Skip to main content

Book Notes 1 - "The Good Life for Less"

I just started reading The Good Life for Less  by Amy Allen Clark.

I am still in the first chapter and have already found some amazing, simplistic ideas.  The kind that make you think "Why didn't I think of that!?"

As I continue through this book I plan to make some posts about some ideas that I find different, challenging, and hopefully helpful - for me AND for you!

The first that I came across was the idea of using the latte factor to your advantage.  It just so happens that this goes along wonderfully with the fact that I have given up Starbucks for Lent.... (only 39 days to go!).

Many of us have heard of the latte factor from different sources over the last few years.  It tries to show us how much our habits can end us costing us in the long run.  It is named after the fact that many people don't think about how much their latte is costing them down the road, they just hand over the $3.80 each morning.  A year down the road they have spent close to $600.00, only going 3 times a week..... think of how many times people go daily, or even a few times a day!  This same idea can be used with cigarettes, mani & pedis, drinking, eating out.... pretty much anything that you spend money on!



Now, back to the new take on the latte factor.  The author talks about how a guy she knew used the latte factor to pay off his car over a year early!
Not only did he cut out his own coffee breaks to save money, but every time his co-worker went out for coffee he would put the cost of a standard drink towards his car payment.  Over the course of a year and half the car was paid off, and he was using the money towards his next financial goal!  This is an amazing idea not only because of the money saving and debt reduction, but also because it is easier to pay attention to someone else's financial mishaps then it is to find your own.  This allows you to use the errors of someone else to realize your own bad habits, and help yourself out of debt in the mean time!

What ways can you update the latte factor to work best for you and your financial goals?  Do you have someone around you that you can use as a money saving muse?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Learning about Catering, and Myself!

Last week I was in Las Vegas, attending CaterSource Catering Convention. I learned so many things about myself, my work, and the people that I am surrounded by.  Some good and some bad, but all have helped me to realize more of what I want for my life. Over the last year I have realized how important it is to take the time to make these realizations.  I need to know the my strengths so I can keep them going.  I need to know my weaknesses so that I can work them.  I also need to know my goals.  Even if they are ever-changing goals, I still need to know them.  If I am walking through my days just hoping for the best then I never know if I get anywhere. I have realized that as much as I used to love doing surveys that I have now found them to tedious.  I would much rather be part of focus groups and interviews.  Not only do they make more money for my time investment, but they also do not take constant attention, whether it be daily or weekly. Last w...

A Week of Golf

In 2017 my team was tasked with exciting job of catering to the LPGA Marathon Classic for their week long golf tournament here in town.  We had less then 4 months to prepare, and we had never done anything on such a large scale before.  It was both exhilarating and terrifying, especially for an Enneagram 6 like me.  We are loyal and committed, but our biggest needs are security, and we fear not having the support and guidance needed.  What a way to walk into a task like this.   I was suddenly tasked with finding organizations to fill close to 200 shifts for concession stands, as well as around 75 employees to help me make this event a reality.  It took a lot of time, planning, questions, stress, and a roller coaster of emotions, but we did it!  It was amazing the feeling that you have after you accomplish something like that. Since then we have continued to receive this job each July, and each year has gotten a little easier.  We have ha...

Weekly Menu Plan

This week has already been changed around again and again from my husband being in town, to leaving, to coming home early, to leaving again, so the menu plan has been changing, but that is the great thing about having food in the pantry & freezer! Since I didn't get around to making "Cheese" Soup last week, I made it last night.  While it was an interesting batch of ingredients, it turned out to be quite delicious!  I will post my version of the recipe tomorrow! This week we plan to eat at work everyday for lunch, or to finish up leftovers from the fridge, so even less menu planning! For dinners I am making the following: Taco Salads "Cheese" Soup Loaded Nachos Steamed Vegetables and Crescent Rolls (My husband can live on vegetables alone!) This month is busy at work, and I am having company this weekend, and traveling next weekend so I won't be doing any freezer cooking for a little while, but I am hoping to do a few large freezer cooking s...