Comments on: $325 Cups of Coffee, or, Why The Latte Factor Matters http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html personal finance blog with anecdotes, advice and commentary. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:35:16 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Posco http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-156074 Posco Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:26:50 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-156074 LOL. Adding inflation to the formula changes it quite a bit, huh? So, come again: why does the Latte Factor matter? LOL. Adding inflation to the formula changes it quite a bit, huh? So, come again: why does the Latte Factor matter?

]]> By: thomas http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-154769 thomas Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:29:07 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-154769 We all know (or should) that sloppy spending can hurt your financial future. At the same time, a lot of people don't want to give up their "thing" or whatever it is. People can't be expected to invest everything they have and not enjoy something in life. Guilty pleasures don't always have to be guilty. The way I look at it, retirement is 20-25 years. You work for 40+. If that cup of coffee is going to put a smile on your face, then get it. You don't have to buy the latte every day, but you don't have to give it up either. We all know (or should) that sloppy spending can hurt your financial future. At the same time, a lot of people don’t want to give up their “thing” or whatever it is. People can’t be expected to invest everything they have and not enjoy something in life. Guilty pleasures don’t always have to be guilty.

The way I look at it, retirement is 20-25 years. You work for 40+. If that cup of coffee is going to put a smile on your face, then get it. You don’t have to buy the latte every day, but you don’t have to give it up either.

]]> By: Free Money Finance http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153989 Free Money Finance Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:20:06 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153989 <strong>Star Money Articles for the Week of September 10</strong> Here are some recent interesting posts from the MoneyBlogNetwork and beyond: No Credit Needed is on day 13 of 33 detailing how to save money and get out of debt. Get Rich Slowly details the shockwaves of a lifestyle change. Star Money Articles for the Week of September 10

Here are some recent interesting posts from the MoneyBlogNetwork and beyond: No Credit Needed is on day 13 of 33 detailing how to save money and get out of debt. Get Rich Slowly details the shockwaves of a lifestyle change.

]]> By: jim http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153833 jim Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:48:49 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153833 Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153830 Mrs. Micah Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:29:42 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153830 Well, I'm going to buy myself a $260 cup of coffee today anyway because it's my birthday. Specifically Seattle's Best Javakla with Oreo, small (my favorite!) approx $4. But this makes me appreciate even more that. Mr. Micah often drinks coffee, but he makes it @ home which is much much cheaper. Esp since he doesn't buy expensive coffee. I only buy it 2-3 times a month, on date nights. Anyway, good post. It's nice to know that the small amounts I save today will be worth something in the future...even hopefully with inflation. Well, I’m going to buy myself a $260 cup of coffee today anyway because it’s my birthday. Specifically Seattle’s Best Javakla with Oreo, small (my favorite!) approx $4. But this makes me appreciate even more that. Mr. Micah often drinks coffee, but he makes it @ home which is much much cheaper. Esp since he doesn’t buy expensive coffee.

I only buy it 2-3 times a month, on date nights.

Anyway, good post. It’s nice to know that the small amounts I save today will be worth something in the future…even hopefully with inflation.

]]> By: jim http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153561 jim Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:39:07 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153561 Yeah... $5 will be $25 in forty years (4% inflation) ... but still. :) Yeah… $5 will be $25 in forty years (4% inflation) … but still. :)

]]> By: Lazy Man http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153546 Lazy Man Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:36:04 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153546 The sad part is that the "little over $100" will only buy you a few cups of coffee in 40 years. Inflation hurts. The sad part is that the “little over $100″ will only buy you a few cups of coffee in 40 years. Inflation hurts.

]]> By: Meg http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153539 Meg Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:21:17 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153539 I never considered backing out the price of the coffee in light of it's potential gains. Sure makes me look at my cup differently! I think the main idea is to spend your burn money on something that genuinely improves your day to day quality of life. If that's a cup of $5 coffe, then fine. But maybe you can cut out the $15 in mindless purchases you buy at the gas station as you're filling up, the $4 muffin you get with that coffee, the $50 gym membership you use once a month, etc. Almost everyone has a latte factor they really could cut out with very little to no sacrifice whatsoever. It just takes awareness. And the $325 calculation definitly raises my awareness! I never considered backing out the price of the coffee in light of it’s potential gains. Sure makes me look at my cup differently! I think the main idea is to spend your burn money on something that genuinely improves your day to day quality of life. If that’s a cup of $5 coffe, then fine. But maybe you can cut out the $15 in mindless purchases you buy at the gas station as you’re filling up, the $4 muffin you get with that coffee, the $50 gym membership you use once a month, etc. Almost everyone has a latte factor they really could cut out with very little to no sacrifice whatsoever. It just takes awareness. And the $325 calculation definitly raises my awareness!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153533 Anonymous Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:05:01 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153533 I had an extended illness where I was in hospital two months and unable to work for a year after that and had a temporary disability income until I was able to return to work. I had an extended illness where I was in hospital two months and unable to work for a year after that and had a temporary disability income until I was able to return to work.

]]> By: jim http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153461 jim Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:48:31 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153461 Well, focus less on the coffee and you can replace it with something that you could conceivably cut out without significant downstream impact. :) Well, focus less on the coffee and you can replace it with something that you could conceivably cut out without significant downstream impact. :)

]]> By: aw http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153456 aw Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:27:06 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153456 Ditto on the 3rd comment. If you use your coffee break to socialize with your co-workers, discuss topics of the day, and to generally enhance your work and personal relationships, then you gain much more in value than the $5. Ditto on the 3rd comment. If you use your coffee break to socialize with your co-workers, discuss topics of the day, and to generally enhance your work and personal relationships, then you gain much more in value than the $5.

]]> By: Credit Withdrawal http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153447 Credit Withdrawal Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:34:05 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153447 I'm not so much a fan of the latte factor, as of the Automatic part of his spiel. Changing your habits only to be miserable isn't much of a gain, but automating all of your finances so you don't have to continually think about it is GREAT. I’m not so much a fan of the latte factor, as of the Automatic part of his spiel. Changing your habits only to be miserable isn’t much of a gain, but automating all of your finances so you don’t have to continually think about it is GREAT.

]]> By: Stock Market Beat http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153409 Stock Market Beat Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:59:32 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153409 One problem with your analysis - for me, at least, the $5 coffee (actually it's $2.10 since I don't do the lattes on most days - and even a latte is really $3.95) adds more than $5 to my productivity for the day. If I cut out the coffee, I would reduce my wealth in 40 years by the lower cumulative earnings, also compounded. Me + 40 years would also be even sicker of me if he had another 40 years of me sans coffee! One problem with your analysis – for me, at least, the $5 coffee (actually it’s $2.10 since I don’t do the lattes on most days – and even a latte is really $3.95) adds more than $5 to my productivity for the day. If I cut out the coffee, I would reduce my wealth in 40 years by the lower cumulative earnings, also compounded.

Me + 40 years would also be even sicker of me if he had another 40 years of me sans coffee!

]]> By: dong http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153406 dong Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:52:32 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153406 Minumum Wage, if you really had $595 to blow on David Bach, you're not doing better than I thought you were. That said, even though I can't stand David Bach's tired formula, my girlfriend who doesn't have any financial background really found "Smart Women Finish Rich" empowering and eye opening. Minumum Wage, if you really had $595 to blow on David Bach, you’re not doing better than I thought you were. That said, even though I can’t stand David Bach’s tired formula, my girlfriend who doesn’t have any financial background really found “Smart Women Finish Rich” empowering and eye opening.

]]> By: Minimum Wage http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html/comment-page-1#comment-153403 Minimum Wage Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:34:03 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/325-cups-of-coffee-or-why-the-latte-factor-matters.html#comment-153403 What about ther David Bach Factor? I once blew $595 (you read that right) on an 8-week series of weekly conference calls with David Bach and a bunch of others seeking financial wisdom. What about ther David Bach Factor? I once blew $595 (you read that right) on an 8-week series of weekly conference calls with David Bach and a bunch of others seeking financial wisdom.

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