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2011-01-12

Spend less on coffee

There's a bank print ad right now that says the client doesn't want bank fees because their coffee is already a big enough expense. Man, that ad makes me angry.
One habit I miss as a result of trying to save money is buying coffee. I used to occasionally go to coffee shops and enjoy their wares. They could brew a good cup of coffee. The people were nice, it was a relaxing environment if I had time to sit but the coffee was expensive. I guess you were paying for the environment, the staff and the coffee.
House blend: 1.90ish

After that I started buying from a local bodega (what you might call a convenience store outside of the northeast US). It immediately cut that expense by more than half. BANG! I knew the counter guys and they knew how I liked my coffee.
Bodega coffee: 0.75

The tighter money got, the more EVERYTHING became up for review, including bodega coffee. How do you cut that expense even more? Make it at home. Near as I can tell, it doesn't go bad. It's one of those things you can buy in bulk and, if you really want, you can keep it in freezer. How cheap? Well, our local farmer's market sells it for $5 a pound including flavored and decaf flavored.
Stiles Farmer's Market 352 W 52nd St, Theater District
Even Dunkin' Donuts was doing $5 a pound recently if you bought 4.
Other places sell coffee for even cheaper.
In town, drug stores often have door crasher sales on coffee. At RiteAid, we bought a 2 pound tin for 5 or 6 dollars. That's $2.50 or $3 a pound.

Summary: Make your own coffee. Save at the farmer's market or through door crasher sales. Go in with friends if there's a minimum and you can't afford it. If you think you need coffee, there are cheaper ways. Good luck.

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