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The $5 Latte


I recently read a book where the author mentioned how the "$5 Latte" is the most attacked "clique" when it comes to cutting down on your spending. If you've read very many books, blog posts or articles about cutting back on unnecessary expenses, you've probably read where the first step is to cut back on spending $5 in the morning for coffee at your local (or chain) coffee shop and make some coffee at home. This particular author's take was that "what if the $5 Latte actually gives you a small break in your day, allowing you to get pumped up and more excited for work...thereby being more productive and go further in your career (with an assumed pay raise associate with it). Her argument is that in that scenario...the $5 is actually worth it when you look at the overall career advancement, satisfaction, and income over your lifetime. 

Interesting thought...I'm not entirely buying it. 

I rarely, if ever go out and buy a latte without it being a social or business meet-up. I know I could so easily fall into this habit...spending $5 here and there and never stopping...spending hundred of dollars a month.

There are a few times, where I need to get away...and the coffee shop (almost always Starbucks) can truly be a sanctuary. I completely understand that. Once this month I walked over to Starbucks, got my first Chai Tea Latte since I stopped working at Starbucks (in law school) and sat back down at my desk and loved every minute of it. Honestly, the walk itself over there probably was just as good of a stress reliever than the latte. 

However, the reality is, there are other ways to find a release than spending money...and going down that road is just going to get you into even more trouble. For example, try a walk. That is one thing I learned quickly at my new job.... people here LOVE to walk. I have a meeting with my boss where we talk and walk the halls, most people keep a pair of tennis shoes in their desk, some people make sure to walk the 14 flights of stairs each day (take the elevators back down and will do it again). Personally, I use our treadmill room at work to keep working on my computer while walking an hour each day, you've got to get up and get moving no matter where you work.

I completely dread going on a walk some days, and would much rather sit at my desk...so it doesn't give you the instant gratification of going over to Starbucks to take a break (also a terrible temptation  for me since we have Starbucks in our building). But when you get back to your desk after walking, I always feel better...more relaxed...and it didn't cost me a dime.

Consider meditation, yoga (I tried this and just couldn't get into the relaxing head space I needed to be in to enjoy this form of exercise), learn to enjoy a good cup of tea (tea bags cost just pennies when you think about it!). Honestly sometimes on my lunch break I pull up last night's episode of "New Girl" or "Mindy Project" and just let my mind think of anything else but work. There certainly is a lot of good about taking a break to rejuvenate yourself...but to justify spending $5 every day on a latte...seems like a bad path to go down if you're trying to be budget friendly! 
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