I have a sweet tooth to be reckoned with. I’m talking a serious sweet tooth. It’s the majority of the reason behind my weight gain over the last 10 years.
Of all my sugary weaknesses, ice cream probably ranks at the top. My current favorite is vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips, but I have been known to indulge in triple-chocolate swirl, peanut butter surprise, and Moose Tracks. But coming in at a close second is soda.
I’ll admit, I used to drink a lot more soda. In college, I survived on soda. My roommate and I would band together and buy a case of soda every week and split it. But as time grew on, that consumption also grew to two cases a week and sometimes more.
In all honesty, I’ve only recently cut back on soda. That action was part in due to wanting to lose weight, but also because I realized the monetary cost of buying so much soda. I still drink some soda and the costs are still apparent – even if it is less than it used to be.
I generally have a soda every day at work when I finally run out of coffee. Buying a soda there costs $0.50, so an average week costs me $3 (if we round up to account for “bad” days). Additionally, we usually buy a case of soda every time we make our monthly trip to Sam’s Club at an average of $6.50 per case after tax. Already, for one month’s worth of canned sodas, I’m spending just under $20 a month.
Then, you have to consider the times we go out to eat. We’ve been ordering water far more often, but we still endulge on an occasional soda. The average restaurant soda costs around $2 and we go out to eat about once every three weeks, so our average monthly cost for restaurant sodas is around $6.
That means we spend around $26 every month on those dangerously unhealthy carbinated beverages. In other words, we’re belching away $312 every year. To put that into perspective, that’s $100 more than our home equity payment or $12 more than our car payment or just a few dollars shy of our student loan payment. Instead of drinking soda (which has similar effects on the body as heroin), I could have shaved off three months worth of home equity payments over the last two years!
It’s amazing how the small, but easily-changeable things can add up over a year. I doubt I’ll change much more than I have (especially considering that I’m sipping a Diet Coke as I write this), but it is important to know the true cost of one’s choices. Yes, this is very similar to David Bach’s Latte Factor, but more in terms that I can understand since I’m not a latte drinker.
What are your little indulgences that add up quickly for you?
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I gave up soda a few years ago and it was one of the best things I could do for my health as well as for my wallet. I was drinking about 36-48oz a day and my body was suffering. Once I gave it up I replaced it with water and it was an incredible change in my energy level, moodiness, sleep, and a lot more. It obviously saved me a lot of cash as well – I recommend quitting to anyone!!
Caveman – I have a Diet Coke addiction. I have attempted to give some of it up and replace it with ice tea. Check out the link to the article I wrote about it on my blog. I think Sam’s Club gouges on pop (or soda) prices. I purchase all of our Diet Coke at CVS when they offer deals every few weeks. I also like Ice cream but could live with out it and only like it in the summer. Coffee is another vice, but not as serious as Diet Coke.
I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke, but I have a weakness for soft drinks. I started June with the best intentions of only drinking water for one month. I didn’t make it. The stresses of work towards the end of the month knocked me off the Coca-Cola-Free wagon. What can I say? It is my alcohol!
Besides the negative health impact, there are financial concerns as well, as I spent way too much on these things at stores, vending machines, and wherever else I get a get the craving for one. I really need to make it a priority to break this addiction.
After several attempts over the past decade and a half I have finally been successful in giving up soft drinks (Australian equivalent of Soda). I used to buy two cans a day at work, and a bottle and a can each day on the weekend. I have been free of soft drinks for 466 consecutive days and during this time the money I haven’t wasted is $1722.20 (I have a spreadsheet that tracks the days and money). This money has instead been used to pay off a verandah that was added to the rear of my house.
Why this attempt has been successful is three fold. 1) I set up a spreadsheet to track my commitment to being soft drink free, 2) I uesd the financial implications of continuing to waste money on soft drink as further mental leverage and 3) I mentally reinforce just how bad the soft drink would taste if I had one now (during previous attempts I noticed that soft drink would taste pretty nasty after at least five days of not having a soft drink).
I am using the same technique to reduce my consumption of “treat” foods with a fair degree of success. If I want something sweet I usually have a piece of fruit – I allow myself to only have “treat” foods on a Sunday and I have a written document outlining the amount I can have.
Giving up soft drinks is one of the best things I have ever done.
Congrats, Ben! I’m not looking to go soda free, but it was eye-opening how much can be spent over time.
I think your spreadsheet is a great idea. (I’m such a data and chart junkie.) Sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to effect a positive change in your life.