Yesterday, I had a morning coffee date with a co-worker ($2). Then, because it was the first nice spring day in DC in almost a month, I absolutely needed an iced passion tea from Starbucks later in the afternoon ($3). Even as I write this, I’m sitting with an iced drink at a café near my apartment ($3.50).
None of these prices seem too extravagant—even combined, it’s still less than $10. But, confession: These aren’t the only times I’ve bought an unnecessary beverage, and they won’t be the last. If I spend, on average, $10 per week on superfluous items, that adds up to approximately $520 a year. Money I could spend on rent, student loans, doctor bills—things that actually need to be paid for.
I know, I know—you’ve heard it before: “Cut the cord from your favorite Frapp.” I’m not here to tell you to stop treating yourself (every once in a while), but if there comes a time you find yourself strapped for cash (um, hello, checking account, where’d you go?), there are some very simple ways to save some extra dough. And The Financial Diet is here to tell you how. My favorite tip? “Coupons are not just for crazy old ladies with 11 cats.”
