n the brand and quality.

Whichever one purchases, they are still going to have their caffeine budget under control simply by getting in the habit of, the night before work, taking a few seconds, grinding the beans, buttering their bagel and putting it in the fridge to heat, and having the coffee-maker (hopefully an auto-brew one) have the delicious fresh brew ready when the alarm goes off. Simply heat the bagel while pouring the coffee. The entire process takes up to two mi

The alarm clock rings. It's six a.m. We are too tired to make a pot of coffee but we know that Starbuck's or some other major chain will make it better than we can and heat up a bagel for just a few dollars more. We pay the cashier and we are on our way to work without a second thought about it.

This is the scenario of millions of American's daily, and I say so nonjudgmental I did it for years. Why did I stop?

Some friends tell me I'm cheap. I don't think I am. I just can sometimes justify reasons to pay more for convenience, but not when it is a whopping 1000% more per year for something I can do easily at home.

A large cup of cappuccino and a bagel. Sounds innocent enough. Maybe five to seven bucks including a dollar or so tip. Add that up daily, at a minimal, one has spent about $1700 per year or more likely over $2000 a year. The alternative? Waiting a few seconds for coffee, cappuccino or espresso to brew at home (set up the night before).

And the cost of the bagel is 1/6 what one pays having it prepared.

In both cases, if the shopper is prudent and purchases good bagels, the consumer is getting a better deal. A bag of six bagels is usually around a dollar or two at the most, in most major grocery chains.

If one knows gourmet coffee, and by now I know a little about it, the whole beans are no comparison to ground coffee. And ground coffee gets stale fast, even in the best of situations. Buying the whole bean is more economical, so much fresher tasting, you could do a blindfold test and the most novice of coffee drinkers can tell the difference. There really is no bitterness and it is so much easier on the taste buds. Plus it takes ten seconds to grind (and a good grinder is only about $70 or $80 with a lifetime guarantee.

There are all kinds of coffee makers, cappuccino makers, and espresso-makers on the market, generally running from $20-$500 depending on the brand and quality.

Whichever one purchases, they are still going to have their caffeine budget under control simply by getting in the habit of, the night before work, taking a few seconds, grinding the beans, buttering their bagel and putting it in the fridge to heat, and having the coffee-maker (hopefully an auto-brew one) have the delicious fresh brew ready when the alarm goes off. Simply heat the bagel while pouring the coffee. The entire process takes up to two min

can sometimes justify reasons to pay more for convenience, but not when it is a whopping 1000% more per year for something I can do easily at home.

A large cup of cappuccino and a bagel. Sounds innocent enough. Maybe five to seven bucks including a dollar or so tip. Add that up daily, at a minimal, one has spent about $1700 per year or more likely over $2000 a year. The alternative? Waiting a few seconds for coffee, cappuccino or espresso to brew at home (set up the night before).

And the cost of the bagel is 1/6 what one pays having it prepared.

In both cases, if the shopper is prudent and purchases good bagels, the consumer is getting a better deal. A bag of six bagels is usually around a dollar or two at the most, in most major grocery chains.

If one knows gourmet coffee, and by now I know a little about it, the whole beans are no comparison to ground coffee. And ground coffee gets stale fast, even in the best of situations. Buying the whole bean is more economical, so much fresher tasting, you could do a blindfold test and the most novice of coffee drinkers can tell the difference. There really is no bitterness and it is so much easier on the taste buds. Plus it takes ten seconds to grind (and a good grinder is only about $70 or $80 with a lifetime guarantee.

There are all kinds of coffee makers, cappuccino makers, and espresso-makers on the market, generally running from $20-$500 depending on the brand and quality.

Whichever one purchases, they are still going to have their caffeine budget under control simply by getting in the habit of, the night before work, taking a few seconds, grinding the beans, buttering their bagel and putting it in the fridge to heat, and having the coffee-maker (hopefully an auto-brew one) have the delicious fresh brew ready when the alarm goes off. Simply heat the bagel while pouring the coffee. The entire process takes up to two mi

ht before).

And the cost of the bagel is 1/6 what one pays having it prepared.

In both cases, if the shopper is prudent and purchases good bagels, the consumer is getting a better deal. A bag of six bagels is usually around a dollar or two at the most, in most major grocery chains.

If one knows gourmet coffee, and by now I know a little about it, the whole beans are no comparison to ground coffee. And ground coffee gets stale fast, even in the best of situations. Buying the whole bean is more economical, so much fresher tasting, you could do a blindfold test and the most novice of coffee drinkers can tell the difference. There really is no bitterness and it is so much easier on the taste buds. Plus it takes ten seconds to grind (and a good grinder is only about $70 or $80 with a lifetime guarantee.

There are all kinds of coffee makers, cappuccino makers, and espresso-makers on the market, generally running from $20-$500 depending on the brand and quality.

Whichever one purchases, they are still going to have their caffeine budget under control simply by getting in the habit of, the night before work, taking a few seconds, grinding the beans, buttering their bagel and putting it in the fridge to heat, and having the coffee-maker (hopefully an auto-brew one) have the delicious fresh brew ready when the alarm goes off. Simply heat the bagel while pouring the coffee. The entire process takes up to two mi

Buying the whole bean is more economical, so much fresher tasting, you could do a blindfold test and the most novice of coffee drinkers can tell the difference. There really is no bitterness and it is so much easier on the taste buds. Plus it takes ten seconds to grind (and a good grinder is only about $70 or $80 with a lifetime guarantee.

There are all kinds of coffee makers, cappuccino makers, and espresso-makers on the market, generally running from $20-$500 depending on the brand and quality.

Whichever one purchases, they are still going to have their caffeine budget under control simply by getting in the habit of, the night before work, taking a few seconds, grinding the beans, buttering their bagel and putting it in the fridge to heat, and having the coffee-maker (hopefully an auto-brew one) have the delicious fresh brew ready when the alarm goes off. Simply heat the bagel while pouring the coffee. The entire process takes up to two mi

n the brand and quality.

Whichever one purchases, they are still going to have their caffeine budget under control simply by getting in the habit of, the night before work, taking a few seconds, grinding the beans, buttering their bagel and putting it in the fridge to heat, and having the coffee-maker (hopefully an auto-brew one) have the delicious fresh brew ready when the alarm goes off. Simply heat the bagel while pouring the coffee. The entire process takes up to two minutes at the most.

Just by getting in the habit of this, one is saving about $4-6 dollars a day or close to $2000 a year, eating fresher bagels, and drinking much healthier or tasting coffee.

No, I have not boycotted Starbuck's or any other major chain. I still enjoy going there with friends. But we make it an occasional lunch or after work occasion. Most of us have gotten out of the habit of paying exorbitant prices for products that are so easy (and tastier to make at home).

The bottom line is, being a little conscious of one's spending habits, making the choice to modify them, and presto, you've got enough for a trip to Hawaii at the end of the year and drink some farm-fresh Kona while you're there! Hey, why not?