Buy Yourself a Latte • Hacker News Board

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#211

Post by gjs278 » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 8:58 PM UTC

DoreenMichele wrote: post #177

knicholes wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which health issue does coffee treat?

Coffee (caffeine) is a stimulant. It's helpful for a lot of things that are routinely treated with stimulants. In my case, that generally means respiratory issues and allergies. People who drink a lot of coffee are probably self-medicating for something or other, possibly without realizing it. My coffee consumption always goes up when I'm exposed to more allergens. When it goes down, it's because I'm feeling better,…

you can get caffeine pills in the dollar store if a medical fix is needed but typically there are more targeted fixes for respiratory than caffeine

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#212

Post by codr7 » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 8:58 PM UTC

benj111 wrote: post #198

codr7 wrote: post #186

I grew up in a poor family, could never afford anything unless miracles happened, never went on any trips etc. I later scaled all the way up to much more than I needed as a software developer and lately I'm pretty much down to nothing. The main thing I learned over 42 years of going back and forth is that a warm place to sleep, good health, good food (and coffee) and nice, caring people are priceless. Money is the ul…

"Dropping $5 you don't have on overpriced coffee is proving that it has no power over you" Surely it depends on motivation? I wouldn't say money has power over me, but I want to be a responsible member of society, pay my own way etc, so I make sure I have money to buy coffee now and in the future. Whereas if you're buying overprice coffee with money you don't have, just to impress your mates, that think you're rich a…

Who said anything about impressing anyone? Why do you feel the need to attack me and put words in my mouth?

If I couldn't care less, how can someone have power over me?

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#213

Post by codr7 » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 9:00 PM UTC

bduerst wrote: post #210

codr7 wrote: post #186

I grew up in a poor family, could never afford anything unless miracles happened, never went on any trips etc. I later scaled all the way up to much more than I needed as a software developer and lately I'm pretty much down to nothing. The main thing I learned over 42 years of going back and forth is that a warm place to sleep, good health, good food (and coffee) and nice, caring people are priceless. Money is the ul…

Same for me, but on the flipside I would say that learning to be fastidious with disposable income and growing my wealth was something I had to learn about the hard way, since I never had any exposure to this type of planning when growing up. It's not really who controls who here, it's about knowing you're secure about the future while still enjoying the moment, even a latte. Maybe we're saying the same thing but in…

Life has a funny way of pulling the rug just to prove you wrong when it comes to security.

You are not your bank account.

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#214

Post by ThrustVectoring » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 9:00 PM UTC

"Buying yourself nice things" and "saving enough for retirement" aren't mutually exclusive for a lot of people. IMO, the way to go is to start off by figuring out how much you need to save, setting up your accounts to save that automatically, and then spending the rest guilt-free on whatever you want.

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#215

Post by sgt101 » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 9:03 PM UTC

Also you might die without any of the minor joy that a coffee might give you, and none of the benefit of the savings.

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#216

Post by HenryBemis » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 9:07 PM UTC

ThrustVectoring wrote: post #214

"Buying yourself nice things" and "saving enough for retirement" aren't mutually exclusive for a lot of people. IMO, the way to go is to start off by figuring out how much you need to save, setting up your accounts to save that automatically, and then spending the rest guilt-free on whatever you want.

It has to do with the intention. If someone is planning to redirect these £€$ 5 per day (150 per month, 1825 per year) on something else, e.g. algo forex trading with a safe 0.20% profit per day, then those 5-per-day will become 650k in 10 years. I like my coffee just as the next guy, but if 'depriving myself' from the daily coffee will help me get to my F.I.R.E. [1,2] ten years sooner, then I am dropping it.

By the way I have quit drinking coffee (only decaf) and juices, but it was more of a health-choice than a financial one. But of course everyone decides what to do with their £€$ 5-per-day :)

[1]: https://www.financialindependenceretireearly.com/

[2]: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financial-independence-...

Edit: also.. converting that 5-per-day to 650k in ten years, can make life SO MUCH easier when your kids will have to go to University.

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#217

Post by negamax » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 9:24 PM UTC

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #163

negamax wrote: post #53

Depends on the people $5 x 20 days = $100 a month = $1200 a year. That's not a small amount

One of his points is "Focus on large fixed costs, not small discretionary ones", so while that isn't a small amount, that might be half how much your mortgage costs a MONTH. Until you optimize the mortgage, the coffee is less of a concern.

Pay $1200 a year more towards the mortgage is pretty good financial decision

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#218

Post by jfk13 » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 9:26 PM UTC

setquk wrote: post #209

jfk13 wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone needs to buy in London or Oxford.

I don't want to live anywhere other than London.

OK, so that's your preference; yes, it'll cost you. (Personally, I wouldn't want to live in London even if it were cheaper than my current small-town location.) But please don't presume to speak for the UK in general just because you've picked a particularly expensive market.

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#219

Post by toomuchtodo » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 9:28 PM UTC

codr7 wrote: post #213

bduerst wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same for me, but on the flipside I would say that learning to be fastidious with disposable income and growing my wealth was something I had to learn about the hard way, since I never had any exposure to this type of planning when growing up. It's not really who controls who here, it's about knowing you're secure about the future while still enjoying the moment, even a latte. Maybe we're saying the same thing but in…

Life has a funny way of pulling the rug just to prove you wrong when it comes to security. You are not your bank account.

Money buys options. Options are freedom.

A bank account isn’t your self worth, but it is an extension of your reach. Sometimes that reach is necessary, crucial even.

Re: Buy Yourself a Latte

#220

Post by dyarosla » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 9:29 PM UTC

codr7 wrote: post #212

benj111 wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Dropping $5 you don't have on overpriced coffee is proving that it has no power over you" Surely it depends on motivation? I wouldn't say money has power over me, but I want to be a responsible member of society, pay my own way etc, so I make sure I have money to buy coffee now and in the future. Whereas if you're buying overprice coffee with money you don't have, just to impress your mates, that think you're rich a…

Who said anything about impressing anyone? Why do you feel the need to attack me and put words in my mouth? If I couldn't care less, how can someone have power over me?

I believe the parent comment to your post was speaking in generalities ( see the ‘if’ )- not misquoting you at all.