermarket to their per pound price when doing comparison shopping. Most coffees are sold in 11oz or 12oz prices for almost $10/pound. I watch the sales and eventually one of brands I enjoy drinking will go on sale and I can buy a few of them for only dollars per pound.
Contact me at akassim @ gmail . com
Hooray!! SUPER prize opp. here!! I'm so excited! I'm a HUGE Starbucks fan and I had to kick my SB latte habit a few months ago and have been saving super dough! But I would like to talk about our savings plan for water, which I'm super stoked about.
There are four girls in our office. We used to have bottled water delivered to our office for $40/month and shared the costs. A few months ago, we decided to try to save some moolah. We checked local prices and found that BJ's (local wholesale club) was the cheapest AND we could use coupons! So now once a month we drag our butts to BJs and purchase and deliver it ourselves! It is a little more work, but it's WORTH IT! We now pay $10/month for bottled water for all four of us! It may not sound like much, but that, in addition to cutting my debilitating latte habit, really adds up and has saved our family mad JJ MONEY! (My husband's name is Jeff and mine is Jen so when we refer to our money, we call it JJ MONEY!) Thought you'd like that, J.!
Anywho, here's to hoping I win this one! :) Good luck, all!
-Jen
jeneral8@msn.com
How do I save on coffee? I do this three ways: 1) drink the free coffee at work 2) brew my own at home from beans that I buy in bulk 3) work my registered Starbucks card for free drip coffee refills and eventual free drinks.
Tea? I buy loose leaf and have tea pots at work and at home so I don't pay the convenience charge of single serve bags.
Beer, wine and soda? Brew my own :)
Water? I <3 my Kleen Kanteen!
Cheers! – KP
Well, actually…starting next week, I was going to cut my Starbucks down to just ONE day a week (compared to my every morning treat) to save money on coffee. Not only money but calories as well! (My drink is 600 calories!)
When making coffee at home, I always go to Walmart to get the bigger container of Maxwell coffee which comes out to be cheaper in the end AND tastes delicious.
I like my caffeine cold, so it's Diet Coke (NOT Pepsi) for me. But, I frequently buy SBux giftcards as gifts for teachers, newspaper deliverer, postman, etc. I hope they like them:) Jenny jenleopard@yahoo.com
Over the summer I live off of iced coffee so for my birthday my brother gave me my own french press. Now, instead of buying it from Starbucks or the local coffee shop I just set it up the night before and it's ready to go the next morning!
My husband and I wait for Folgers to go onsale at Winn Dixie for 5.99 for the huge container of it and brew it at home. For tea, we wait for it to go onsale at Publix, especially when it is BOGO.
We also utilize "happy hour" at Border's when we want to splurge and get some of the more expensive drinks for 2 or 3 dollars. We don't do that very often, but it does make us feel more frugal when we do choose to get coffee out.
Jen: jkhosler@gmail.com
Whew . . . now you're talking my game. ;-)
I can't drink straight coffee, too strong, but I do enjoy a nice latte. yumm . . . creamy goodness. ;-)
I used to go to this local coffee/magazine place and drop $4.25 a day on large vanilla latte, my weakness. I put it on my credit card and didnt think about it. And then Amex sent me my yearly report and I was SHOCKED! LOL . . . so, i decided to just buy my own expresso machine. I got a nice one, not a super nice one, but still a good one and did a lot of experimenting. My lattes tasted like crap! I kept playing around with it and finally stopped trying to make a vanilla latte and just went with the regular latte. Much better. still not as good, but man oh man, I do save some money.
I still go to starbucks and other coffee shops, but I dont go for my 'morning coffee' anymore. I now go if I want to hang with friends and chat over cup of joe, or I am going to read/study for a while. I also tend to treat myself at the airport when I fly.
But yah . . . biggest savings was buying my own machine. Again, they dont taste quite as good, but close enough!
Laura in Atlanta
thruston@mindspring.com
We buy by the pound and brew at home. We also use a registered Starbucks card to save on drink and rock up rewards points.
I save on coffee by making cold press coffee at home. It has a flavor that is so smooth and delicious that we stop drinking coffee out therefore saving heaps of money. We usually buy our organic coffee at Coscto, grind it ourselves before we process it in our cold press coffee maker.
I give myself a coffee budget. I add this money to my Starbucks card to work my rewards. I also take my own travel mug into the coffee store (I take it with me everywhere).
I allow myself to use Starbucks as a treat only otherwise I will be there everyday. I pass three Starbucks, a Dunkin Donut plus Au Bon Pain and Pound (local DC joint) on the way to work. I have to resist the temptation.
I make coffee at home with coffee that I have bought on sale and with coupons. NO coupons, No sales, I won't buy it.
Blog & Twitter @ConvertingMe
Honestly, I'm new to this whole coffee thing. I just started drinking it about a year ago so I'm not a coffee snob. Which helps a lot. I only drink it about 3 or 4 times a week and I just grab a 16 oz. cup at the gas station. It costs a dollar. One whole dollar.
Granted, I could go out and buy a coffee brewer, and coffee grounds, and a ton of sweetener…but I don't drink it enough to make it cost effective in my opinion :)
Plus I'm trying not to become addicted to it. Going out and buying it takes more effort than brewing my own, so it cuts back on the caffeine intake by a TON.
I make my own coffee and tea drinks at home and I only buy Starbucks when someone else puts money on my card ;)!
Brew at home, and drink the free coffee at work. Thankfully my employer understands that bad coffee = unproductive workers, so I get Starbucks at work and at home :)
Ledhead57@gmail.com
French press at home, mini French press at the office, and just bought a home espresso maker (to replace the one or two lattes I buy at coffee shops per week)! I buy the coffee beans at Trader Joe's, which is reasonably priced for the quality.
Ok, this is probably WAAAY too frugal for the frugalest person (Is frugalest a word? lol). Anyway, my husband and I love a good cup of joe, but we don't like spending our kids arms and legs each month to get it, soooo, we purchase a bag and we have our regular foldgers brew also. Get where I'm going yet?? We mix the coffee's and it is just as good. One scoop folgers and two scoops of our designer brand. When the stock is getting low..yup we reverse the scoops. We love it!
OOOPS! Forgot to include my e-mail addy:)
khothanz@hotmail.com
I just decided that I am going to start brewing coffee at home to save money- those lattes add up!
Contact me at: cara_dilts@yahoo.com
I was in Ethiopia 18 months ago, and there they taught me how to roast and season my own coffee. I do this regularly now. I buy green coffee beans for about $3-$4 a Kilo at an African Market and then roast them at home on my stove. The aroma is fantastic and lasts in the house for days! It's actually very easy to roast–it's more like toasting in a pan until the beans get dark enough.
I'm all about putting money on a giftcard to use at Starbucks…eventually I'll get a free drink :)
pepethewepe at gmail.com
We brew our own at home. Doing this saves us money.
I make it at home. I KNOW!! Who would have ever thought of that? I'm genius, I tell you. ;)
The way we save coffee is to make it ourselves at home. The coffee we buy comes from the Costco store. We buy their Kirkland brand however it is roasted from Starbuck beans.
I save on coffee by brewing at home. Automatic brew rocks. I can also get coffee from the cafeteria at work for a quarter if I have my own cup.
For water, I have my faithful Brita pitcher.
rios.jacob@gmail.com
Instead of buying drinks from Starbucks a few times a week I brew my own at home or drink coffee at work, which is free!
mcdonough.melissa at gmail.com
This is going to sound really cheap… and it was. When I was in college, I was extremely broke one semester. I had $12 to live on for several weeks and no way to get more money. I would get up in the morning and take a walk. I would walk to the nearest grocery store by where I lived. They had free coffee for shoppers at the front. I would take a cup and drink it while I wandered through the store. Then I would refill the cup and walk home. Free coffee and it also helped me moderate my use. I tend to drink 8+ cups a day if I brew it at home.
These days, I drink tea. And since I have to make it one cup at a time, I drink less of it than I ever did coffee. I drink coffee once in a while these days. I still love a cup of coffee but I try not to spend lots of money on it. If I am out and really want coffee, I try to find places (like grocery stores) where there is likely some free coffee for shoppers.
I started saving bigtime on coffee by not using creamer. I tried black coffee and realized that it was actually quite delicious. I've been drinking my coffee black and saving ever since.
I used to buy a cup a day from the local Starbucks but once I became budget conscience I started making my first cup at home and drinking the swill offered for free at work. Not the same as getting a Vente Sumatra, Sodomo or Komodo blend everyday but I enjoy the extra $12 per week in my pocket. At home I use the K cups and only when I can get them on sale.
contractyear@gmail.com
Since most people have written about brewing at home and drinking coffee at work, (things I do as well,) I'll talk about something else I do:
This fall a friend of mine got me a Kill-A-Watt meter. You plug it into the wall and your appliances into it to see how much electricity is being used. (My friend reads my blog and knew that I was being super-frugal when it came to my utilities budget, so it was an awesome gift.) What I found was that my microwave, which has a small LED clock, drew a little power, even when turned off – I expected that. My toaster oven, when plugged in did not draw any vampire power when plugged in and turned off, which again, I expected. HOWEVER my coffee pot, which is low tech, basic style with no special water heater or lights or clocks, drew power – even when it was turned off! In fact, it drew the same amount as my microwave! So, after I use that sucker I always make sure to turn it of and unplug it from the wall.
Eventually I will probably replace it, but it was a freebie I got 5 years ago and still works so, as long as it is unplugged, it's good enough for me!
I still buy a pound of Starbucks coffee and make myself a couple cups in the morning and throw it in a to-go mug (if I need a cup during the day, I grab a K-cup at work). Where I save my money, though, is with the length of time I milk the pound of coffee at my apartment. I live by myself, so a pound of coffee can take a long time to get through. Usually, after a week and a half, two weeks, I'm drinking some pretty stale coffee…but stale Starbucks is better than a fresh tin of Folgers. Its a week of great coffee and a week of bitter coffee face all for around $10.
frtortoise438@gmail.com
I now have a strong urge for a starbucks run!
To save cash we invested in a grinder and a french press. My wife was an employee at starbucks at the time so we were able to get a good percentage off on the grinder. The french press was just a few bucks at meijer. That way, we get the fresh ground taste of the coffee and we can brew two cups at a time.
Also, we have a lot of friends who work at starbucks and they get a free markout each week- so now and again, we beg and plead for one of their markouts. :)
My wife drinks Chai tea a ton. So she bought her own chai from Target along with skim milk. She now prefers the mix at home to the starbucks chai as sometimes they mix it incorrectly and make it too strong.
I also try and drink tea more often as lipton tea is pretty cheap and still tastes fine to me. Make it at home
In the future, we want to invest in an espresso machine so we can make great drinks for friends at home.
While I still buy my Starbucks almost daily, I have cut back on the amount I spend there by shunning the 4 dollar latte's and sticking to a stiff cup of bold with no extra crap. These days I take my coffee like I prefer my athlete dong. BLACK
mgar6577@gmail.com
I use a registered Starbucks card to purchase a pound of coffee in the store, then you can get any Tall drink for free with the purchase! $9 for a pound of coffee and a free (normally $5) double shot tall mocha. This way, I get my one starbucks premium latte for free every month to fulfill the craving and I get the freshest beans right from he store.
Twitter: @bhenak
Email: bhenak@gmail.com
i save money on coffee by making my own at home and watching for sales on my favorite starbucks breakfast blend beans
Defintely save money by brewing coffee at home, but also since it's just me, I will refrigerate a pot after brewing and drink the leftover the next day.
laurene_ammend@yahoo.com
I have a single cup brewer machine at home (we got it as a wedding present), and, although I buy fair trade coffee or it (it's a bit more expensive), we don't throw out any coffee, as we make a fresh cup whenever we want one. Also, I found a great online store that will ship fair trade products to my door – it's significantly cheaper than me going to the store and buying my coffee. My husband and I aren't as tempted to go out and buy a coffee when we want one since it takes about 3 minutes from the machine being off until I have a hot cup of brewed coffee – super fast and delicious.
stas351@hotmail.com
We drink tea day and night, hot and cold. I just realized we were out of loose tea – which we bought sometime in August. So the entire large box of high grade Ceylon – which we buy at the Arabic store – lasted about 6 months!
Couldn't remember the price, but went back to the store and luckily the same delicious, huge box was on sale – 2 boxes for $5 (normally $2.99 per). So we've got a year's supply of tea now for just $5 (though $6 would not have been too shabby, either…)
Key here is LOOSE tea (invest in a teapot or tea basket) and buying at a store that caters to an immigrant population. I get similar amazing deals on other products by shopping where immigrant communities shop. For instance: I can get a huge bag of dried shitake mushrooms at the Asian market for about $4. Half this amount at the regular grocery costs nearly $7!
Twitter: @rrcarter
I'm a huge fan of making coffee at home. I just buy a bag of whole beans from either a local coffee shop, occasionally Starbucks (especally their Christmas blend! Probably my favorite thing in the world) or get adventurous in the coffee aisle of my local grocery store. Throw in a little milk… some sugar… and I'm a happy child and get my coffee fix for very little. Also… I work in a mall and the employees at the Starbucks there know that and… the people from my store really frequent this location, so they hook us up with next to nothing refills when we bring in our own coffee mugs. The store I work in also gets a little crazy, so sometimes I slip down there when I manage to steal fifteen minutes off the floor and I guess I look pathetic enough that they just give me the coffee. I'm very much in love with those baristas.
briana.maine@me.com
Free stuff! Cool!
I drink coffee but mostly tea. Usually I ask my mother to bring 20+ bags of loose green tea whenever she visits. She knows the owner of a small tea shop near where she lives so she gets a discount =)
Work from home! I now make a pot of whatever was on sale rather than buying 2-3 cups a day at the office. When I do my once a week grocery & erands on Saturday I buy one coffee to enjoy as I wander around the store. Our coffee chain does not take VISA in the store so we have cards we've set up to automatically reload from our VISA when the balance drops below $5. At one coffee a week it takes a while to need a reload, but this way I get the flight points for my credit card purchase which I wouldn't have gotten with a cash purchase. If there's a way to buy something on VISA and get the points I'll find it. Every little bit helps. By the end of Feb we'll have enough points for our 4 tickets to Italy for this summer. Woo hoo!
I make my own expresso at home. I bought a little stove top expresso make (approx $8 at TJ MAXX) buy ground espresso from our local grocery store (approx $4 and lasts a week or two. That along with some milk and flavoring = yum! I used to be a barista and let me tell you, with the right espresso beans it will taste exactly the same for WAY less.
Love it!
LStratto08@yahoo.com
I make my own expresso at home with a stove top espresso maker. I bought it for like $8 at TJ MAXX, buy ground espresso for about $4 every two weeks add some milk and flavoring. YUM!!! All in all it costs about $6-8 every two weeks maybe. AMAZING! Can't be it, especially because I HAVE to have my coffee every morning.
I got a coffee maker last year on black friday- for $3! (originally $40)
I also only get coffee when it is on sale, and of course I use a coupon! Usually, I pay about $2 per bag!
onecheaplady@yahoo.com
Instead of going to the campus coffee house and plunking down $3-4 every day, I found a coffee pot on Freecycle, purchased a big container of coffee, and make my own at the spare desk in my office! Soooo much cheaper, and with a good creamer it tastes just as good.
I make my own coffee at home, and only buy coffee when it is on sale, Then I buy multiple containers to last until my favorite brand goes on sale again. Don't buy bottled water, use tap only.
Last week my husband told me, "Don't buy any more coffee or water – we're running out of room!" Unfortunately or fortunately, I bought at least 4 more cans of coffee and another case of water. The savings at CVS are too great for me to resist. They've been giving out coupons, both from the cash register and in e-mail, for $10 off a $50 purchase. I load up on sale items, and by the time I'm done I can spend less than $20. This is because of their "creative" marketing and the way items ring up at a ridiculous price before you show your CVS card. We go through a lot of coffee at home, and thankfully it will not be expensive for awhile. We have two CVS stores, and I found that at one of them, they do the coupons different – in such a way that you actually pay $40 when it's $10 off $50. I don't like that, as it is a real effort to try to spend that much in the first place. That's why all the coffee and water – to raise that total. Also, their non-sale items are way overpriced and you can get them cheaper at the grocery store next door.
I'm syllana at twitter :)
Well i'm a bit of a coffee snob, I can't stand instant coffee, or pre-ground. It has to be freshly ground, in my kitchen. LOL!! The best way I save money is to measure my serving size using the right amount of coffee grounds & water that way i'm not tossing out 1/2 pot of coffee every day! I also only have StarBucks about once per month. :)
moraliaweblog (at) yahoo (dot) ca
They way I save on coffee or tea is to not buy it! YUCKY. Beer, gosh, I can't save on that. Especially not when its a cold Yuengling!
i'm a frap guy…and was bummed when they raised their prices. so i opted to now buy a tall frap and save 50cents off the grande. so after buying about 9 tall frap, i technically saved enough money for a "free" grande on my 10th drink. haha. buy 9 get the 10th free. lol. i crack myself up. that plus using a starbucks card gets me internet and a free drink on my birthday helps. haha.
I either brew coffee at home (which I usually wake up too late to do), or wait til I get to work and drink the free coffee there! And luckily I work with coffee lovers, so it's pretty good quality coffee!
My PF blog is Overcoming the Quarter-Life-Crisis…which truth be told I have NOT overcome…I am definitely a work in progress. http://overcomingqlc.blogspot.com
overcomingqlc@gmail.com
I travel weekly for work. So, I save on coffee the same way I save on toilet paper, soap, shampoo, kleenex, and pillow cases: I take the free coffee from every hotel room every day they put it out. Hey, I pay for the room, so it ain't stealing. And some of the places have pretty good coffee.
cear0587 at yahoo dot com
I don't personally drink coffee, but Ryan is addicted. We get the store brand to save money. We also use the samples they give out at hotels if we stay there.
And this month (until March 31st) Dunkin Donuts is giving away free coffee (hot or cold) every Wednesday. Not sure if it's everywhere, but up here it's a sweet deal.
http://spillingbuckets.com and spillingbuckets@gmail.com :)
I save on coffee by making it at home. My husband and I brew a pot in the morning and fill up our cups and take it to work with us. If I'm craving an iced coffee I'll make some cold-press using just water, coffee and a glass jar. We are saving money each day but not stopping at Starbucks (which is so conveniently located on my way to work) except on paydays to get a treat. It makes my Americano taste that much sweeter knowing that I only get it twice a month.
We usually make it at home. We save by buying at Sam's, and occasionally mixing not so good coffee with better tasting (and more expensive) coffee. We also get Sbux giftcards at holidays/birthdays sometimes, which covers the going out, and frequently my parents buy coffee that they don't like so much. Then they pass it along to us-the not so picky ones.
I save on them by not buying them….if I really need it, my work has some coffee and tea in the cabinets if I'm feeling motivated!
lisaread87 [at] gmail [dot] com
I'm very big on free samples or send aways for free samples. Also, my co-worker and I created a small amount of money we keep between us for "good" coffee (aka not work coffee).
Mare – tommygirl828 (at) gmail (dot) com
#1 way to save on coffee – work somewhere that provides complimentary coffee and wait until you get to work for your cup of Joe.
I personally almost never buy already brewed coffee. List most poster, I brew it at at home. I buy store brand, which is even cheaper for me because my wife works at a grocery store and we get a 10% discount on store-brand items.
The way I save on filters by brewing a full pot and store what I don't drink for the next day (and day after that). I personally don't taste any difference between fresh coffee and re-heated coffee.
edwardra3 <- gmail
http://entryleveldilemma.blogspot.com
Our favorite way to save on coffee is to make it at home – every morning. We rarely go to Starbucks – usually only if we are traveling or have a work meeting (tax deductible!)
You know how to get in touch with me! @theoneinpink
I save on coffee by buying it when it is on sale. I scour the grocery store ads and utilize coupons in conjunction with the sales. I can usually get a lb of coffee for less than $3.50. This is the only way to buy coffee! Also buying in bulk is very cost-effective!
shannon.lutz79@gmail.com
I save on coffee by having my friends bring a bunch of bags of beans when the visit here from Africa. So much better when it's straight off the Dark Continent. ;)
eric@ericsherwood.net
I buy coffee beans only when they're on sale and use my little single cup french press- the coffee is great and it's much cheaper then stopping somewhere on the way to work.
Things have really changed in our household. We used to buy coffee EVERYDAY from Starbucks. Then we began making our own. Then, we began buying coffee when it was on sale. Now, we buy on sale AND make sure we are also using coupons! BIG savings!!
I used to buy coffee at work each day for 64 cents. Now I bring tea bags from home and use hot water from the water cooler.
steph . marzocca (gmail)
J. I travel a lot! I'm addicted to the Dr. (Pepper that is). When I sat a few months ago and calculated the purchase of a 20oz bottle from the airport equaled nearly $14.00 a gallon I nearly puked! I have not spent a dime of my money on soda since (except during meals at restaurants).
Savings 100%!!!
@LeanLifeCoach
I invested in a basic coffee grinder (approx. $25 on Amazon), and buy whole beans from my local grocery store. Simply grinding my own beans keeps my coffee tasting great. Plus, using filtered water (via a Brita water pitcher) keeps the flavor fresh.
Oh, and one more tip. I run vinegar through my coffee machine once a month to clear out the deposits. It keeps my machine running clean, and also helps make a wonderful cup of coffee in the morning!
Twitter: Ernest_S
During the week, I drink herbal tea or make my own chai at home. On weekends, we might treat ourselves to a latte when we do our grocery shopping.
christopher.wilde@gmail.com comment posted 2/25/10 @ 12:24pm is just plain disgusting. It's not cute and it's not funny.
I save money on coffee by not buying it anymore. =( It was a sad day but in early January I decided to kick the morning habit and try to go all-natural on my energy.
So far so good! I definitely feel more energized–and so does my wallet!
One way I used to save on beer was when 30 pack's went on sale for $16, my roommate and I would stock up. There were times we had 8-10 30 packs just chill'n for the just-in-case-Tuesday-Night-Random-Party. Oh the good ol' days.
David Damron
@daviddamron
I always end up getting tea as gifts since my friends and family know I love it! And I only allow myself to have Starbucks if I have a giftcard, or (and usually and) I am working productively at Starbucks. Generally, I just make my own tea at home and bring tea bags with me everywhere I go. Good ole Liptons; it's cheap but good…
3monthsforward (at) gmail (dot) com
I just grab my venti sumatra out of the barista's hand and run away. Since there are so many starbucks, i can do this for about a month before circling back to the same one.
Adam
adrock02@gmail.com
I make all my coffee at home so that I do not spend money on lattes. The only time I go to get lattes is when I get gift cards from my mom. I crave vanilla lattes sometimes, but I just can't afford the $4 a day.
mattbruce526@hotmail.com
I simple avoid coffee!!! I think I drink one cup every few months. It becomes a nice little treat.
Tea..I brew my own…just get a bag or so of green tea and my own teapot so I can make it as strong or as weak as I like.
Water…brita brita…and I'm recycling the filters now too so being green and saving my mula on bottled water!
Din6715@gmail.com
I save by brewing at home and still try new brands of coffee.
julieann007@cox.net
I love coffee but I hate to waste. My husband does not like it so I :( drink alone! To cut costs I replaced my old coffee pot (after it died) with a small one that can brew two perfect cups for me. I always measure carefully and have honed it to a science. I do not, however, use cheap coffee. By not wasting I more than make up for the cost of the more expensive (Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts) brands, which are always bought on sale of course.
donnakorzun@yahoo.com
I have a latte addiction and was dropping about $4.30/daily on a double-tall no whip mocha at Starbucks. I finally got the idea to buy my own espresso machine. I researched for a couple of months and finally decided on an E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) pod-based machine for simplicity's sake. (Heck, one of the reasons I paid so darned much for those lattes was so I didn't have to grind and tamp my own beans, so why would I buy into a machine that would force me to do exactly that every day?) Making my own lattes is easy, thanks to the pods, takes only a couple of minutes and is actually kind of fun.
So let's talk savings.
1. The E.S.E. pods are available online for an average of $0.40 each.
2. The mocha powder is available at Starbucks for about $8 and lasts me about a month (14oz per cannister, .5oz per tablespoon, 1tbsp per latte). Average cost? $0.26
3. Milk? On average (at $3.50/gal) it costs me around $0.10 to add 4oz of deliciously steamed milk to my beverage.
Total cost of a Fauxbucks homemade latte? $0.96.
I haven't had to give up on my daily latte and I'm saving boucoups deniro — more than $1,200/year over my Starbucks habit! Since the espresso machine only cost me $400 and has a 5-year warranty, my projected five year savings on my latte habit will be around $5,600. Kaching.
I love espresso and espresso based drinks. But they are so expensive when purchased from any coffeehouse. I did research and then decided to save up to buy the small Nespresso machine as each shot of espresso costs around .45 cents. Once I was ready to buy, I shopped around and caught the last day of a 20% off friends and family coupon with Sur La Table with free shipping. I have a mypoints account, so I purchased it through that website, which earned me 3 points per dollar for my mypoints account. Then I used my Amazon card to make the purchase, which netted me 1 point per dollar for my Amazon rewards card. And now I happily enjoy two shots of hassle free espresso in the morning for around 1.00.
Lots of GREAT ideas here guys!!! Wow, I really thought I'd be hearing the same thing over and over again but some of these are really creative :)
2 more days until 2 of you win these packages!
The way I save most on coffee is by drinking less of it :( However, since I LOVE my coffee, including my Starbucks, I can't give it up. I save by making soy lattes at home- with an espresso machine I received as a present, and sugar free Torani syrup I bought cheap on Amazon. Starbucks is a rare treat for me now and I usually only go when I have a gift card or when I'm saving money by meeting up with a friend or going out with my boyfriend for coffee instead of a meal… since even a $5 drink is less than lunch at a restaurant!
jennifertoth44 at gmail dot com
Dont know if it counts but I make all my coffee on my handy brewer at the office. I also buy my coffee using Ebates so I can get a portion of the purchase back (1%, etc) depending on the deal at the time. As for buying liquor, I always go to Costco. I love martinis and am irked by martini prices at bars, etc. I invite a ton of friends over, buy a $5 martini mix, the costo vodka (made by the same dudes who make grey goose) and shake it up baby. Come over for a cocktail J! yeah baby!
beskeie (twitter id)
Happy Friday!
We used to hit Starbucks a few times a day. The cost of the coffee was high enough, but what really killed us was all of the addons – my son always wanted a pastry or two, my wife would get a snack, I would have a slice of pumpkin bread or something. A trip to Starbucks was close to $20 per visit. We tracked our Starbucks expenses for a month, extrapolated it out to a full year, and were shocked by the estimated expense.
So we invested in a really good espresso machine for our house. We spent a lot of money on it, but compared to our Starbucks charges, we broke even in just a few months. We love our espresso machine so much we hardly ever get coffee out any more.
I save on coffee my going to Caribou on their $1 Mondays, and also going to Biggby with my husband and using B1G1 coupons. I wish Starbucks would offer those! I also brew coffee at home several days a week. :)
I carpool with my parents everyday and they make coffee. So, I put my name on the list for coffee and get a freshly brewed cup everyday. I contribute by sharing the cost of the mega sized can of coffee grounds bought at a mega-store. I not only save on commuting costs by carpooling in their hybrid vehicle but I also save $$ on coffee. :)
Patti
pmmaldonado@gmail.com
I try to save on coffee by only drinking at home or at work, unless I'm traveling. (And even then, I bring a thermos.)
My roommate and I are really trying to save on our sparkling water addiction though, and just bought a SodaStream to make it ourselves. It's pretty great. Not only can we carbonate water, we can also make flavored water, lemonade, and soda. It saves us the cost of the bottles, the transportation from the manufacturer, and we use tap water, so we're hoping the savings really add up.
Well I do have a SBUX coffee budget but it includes only One Latte max per week – generally reserved for a weekend. SBUX VERONA is my all time favorite and I make sure my family knows..which means I will often get coffee and or gift cards to SBUX as gifts (that is the best frugal treat in town!)..I also brew in a small 4 cup coffee maker so I only brew what I drink and don't toss coffee..
Thanks!
Coffee loving Alex
I save on coffee by only buying regular black coffee when I go out and buy it, and not getting the foofy drinks with sugar/whipped cream/etc. I also drink coffee more often at work because they've got some pretty decent coffee, and it's free!
I buy coffee when its on sale and brew at home. Delicious :)
31337h4ck3r [at] gmail [dot] com
I save money by purchasing tea in bulk and brewing it at home in my own tumbler! no need for $3 cups of tea is all I'm saying :)
dreamzz12{at}aol{dot}com
I make espresso at home in a stovetop espresso pot found at a thrift store. I watch for sales on the brands of coffee I like. As for drinking coffee outside the home, for the past few years I have had a "Duetto" card that pays rewards in Starbucks cash, but I've recently been informed that this card program is being discontinued at the end of March. But I've had dozens of free drinks over the years thanks to this card. (Balance always paid in full, of course.)
I have limited going to Starbucks by only going at times I would be in the car for over an hour. I discovered that I didn't get annoyed with the traffic as much as I used to when I was sippin' on Starbucks :) My email is aliciamarie112 at hotmail dot com. Thanks!
My money sucking habit is my husband's smoking! I am way too cheap to smoke, because they cost a fortune, plus all the other bad features too… My husband spends about $5 a day on smokes! That is about $150 a month or $1800 a year! geesh!
onecheaplady@yahoo.com
I save on soda by buying 12 or 24 packs of my favourite (Coke!) when they're on sale, and then I throw one in my lunch bag rather than hitting the vending machines where they're more expensive.
prolvaag@aol.com
Starbucks is a huge treat for me, so I don't have to worry about spending too much on it. :)
Hit me up through the blog or twitter @foxytuner if I get lucky here. ;)
I only go to coffee shops when I have a gift card. I just brew coffee at home or drink water.
I try to keep some snacks in the car – hidden from the kids or they're gone. When I'm out running errands or shopping, I'm able to resist the fast food/snack $$ purchase. Often I get the big box of granola bars and hide a few (shhh.)
Before running errands, I try to remember some fruit and a full water bottle, even if it's not at all appealing when I get in the car. Often before I've gotten home, I'm happy to eat the snack. (sometimes also, I have something to share with someone standing at a corner asking for $$ – I'm happier handing over fruit/a granola bar than cash.)
I forgot to write in my comment….
… so by bringing my snacks/having snacks in the car & water, I don't stop for fast food/snacks on errands/while shopping.
BECAUSE stopping for snacks ALWAYS includes buying COFFEE and/or WATER too!
I save on coffee by using a French press, which means I don't need to buy filters. Also, I drink my coffee black, so I don't need to buy sweeteners or creamers.
@clulisa
who also bringings my home brewed (purchased in bulk at Costco coffee) in the car (along w/water and snacks)
and needs more coffee to include all that you requested in my comments…
i buy coffee at the store on sale, i dont buy out…i make it the way i like it. hazelnut and french vanilla mix..mmmm
zippy573 AT netscape DOT net
I make my own (tea) at home and at work. And when I'm out and about, there's always $1 brewed tea at McDonald's in our area.
I do love Starbucks but a Mocha-addiction doesn't come cheap. I asked for a Keurig for Christmas and I've been buying those K-Cups and making those when I'm in the mood for foo-foo coffee. We also buy a lot of Maxwell House for our regular coffee maker when it's on sale; I store them in the basement when I manage to find the canisters on sale for around $5. I make my own "Mocha" with Maxwell House and add some Hershey Syrup and ReddiWhip on top. It may not be Starbucks, but it carries me though a lot cheaper.
shel704 at aol dot com
We always buy Luzianne coffee which has chicory added. It costs the same as regular coffee, but you only you HALF as much and the flavor is fabulous.
I bought a frother to make foam-y drinks at home.
I made friends with the staff at my local starbucks. They haven't charged me for a coffee since 2005.
@pimpbob (twitter)
Little ways to cut spending?
Coffee – we buy the big tin of Tim Horton's coffee and brew it here at home.
gacynm at gmail dot com
I think it's too late to win the free coffee. Too bad. My home, too, goes through about 20oz of coffee in a few days ;-)
I've done away with my fancy water cooler at home, you know the one that you can add flavors to your water. I now use a pitcher with a built in filter. Saves me a ton
My method of saving on coffee wouldn't work for everyone, but here goes.
I have regular business travel to Bogota, Colombia. On each trip, I pick up ten to twenty pounds of coffee and bring it back for my family and friends. I used to purchase the Juan Valdez brand for about $10.00 per pound, but have recently switched to a no-name brand that is just as good for half the price.
Fresh Colombian coffee is the best in the world.
When I don't have access to my coffee pot, and I'm running to class I grab tea instead. I switched from coffee to tea…and with the hot brewed tea I just ask for an additional large water with no ice. Once Ive finished the tea, I pour the cold water into the cup and microwave until hot….two for the price of one, and I feel like I get my moneys worth.
I save on coffee by brewing it in a french press: never have to buy filters, never have to use electricity (unless I grind my own beans).
~Kristy @hishtafel
I am a huge chai tea latte fan, and Starbucks is one of the best. I have found that Oregon Chai that I can buy at all the local stores for $4.50 makes 6-8 cups of tea that tastes just as good. Since I'd already cut back to 3x per week, one box lasts about 2 weeks. This has saved me a ton over the last year.
mrsaharper(at)hotmail(dot)com
I started brewing at home, it's much cheaper than buying it every day!
clee009ATtampabayDOTrrDOTcom
I save by using coupons! I can't give up my coffee so I just buy it on sale with coupons. My guy likes the Starbucks, Seattle's best, etc… but I still find coupons for those too. I actually gave up pop because it was just too expensive and switched exclusively to coffee.
Coffee: I brew it at home, and I've cut back, so I don't need to spend as much on it.
Water: Good ole tap water. I'm lucky because I live on one of the Great Lakes, so the tap water tastes clean enough to drink on its own :) No well water here!
Well I am a coupon girl and I stock up when it is on sale and I have coupons. I always brew at home and take with me.
judyylee@hotmail.com
i make it at home and take a big jug with me to nurse all day thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net
*GIVEAWAY OVER* Congrats to the two lucky winners – Kevin from "Four Dollar Gas" and Miss Information! Enjoy :)
Stay tuned for other awesome giveaways coming up…