Tea Bags

I keep a box of tea bags in my car. When I put them there, I had this grandiose idea that I would never spend another penny on a coffee or tea outside of the house. I wouldn't pay the high markup on hot beverages.

Two months later, the tea box only has a few bags missing. As much as I tried to make it convenient (I didn't go as far as adding a hot water dispenser in my dash), it's just too much of a hassle to get out one tea bag, wait in line, and ask for a cup of hot water. Whenever I do this, the clerk behind the counter gives me a vacant look as though I were speaking another language. He'll then ask one of his colleagues which button to press for the hot water and it'll be a learning experience for everyone.

At places like Tim Hortons, they'll usually give me the hot water for free or charge me a quarter, or even $0.27 for the cup. Smaller, ma and pa operated franchises will be militant. "No," they answer in disgust, "we'll have to charge you for a tea!"

"But I don't want a tea, just some hot water in a cup."

"No, that'll be $1.50."

This usually results in me boycotting the establishment for life.

There's something about gripping a warm cup while comparing prices that's viscerally comforting. Most of the time, coffee is my preferred beverage outside the home. Very rarely will I purchase tea at a cafe. So, with all the fuss, maybe one out of 10 times when I'm out I'll use the tea bag.

Still, 10% of the time, I spend a dollar less on my warm cup experience. That translates into $30/year in accrued wealth. Secondly, whenever I do use that tea bag, I think of how I'm saving and that fills me with another warm feeling.

The point: keep the instruments of thriftiness close by. You don't have to stock your car with tea bags, just make sure that you're paying less markup.