Feed Your Coffee Habit and Still Maintain Your Budget

People the world over are addicted to their daily coffee.  And in the U.S., at anywhere from $2 and up per cup that means a whopping annual ding to your budget of over $750 if you indulge your coffee habit in that cozy coffee house down the street. Of course, it’s not an unhealthy habit, as many recent studies have show huge health benefits to drinking coffee.  Still, unless you’re free of money worries, you’d be well advised to rein in the cost and put the savings to better use.

Here are some options that you might use exclusively or in a mix that fits your lifestyle and taste buds.

Instant Coffee

If you’re trying to cut your coffee habit cost to the bare minimum, instant coffee is the way to go.  At only about seven cents per cup, you’d be hard pressed to find any beverage that’s cheaper.  Yes, there are some brands that are tolerably satisfying.  But if you have a gourmet taste, you may find this option objectionable.  It’s pretty unlikely you’ll find a coffee snob downing anything called “instant.”  You can also change your coffee routine by changing up the way you make your morning cup of coffee. It may interest you to take a barista course, get your own brewer, and make your own. This will allow you to make the perfect cup of coffee every time,

Home Brew

The upside of home brewed coffee is that there are a wide variety of grinds and flavors to choose from, and the cost is still tolerable at about 18 cents per cup on average.  But remember, that’s for a run-of-the-mill quality.  If you insist on higher end grinds, the per-cup cost can shoot up quickly, with some rare exotic blends coming at an astounding $20 per cup.

If you can keep your taste buds in check, this might be an option.  But of course it’s home brew, meaning it’s not high on convenience and ease of use.  So unless you work at home, this may not be an option.

K-Cups

Over the last few years, K-cups have become quite popular.  They’re super easy to use, portable enough to have a machine and use at the office, and come in a good variety of blends and flavors.  While they were a bit costly when first introduced, now you can get a great cup of coffee this way for as low as 46 cents per cup because it’s available from other sources and even online.  For example, you can order compatible Nespresso coffee online.  Fair trade minded? They’ve got you covered.  And you can get it from mild to strong, so there’s no shortage of options.

If you are one of those who savors the flavor and aroma of fresh brewed  coffee, this is a good way to save some money while still satisfying your craving for better than average coffee.

Rein In Your Coffee Habit Cost!

Sometimes it’s easy to let the little expenditures slip by and not notice how much they add up.  But seriously,  a little change in routine will pay off with some serious extra cash at the end of the year. So you get your coffee buzz on a budget!

 

 

Jackie LaMar

Beach lover. SoCal dweller. Life is never over unless you surrender. Keep going, the prize IS out there.