Breaking Up With Starbucks
I am not sure if you are one of those coffee people, who visit Starbucks every morning to start off the day. Not only I am one of those coffee people, but also I feel that I am in a serious relationship with Starbucks, if not married already. I go there twice a day to get my morning starter and afternoon treat. Even the horrifying amount of the calories and fat listed on Starbucks Nutrition chart don’t scare me away. I start to wonder if I am rather a Starbucks addict.
A couple of months ago, I noticed that I spent about 200+ dollars a month on that damn coffee shop. Boy, no wonder the first thing a financial planner tells you is to cut down your lattes. $2400 a year on coffee seems a bit ridiculous, not to mention the yearly consumption of 35,000+ calorie. So I jump started on my 2006 New Year Resolution and began my painful process to break up with Starbucks. As usual, every goal needs a plan to achieve, so does this one. Here is the list of actions I took:
- First thing I did was to get a Starbucks card and put a fix amount of money on it. I usually spend 50 bucks a week, so now I put 40 on it and let it run for a week. Then I gradually cut it down week after week.
- Instead of ordering grande, get a tall
- Instead of ordering the most expensive white mocha, I switched to vanilla latte and have white mocha only once a week
- Try to go to Starbucks only once a day. And I am telling you, this is the hardest part to accomplish.
Ok, it’s been 2 months now. How am I doing here…
- I put 30 dollars on the card and it can last me about a week and half.
- I can’t seem to cut down my daily Starbucks trips from 2 to 1, but I did manage to walk with my co-workers to the coffee shop and walk back with nothing in my hand.
- I switched my afternoon 4 dollar Frappuccino treat to a 2 dollar ice tea or ice coffee.
- I sometimes entirely skip coffee for a day and just drink free hot chocolate from the office break room or bring my own fruit passion tea bag.
I may not be able to totally break up with Starbucks. After all, it is a very lovely place with very lovely drinks. But I think every addiction is correctable if you set your goals and plans. But discipline is probably the most important ingredient even when you are dealing with a coffee shop.
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POSTED IN: Fabulous Coffee Break
7 opinions for Breaking Up With Starbucks
Ingrid
Nov 29, 2005 at 4:43 am
I broke up with Starbucks by moving abroad. The only Starbucks in France are in Paris. I’m still not over this. Someone needs to open a Starbucks in Lyon.
I have, however, found great coffee I can easily make at home. It’s kept me from jumping on the high speed train and paying 100€ to go to Paris and back for a damn caramel frap. Mmm…but how I miss them. ;)
Karine
Nov 29, 2005 at 5:00 am
I should look into opening a Starbucks, especially if regulars spend $200 a month there. Although in that case, location would be key.
Anthony
Nov 29, 2005 at 7:46 am
What a shame Starbucks manage their own stores, no franchisers allowed, except in Airports.
Not sure about outside of the US but I can imagine it would be the same.
I used to be like Christine going to Starbucks everyday, not spending as much as she was but still a lot. Then moving to London where there is stores everywhere except the town I am currently working has made it easier not go to Starbucks everyday except on weekends. Still need that Hot Chocolate Soya to kick start my weekends ;-)
What a gold mine Starbucks have :-)
Christine(Yuna)
Nov 29, 2005 at 9:45 am
“Coffee addiction” is still pretty easy to fix.. but this “Starbucks addiction” is sooooooo damn hard to kick away.
Now with the holiday menu, there are eggnog latte, pumpkin spice latte, peppermint mocha.. gee…talking about gold mine! I even spent 10 bucks buying a Startucks-New-York-Edition-Taxi-Driver-Joe teddy bear. $15!!!
Kenneth
May 4, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Accidently found your blog entry. Pretty much I started my “Starbucks addiction” since college. I know how it feels. At most, I went to the same Starbucks 3 times on the same day. Friends and co-workers all thought I only drunk Starbucks and nothing else. Anyway, I even got some other co-workers hooked with frappuccino.
It’s pretty crazy. Certainly, I can make my own coffee at home, but my mind just tells me it’s different.
I like you idea of setting a limit per week on the Starbucks card.
Kim
May 15, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Hi Kenneth — welcome.
I have moved on from the Starbuck’s thing and only buy coffee at my local deli or I drink tea.
Anne
Jun 3, 2006 at 6:27 pm
I’ve been like you around a few years back, but now I think i’ve managed to cut down my relationship with starbucks from being married with it to being only an acquaintance :)
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