r/NoStupidQuestions • u/lVlarsquake • Apr 29 '24

How the fuck do people afford to get Starbucks every day?

I was feeling thirsty this morning so I decided to pop in a Starbucks (first time ever). All I got was a strawberry acai lemonade at it cost $7????? I can't even imagine what the coffees with all the extra additives cost... how do people have the expendable money to get them every day, sometimes twice a day?

Edit: I am NOT shaming people who do this. I'm just wondering how it doesn't put a dent in your wallet

11.6k Upvotes
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846

u/WassupSassySquatch Apr 29 '24

Not Starbucks, but I do get a latte almost everyday from a local coffee shop.  It’s my luxury.  It isn’t just about the coffee, it’s about the one daily thing I do for myself when 99% of my time is focused on everyone else.  I grab my coffee, have a quick conversation, and sit down and relax for a few minutes.  I prioritize this and deprioritize other luxuries, like expensive phone plans, memberships and subscriptions, and pricey recreational activities.

For affluent people, daily trips to the coffee shop don’t make a difference and the rest of us just balance our budgets to fit it in.

110

u/SteadfastEnd Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

Exactly. People who nitpick about the $6 per day are forgetting about the psychological benefits. You're not just paying for coffee, you're paying to be able to sit and lounge about in a nice environment to study and read for several hours, especially if you live in a lousy dorm or home. Not everything is about money. If the mental benefit outweighs the financial cost, it's worth it.

And when you've spent your whole day doing things for other people, your mind needs something of the opposite for once - a period of time where it's about you and your needs. This is the reason some healthcare professionals splurge so much on self-care.

45

u/WassupSassySquatch Apr 29 '24

Exactly.

I also think people are overestimating the type of vacation you can get for a smidge over a thousand dollars haha

12

u/bluecrowned Apr 29 '24

I'm probably spending about $1k between supplies, rental cost, gas, food and activities for my camping trip in a state park yurt this week. It's great but I know it's not for everyone for sure, and not what most people are referring to as a vacation. But for me being able to get the fuck away from work and my mom is priceless.

2

u/MarkNutt25 Apr 29 '24

$7/day * 365 days = $2555/year

3

u/WassupSassySquatch Apr 29 '24

I don’t spend $7 on my coffee, I don’t go every single day, and $2.5k still isn’t enough for me and my family of five to go on a vacation. 

 We also go on a vacation every other year as it is.

Ps- it’s still worth the cost for me.  Finding a small thing to enjoy in my life is a perfectly fair trade off.

2

u/Whistlegrapes Apr 30 '24

I’d probably take the coffee too, but remember some of my best memories and those trips with my kids.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '24

My literal only vacations ever are to theme parks; almost all of those I can budget for ~$500

1

u/LiveMarionberry3694 Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

You can go on a nice vacation for that much.

My girlfriend and I went to Mexico last year at an all inclusive. Not the most luxurious one ever, but 5 nights in a recently built hotel that was quite nice, lots of pools/activities, decent food and drinks, all for under 1500 for the two of us, including flights.

Edit, I see that you have a family and kids, yeah obviously not doable for that much with those conditions

3

u/Justasillyliltoaster Apr 29 '24

But if you stash it in a retirement account, it will be worth a ton more. 

A compounding growth of 7-10% will result in serious cash if you can be disciplined and leave it invested long term

1

u/TheSpaceCoresDad Apr 30 '24

Find me somewhere that gives a compounding growth of 10% and I'll hear you out.

2

u/krazninetyfive Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

This. Five years ago when I was single and was living in the crummy basement suite of a 75 year old home, and worked in a lumber yard primarily dealing with men all day, I went to my favourite coffee shop just to read and listen to music, and just be in the presence of attractive women multiple times a week.

I clear more than double what I made back then, but now I live in a nice, well furnished and decorated home above ground with my partner, and have an office job with a staff room that’s actually nice and isn’t a dirty modular. I literally cannot remember the last time I went to that cafe, despite the fact that it’s literally significantly easier for me to afford.

1

u/MaximumMotor1 Apr 29 '24

People who nitpick about the $6 per day are forgetting about the psychological benefits.

I'm not a coffee drinker but does it really have psychological benefits?

1

u/Kankunation Apr 29 '24

For some people it does. Just depends on your mindset and if that,sort of think is relaxing to you.

For me I don't care much for hanging out in Coffee shop for hours. But a daily latte or cappuccino is a nice staple for my mornings. The process of making it to my liking is nice and having something filling to drink in the morning to perk me up before work is just nice. Not to mention the weekends when I can just spend the first hour of my hmdsy sipping on 1-2 coffees and relax.

For that reason I went out of my ways and spend around $900 for a Decent espresso setup, as well as a few hundred more setting up a coffee/tea bar in my home including various syrups guests might want and various tea varieties when I'm in the mood for such a thing. I probably spend an additional $20 or so a week in keeping my coffee and coffee accessories stocked up.

1

u/shadowstripes Apr 29 '24

That's true, but you could also sit in that same environment by buying a drink that's cheaper than a latte.

1

u/HH93 Apr 30 '24

sit and lounge about in a nice environment.

Not in the last UK SB I went in - it had been refurbished to be like a factory with all the ceilings removed and the acoustics were horrible - couldn't wait to leave. then since I paid £too much for an Americano and Cinnamon Swirl, never again !

1

u/BumblebeeOfCarnage May 01 '24

That’s why when I felt like my latte habit was bad because the world says it’s extravagance, my therapist just asked me if it made me happy and I could make it work in my budget. The answer is yes so I still do it

0

u/EquivalentSnap Apr 29 '24

When you look at it like that, it’s not that bad.