September 3, 2014

{NO} Starbucks September



Ever since we've moved here, Starbucks has become a really regular thing for me.  I could blame it on a lot of things:  I'm tired.  I drive 20 minutes just to get to the store..I need a pick-me-up.  I get up at 5am. I need to pick up a drink on my way to work at 7am.  It's right there.  Convenient.  

I told Scott about my plan to avoid the 'bucks for a month and he said, "…so you're just going to stop at Green Beans instead?"  I hesitated a bit too long before I said no.  He laughed.  Green Beans is on base.  It's not the best in the latte department, so I see no need to stop there if I'm avoiding pricey coffee shops anyway.  The exception would be Panera because there is not a Panera even remotely near me or my school, so that might be not even be a possibility more than two times in a month anyway.

The problem is that I'm not really sensitive to caffeine in general.  I never have been.  It won't keep me awake at night and I think it might be the idea of it that gets me going in the morning, not the actual "drug".  I can't remember if I heard this from someone in real life or in blogland (sometimes the worlds collide), but a person told me, "Hey, maybe you should stop drinking so much coffee.  Then you wouldn't be so insensitive to the caffeine!".  Uh, no.  I don't think 1 cup of coffee a day qualifies as "so much".  Sometimes I have 2.  Heck, sometimes I don't have any.  I've actually been drinking a lot of jasmine tea lately.  Usually I have coffee when I get up in the morning and then sip tea on my way to work.  But I've noticed that (as was my pattern over the last few years) if I feel particularly exhausted on my way to work, I'll stop for a latte.  However, it doesn't even do much for me!  So what's the point?  If it's not Alaska-strong (I swear they made their Starbucks stronger up there), it's not worth it.

I know I need to go to bed earlier.  That's not what this post is about.  Frankly, sometimes I stop on the way home for a frappucino, especially if I have an appointment or errands to run.  Because I know the work doesn't stop when I get home.  This "project" of remodeling a house is a 24/7 job and sometimes just being here is stressful.

The cost of 3 lattes or frappucinos a week is like $12-15.  I could take that money and save it.  Or buy new boots.  Either/or.

Aside from that, the extra calories aren't something I'm into.  While my lifestyle isn't quite sedentary, the extra sugar isn't doing much for me.  I always order non-fat/no-whip, but I refuse to go the sugar-free syrup route.  Sugar-free syrup is terrible for you.  Therefore, I'm drinking away my calories.

So that's where we are.  No Starbucks for September.  I did this once, back in August 2012, and it worked out okay.

Anyone wanna join?

19 comments:

  1. I...I don't know the last time I had starbucks. Or any fancy latte drink. I shudder to think that it might have been on my birthday? Back at the beginning of June? And that was my first one in months and months. When I work at the coffee shop here, I just get a tea (you know, where they give you a cup of boiling water and you steep a bag) because 1) it's cheap and 2) tea doesn't irritate my stomach, and if I'm working I can't very well be having a stomach episode (my life is so awesome). I think you can do it. When I lived in CLT I operated on the "treat yourself" mindset and had starbucks on the regular! I drink regular coffee every day now and I really hardly miss the lattes at all.

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  2. Do you buy the Sbux coffee beans/grinds for your home? If so, keep the bags and take them in and they'll give you a free coffee each time you turn one in. That's how Keith goes to Sbux daily and saves money ;)

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  3. I'm such a Starbucks girl. I make it my Friday stop on the way home from work... Gotta have Peach Green Tea Lemonade while its there. It'll be gone in October & then I'll join you :)

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  4. I never get Starbucks. I'm too cheap.

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  5. I buy a lot of coffee on the go. Especially if I've already drank my allotment of water on the way in. I don't have a ton of vices - I rarely go to bars or happy hours so I figure I spend on coffee what others spend on their wine.

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  6. I only have a cup a day, whether it's at home, DD, or Starbucks. I don't seem to be sensitive either, and don't know if it's more mental than not. But I did curb my to-go coffees, and try mostly to stick to just brewing at home. Good Luck!

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  7. Yes! I will join you! I can only remember getting a drink at Starbucks one time and I didn't like it. So, I win already!

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  8. I'll do it! I've been meaning to do this for awhile. It's a great idea.

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  9. I don't drink starbucks all that often. I do have a gold card and I do get free drinks sometimes. I probably go about once or twice a week. I probably spend too much money on the drinks when I go but I do enjoy it. I'm sure you will be successful on your challenge and you'll get a new pair of boots. :o)

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  10. Caffeine doesn't bother me either! I definitely go to Starbucks for the Pumpkin Spice Latte and the Peppermint Mocha just because, but I wait until at least OCT 1 to indulge. In Alaska -- that was a different story -- I went to warm up!

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  11. Caffeine doesn't bother me either! I definitely go to Starbucks for the Pumpkin Spice Latte and the Peppermint Mocha just because, but I wait until at least OCT 1 to indulge. In Alaska -- that was a different story -- I went to warm up!

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  12. I've never found caffeine to affect me either. I don't drink coffee at all, but tea and pop randomly (I've been drinking a lot of tea the past few weeks because it's everywhere, unsurprisingly) and I never feel any difference. Not particularly helpful if I wanted something to wake me up!

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  13. I always get iced tea at Starbucks, nothing too crazy.

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  14. Good luck with your challenge!

    I don't drink coffee and the one time a week I go to Starbucks isn't a big deal (less than $3 for my venti tea). I'd probably go more if I didn't have to drive almost 15 minutes to get to the nearest one. So, I'm grateful for the small miracle that is living in the sticks.

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  15. Ohhh good luck with that! I'm not a coffee person so I don't have a problem with it... but my mom! She needs a no Starbucks month!

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  16. Well...I had Starbucks on Tuesday with my mom, so that was technically in September already.

    But I can't foresee myself going to Starbucks until at least Thanksgiving and that's IF we go to Juneau this year so, count me in. If I'm not already disqualified for having it once this week. Or the fact that we brew the grounds at home when we can get them on sale at the grocery store. ;)

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  17. I used to be addicted to Starbucks. It was a block away from where I worked so I would walk at least once a day if not twice to get my caffeine fix. Now, I work further away so I'm lucky if I get to go once a month. But, now I look at it as a treat not a necessity. You can do it!

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  18. I'll join... but I don't drink coffee anyway. Don't like the taste!

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  19. I would certainly join you, but I think the fact that I already don't stop at Starbucks or drink coffee would not be helpful to you. ;)

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