One middle-class budgeter had a cold brew of a wake-up call when they opened their finance app and realized their Starbucks habit had quietly snowballed into a four-digit expense.
"Just realized I spent $1,089 at Starbucks over the past 7 months. What the actual hell am I doing??" the Reddit user wrote, bewildered. "Somehow I went from $45 in January to $334 in April?? And then still dropped $237 in May even after trying to ‘cut back.' I basically have a coffee mortgage at this point."
Yes, a coffee mortgage. And they're not alone.
Don't Miss:
- Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Invest before it's too late.
- Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.
From drive-thru cold foams to double matcha oatmilk lattes, Americans love their Starbucks — maybe a little too much. In fact, nearly 50% of U.S. consumers picked Starbucks as their go-to brand, according to a 2023 Statista survey. That's not just a caffeine preference — that's loyalty with whipped cream on top.
The Redditor even attached a chart for "curious caffeine addicts," showing just how fast those $4 pick-me-ups morphed into twice-a-day $7 matchas. And the comments? A mix of confessions, judgment, and unsolicited frugal advice.
"No lie, it feels good when they don't even have to ask your name for the order anymore," one user said. "Signed, someone who isn't brave enough to see what they used to spend a year at Starbucks."
Today's Best Finance Deals
Trending: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.30/share!
Another was more blunt: "Have you considered learning to make the coffee you like at home? Even if your Starbucks drink of choice is one of their fancy lattes, you've spent more in the last 7 months than it costs to buy a really nice espresso machine."
That's a fair point — especially considering what some finance pros have to say. Suze Orman famously warned that your daily coffee habit could be tanking your financial future, once saying, "You are peeing $1 million down the drain" by buying coffee out instead of investing the money. Kevin O'Leary — Mr. Wonderful himself — called it "stupid" spending and swore he's never bought a cup of coffee in his life unless it came from his own kitchen.
See Also: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation.
To put it in perspective: $1,089 is roughly what some Americans pay in rent or utilities. That's a weekend getaway. A starter investment portfolio. Or yes, a top-tier espresso machine with enough money left over for fancy syrups and a milk frother.
So while no one's saying to ditch your favorite green straw forever, it might be worth asking: Are you sipping joy — or just swiping into autopilot?
Read Next:
- Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal: Invest in Cytonics and help disrupt a $390B Big Pharma stronghold.
- ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share with a $1000 minimum.
Image: Shutterstock
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
