the ultimate latte factor

[frugalfarmwife]

I know, I haven't posted in ages, bad me But I've been reading forever and been a good little frugal farmwife, saving and paying it down. This though I just had to share for the laugh factor.

I work retail, I don't have to work (I'm very lucky) I work to save for retirement and to pay the mortgage down, my job also helps keep me VERY fit.

But, big but, I witness financial blunders that blow my mind daily. However this is one I just had to share, it just shows the latte factor to a T!


I work with a young woman that is constantly whining she can't afford her bills, it's not fair, the government sucks, etc, etc, etc. She USED to drive me NUTS, stinking bonkers, until I put the "latte factor" to work for me at her expense

She feels she "deserves" a latte (literally, honestly I swear!) when she works, so she comes in with a $6.50 Starbucks every day she works (yep, brags about it). She also smokes and sneaks out the dock door every chance she gets to smoke. Also brags about how much her daddy makes, and how he helps her with her bills. She also comes in late every day, at least 10 minutes and also clocks out at least 5 minutes early, losing at least 15 minutes pay a day.

I made a decision, every time I saw her with a starbucks I put another $6.00 in savings, it added up quickly, so did my savings. I started this about 1 1/2 years ago. She no longer gets on my nerves, she now just amuses me and makes me enjoy working harder and asking the boss for more hours (I average 10 extra hours a week).

Just last week I walked onto the dock to see/hear her out the back door smoking a cig and drinking her latte (just 45 minutes after she'd clocked in, NOT break time) whining that her electric bill was 800 and she doesn't know how she's going to pay for it. I didn't say a word, I just smiled.

Why did I smile? Thanks to her I just paid my car off 21 months off early. Yep, the latte factor at work!

ff

[creditcardfree]

Great story....and if she only knew how you used her as motivation.

[thekid]

Imagine if you also did the same with the equivalent of her cigarette costs!

[twest]

Love it! I don't always understand people like that but you really worked it to your benefit. Way to go!

[SnoopyCool]

I LOVE it! I should do the same with a particular someone at my work.

[bjl584]

Nice. Unfortunately, that type of behavior is quite common. I'm sure most of us know someone just like her.

[Shaabenanizer]

Awesome!
At $6.50/day x 5 days/week x 4 weeks/month x 18 months = $2,340
Add cigarettes and that's easily $5,000 total. Whoa! Cut out those two vices for 18 months and one can easily take 2 European vacations, or pay off half of a sister's dental bill ;-)

[MonkeyMama]

Holy Cow! You can really buy a latte for $6.50??? {I don't drink coffee - though I definitely agree with the latte factor, I just thought some of the comments that it was "$5 a day" were a slight exaggeration}.

Yeesh! I think you just blew my mind.

Of course almost everyone I know is dirt broke and doesn't think twice about $6.50 lattes and cigarettes - that kind of stuff. I know we save several thousands a year without partaking in the same mindless spending.

[Nika]

Hmm... I live in NYC and do stop by Starbucks occasionally, and there are no $6.50 lattes here. $5.50 is the most expensive one. I wonder how it can be that it costs more some place less HCOL.

I do splurge on a coffee and a small almond croissant every morning at Pret a Manger -- they are $4.74 all together, and they give me a little pick me up before starting my day. My bills are paid though and my retirement is funded.

[thekid]

I'm an ex-smoker (quit close to 5 years ago). My addiction of around a pack a day would cost me upwards of $2,500 a year (that's like over 4 grand of salary at my marginal rate).

[thekid]

For coffee, I use a Tassimo machine. Costs roughly 0.50$ a coffee. They used to carry starbucks brand, but no longer do since last year. It's a compromise. Not as good as getting an actual starbucks, but much less expensive. More expensive than using instant, but much better tasting.

[ea1776]

For coffee, I use a Tassimo machine. Costs roughly 0.50$ a coffee. They used to carry starbucks brand, but no longer do since last year. It's a compromise. Not as good as getting an actual starbucks, but much less expensive. More expensive than using instant, but much better tasting.

i like thos Tassimo ones also. it's amazing someone would spend 6.50/day on a latte. you can easily buy a delicious organic free-trade pound of coffee beans for less than $10 and make it at home. And I'd bet anything it's going to be far more scrumptious than anything found at star-dud's.

[frugalfarmwife]

Yes she pays $6.50 for it, it's her "special" drink they make for her, 3 shots of this, 2 shots of that, etc, she can't drink just any drink you know. Actually it's not a latte, it's some special iced coffee but hey, had to use the latte factor, you know?

I would LOVE to tell her that she motivated me that way but the results would be pretty ugly, for some reason she's a certain managers pet and she'd find a way to turn it on me. It's better to just grin and keep on saving

BTW, hubby has one like this at work also so we have stories to share almost daily to shake our heads at.

And there's nothing at all wrong with enjoying a treat, IF you can afford it. Her treat is probably going to end up being the reason she ends up having to move back in with her dad (at 28 years old).

bb

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Did you determine what you had previously been spending your $6 on instead of saving it?

[fe2o3ez]

I would LOVE to tell her that she motivated me that way but the results would be pretty ugly, for some reason she's a certain managers pet and she'd find a way to turn it on me. It's better to just grin and keep on saving

I would think she must be somebody's pet to have the lousy work habits and be allowed to continue as an employee. Ah well, I suggest you share it on your (or her) last day at the employer - just for kicks. I know if I were in your shoes, I would love to see the reaction. She most likely wouldn't understand the impact, but maybe someday it would sink in.

Great story, though!! I will be sharing that one with some others that I know are trying to find direction.

Out of curiosity, does anyone have an idea what you would need to do to run up an $800 electric bill in a month? Seriously. What does it take? I live in the South (requiring lots of AC) and have had a couple houses in the ~3000 sqft range, have the usual array of HDTVs, video games, and electronics, and have never had an electric bill over maybe $250 or so. Maybe $275 one summer month. How does a person quadruple that?!