Comments for Debt Sucks

Comment on Debt Sucks 2011 Year End Net Worth, Goals, Performance Omnibus by Evan

Evan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:57:29 +0000

What are you going to do to increase from 2.5k to 10K of side income? I think its time to use those skills you have!

Its been awesome watching you progress bro

Comment on On Coffee And Coffee Makers by Evan

Evan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:54:05 +0000

At home we have a Keurig (wife uses it at home) at the office we have a free Keurig so my cost is zero except when I stop at Starbucks for a double espresso con panna ($2 bucks and is it is AWESOME)

Comment on On Coffee And Coffee Makers by Bridget

Bridget — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:06:11 +0000

I have a french press ($20) that I use to make coffee every morning. A bag of coffee is generally between $12 to $16 depending on the brand, and will last me about 4 to 6 weeks. I still visit Starbucks 1 or 2 times per week, but I use mostly gift cards which I receive quite regularly (my birthday was November and then Christmas in December ensures I am fully stocked for awhile!) so it doesn’t cost me anything.

Recently I bought an espresso machine ($70) but it’s missing a part ($10). The espresso beans will be the same as above ($16). Milk I guess is like $2 and the creamers I buy regularly are about $3.

I’ve actually never compared the cost of making coffee vs. buying it. I’m pretty sure it’s cheaper at home. A coffee at Starbucks or another shop is about $2, which means a week’s worth costs as much as a month’s worth of coffee at home, and now that I’ll be able to make lattes….

Comment on On Coffee And Coffee Makers by Kara

Kara — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:07:53 +0000

French press + Boiling water + whole beans from costco (a 5lb bag of blue mtn whole bean coffee is $17)

I have an electric kettle that cost me $25
I have a coffee grinder that cost me $15
The French press was $35
I’ve had all of these items for more than 10 years, and if you count 2 cups a day for 10 years (not counting coffee I’ve made for guests or after dinner or on random cold rainy days), that comes to 7300 cups of coffee or an equipment cost (to date) of less than a penny per cup. Since I plan on keeping these items for at least another 10 years, I’m figuring equipment cost is negligible.

So really, my $17 bag of coffee lasts me about 2 months, or 120 cups of coffee – which is $0.14 per cup.

(And as you said, this is a real cup, not an 8 oz cup. I think my morning mug holds 14 oz and I fill it on average 2x.)

Comment on On Coffee And Coffee Makers by JoeTaxpayer

JoeTaxpayer — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:30:48 +0000

I make it by the pot and refrigerate what I don’t immediately drink.
I get 5 pots to the pound, and despite the “12 cup” maker, it’s 4 big mugs. So 20 cups to a pound.
At Costco, coffee runs about $3-4 lb, or 20 cents a cup, tops. The 6 cent Kurig still beats the $4 Starbucks, but these numbers still add up.

Comment on On Coffee And Coffee Makers by Gus

Gus — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:01:22 +0000

Bit different where I live, but I have an aeropress. Rough costs are:
Espresso from cheap cafe – $2.50-3
Typical cafe – $3.50-4
Aeropress – about 30-40c + $35 for the press.
Nespresso (like kerig I guess) – about $1.0 + $150-300 for machine.
Instant (nescafe etc) – maybe 10c? haven’t drunk it in a while.

Comment on Debt Sucks 2011 Year End Net Worth, Goals, Performance Omnibus by Bear

Bear — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:15:55 +0000

I just came across your site (New Years links and all of that) and wanted to add the contrary voice that you shouldn’t neglect your savings, esp. in this economy. The thing is that you can always drop back to minimum payments on your debt but if you need cash you may be SOL. You can’t assume you can always pick up some extra work – maybe you were seriously injured in an accident or there was a major local trauma (earthquake, hurricane, etc) and the economy has cratered, etc. I think every one of my friends and myself (all middle-aged) have been there at least once. It happens to everyone.

I don’t have your detailed numbers but maybe six months of expenses (not income) in savings by the end of the year? If that means you have to push off debt payoff so be it.

The other point is that not all debt is created equal – student loans are extremely nasty if things get ugly… and see point above. Maybe things have gotten better (ha!) but when my friends and I discussed this a while back every single one of us – EVERYONE – had had student loan processors “lose” payments or suddenly had additional loans appear on our accounts or claim we left school a year earlier than we did and we owed more in interest, etc. EVERYONE. When we called they were indifferent about even looking into the problem. Why should they be? They knew you would ultimately have to pay whatever they claimed you owed because the consequences of default were too dire.

Bottom line is that student loans are necessary but they’re also extremely toxic. Some people claim that paying them off first should be your highest priority. I don’t go quite that far but I definitely wouldn’t treat them the same as other debt in the ladder, esp. if I didn’t have robust savings.

Comment on Debt Sucks 2011 Year End Net Worth, Goals, Performance Omnibus by Stevie

Stevie — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:23:52 +0000

How do you create these graphics? I would love to use such a tool for my financial planning, with the visual elements. Any ideas are appreciated.

Comment on Debt Sucks 2011 Year End Net Worth, Goals, Performance Omnibus by Jake

Jake — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:00:49 +0000

Funny you say that, Joe. I was going through some drawers last night, and ended up with a certificate and a tax return sitting on my printer, waiting to be scanned. I also thought as I went to bed, “hey, maybe I should just scan *everything* I can…”

I also ended up with a quickly full trash can, which kinda killed my enthusiasm.

Comment on Debt Sucks 2011 Year End Net Worth, Goals, Performance Omnibus by Jake

Jake — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:57:38 +0000

Oh Holly, you flatter me!