Starbucks problem

edinburgher

Get one of these beauties (commonly available for about a fiver):

http://www.smartcafe.co.uk/products/hot_cafetiere_mugs.asp

Then make yourself delicious coffee for a fraction of the cost in your own home. I drink organic Fairtrade coffee every day and it doesn't cost me more than £0.15 a mug. Sorry if I'm not meant to link to/recommend specific products, but I didn't think it'd be an issue in a thread that's already about a named coffee chain!

If you enjoy the ambience of sitting in the warm, cozy environment of the average scrupulously designed coffee house, think how much better it could be in the comfort of your own living room! Please remember that the coffee chains spend millions in marketing, design and interiors to keep you in their stores (and the fact that caffeine is physiologically addictive doesn't help either!)

Like others have said, your local library is a wonderful source of free books, newspapers, music and films and it's considerably cheaper to use than buying magazines from Borders Books etc. Most decent local authorities have their library catalogues online these days, meaning that you can check that the books are in stock before you go looking for them, or that you can order them from other local libraries for a very small charge (20-40p in my experience).

Don't worry, there are affordable ways to treat yourself and make you feel more in control

becky_rtw

Also try the demotivator tool on the main site - I was seriously ashamed when I worked out my yearly spend on S'bucks and the rest :eek:

So I got a gold cup top filter for my birthday (no faffing with papers ) and I buy luxury ground coffee from monmouths in seven dials once every two weeks or so (about £5 a bag) - yes you can get cheaper in a supermarket but this is amazing stuff and I never feel deprived drinking it - now I can breeze past S'bucks knowing my coffee is already at work

Broke_American_Chiquita

I just posted a long reply, but then I got a message telling me I have to sign in, when I already was... lost the post, so here goes again!...


Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I think the library is a good idea, especially to access newspapers and magazines. However, the problem that I find with my library is that some of the books, especially the reference books (like travel, for example) are really out of date. I recently took out a book from the library about the practicalities involved in moving to Paris and this was published in 1997 - which is the most recent one they had in stock! I also took out some French language learning books and silly me, I forgot to return them by date and hence have quite a large fine to pay (library is a bit off my beaten track!)....

I am thinking of investing (after saving first!) in a coffee machine, which would help me to stay in a lot more! The problem is that I am an outdoors type person and I need to go out at least once in the day, otherwise I go mad! I also love learning new things and trust me - I have been to every free museum that exists in London like a million and some more thousands of times! I know TFL from the back of mine hand (my friends call me the Travel for London Info bureau!) because I have traveled on every single line and bus/tram/river service that exists in London! Its quite amusing, really! I also know where all major department stores are and when and where their sales are! I know everything, because I spend my time traveling arouond London to keep myself busy and amused, whilst incorporating a stop at a nice Starbucks in central London. I love travel, but it is starting to get a bit over done now, so I need a new hobby!

I have always wanted to learn Arabic, so I might just go to the library and get one of those self teach books...

Thanks for your suggestions, everyone! Its nice to see others in the same boat (that smile is freaky )

Broke_American_Chiquita

Glad to know that you drink Fairtrade

I volunteer for them!

edinburgher wrote: »

Get one of these beauties (commonly available for about a fiver):

http://www.smartcafe.co.uk/products/hot_cafetiere_mugs.asp

Then make yourself delicious coffee for a fraction of the cost in your own home. I drink organic Fairtrade coffee every day and it doesn't cost me more than £0.15 a mug. Sorry if I'm not meant to link to/recommend specific products, but I didn't think it'd be an issue in a thread that's already about a named coffee chain!

If you enjoy the ambience of sitting in the warm, cozy environment of the average scrupulously designed coffee house, think how much better it could be in the comfort of your own living room! Please remember that the coffee chains spend millions in marketing, design and interiors to keep you in their stores (and the fact that caffeine is physiologically addictive doesn't help either!)

Like others have said, your local library is a wonderful source of free books, newspapers, music and films and it's considerably cheaper to use than buying magazines from Borders Books etc. Most decent local authorities have their library catalogues online these days, meaning that you can check that the books are in stock before you go looking for them, or that you can order them from other local libraries for a very small charge (20-40p in my experience).

Don't worry, there are affordable ways to treat yourself and make you feel more in control

Broke_American_Chiquita

See,. thats my problem. The freakin' frappa! You cant make it easily at home and if you can, it doesnt taste the same. Starbucks use a ready made coffee and syrup base and then blend it into ice (see how much of a Starbucks freak I am?!) to make the Frappa. As far as I know, this base cannot be purchased in supermarkets - they make them in the coffee shops especially for their cafe customers!

davetrousers wrote: »

A Frappuccino isn't really a coffee anyway. A once in a while treat is fine, it's when it becomes a regular thing that it really starts to cost lots.

Can you not have Starbucks Filter Coffee, you get 1 free refill with that?

Broke_American_Chiquita

I have a Loyalty card - sorry, i forgot to mention. It gives you free 'extra' like free extra shots of caramel flavor, etc. Shaves off about 40p from the price of the drink. Its not much, but I got the card because once activated you get a coupon in the mail entitling you to any free cup of coffee at Starbucks (I had the most expensive drink in Vente size!:))

cashless_wonder

If you are looking for cheap / free things to do in London town then I highly recommend the Time Out 1000 Things To Do In London for £10 book. All kinds of cool stuff a lot of it free !!!!!!!!

becky_rtw

Just had a thought...you could hot foot it stanfords for travel books and read the in their cafe (ssshhhh I didnt say that)

Its on Long Acre - it has maps too

becky_rtw

Here's the tool I was thinking of:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/stop-spending-budgeting-tool#demotivator

Go on it'll scare you!!!

Ames

Broke_American_Chiquita wrote: »

I have a Loyalty card - sorry, i forgot to mention. It gives you free 'extra' like free extra shots of caramel flavor, etc. Shaves off about 40p from the price of the drink. Its not much, but I got the card because once activated you get a coupon in the mail entitling you to any free cup of coffee at Starbucks (I had the most expensive drink in Vente size!:))

So did I!

You can buy bottles of the syrup in store to help make home made stuff taste more authentic.