Now before we begin I would like to say that I am actually by NO MEANS a Starbucks addict. I’m merely a connoisseur of the #PrettyBasic lifestyle. Note, I once drank espresso in front of the Coliseum. That's real caffeine! See I may be basic but I have culture.
Yes I wear Lulus to the gym, obvi I carry my S’well everywhere I go, and ofc you’d never see without my DryBar flat iron in my travel bag, BUT I again observe and appreciate these things. I’m not fixed on them. I say this because having a gold card is a sure fire sign that Starbucks is getting a fair amount of one’s salary. But in my case, I actually have never been a gold member until now. And the only reason I’ve reached this point is actually thanks to the help of gift cards I got from my college graduation. Balancing my finances has been a part of adulting that I’ve had to take seriously since moving out of the 14456. (That’s Geneva’s area code.) Last week, I sat down and put on my smarty pants hat to get to work. After watching about 3 tutorials and skimming them appropriately, I opened up an excel file. With the help of my phone and bank’s app I started to document all of my recurring payments. From the date, to the name, and even the category it fell into, I built a cute and colorful record of what I pay monthly. You might be surprised, I know I was, but Starbucks was not breaking my bank. Full transparency here, I have some pretty amazing parents. Without them my salary would have been bled dry even before I started working. They have contributed more than I deserve, yes really, in setting me up for success. I don’t pay rent, I don’t worry about car insurance, and most notably, I don’t have student loans. I left college debt free. Having this blessing is just what it sounds like, a blessing. Because my parents have done so much to help me learn to manage my own money I knew that blowing it on iced coffees could not do. My repertoire of Starbucks orders is pretty extensive, like a grande light-iced-matcha iced tea lemonade like YUM, but honestly those aren’t my usual orders. Since college, my Starbucks order has limited itself to a grande iced coffee, no sweetener, and coconut milk. Yet, I only spring for the grande when I NEED that kick of caffeine. On most mornings, I brew loose leaf green tea at home. That’s major y’all. The same drink I make at home is roughly $2.45. Now if I got that maybe 3 times a week that would be almost $7.35 every week that I’m tossing away. I’m tossing that away because the same tin I buy at Tarjay of Teavana tea is like $6.00 and that gets me 15 whole packets!!! Now I totally don’t buy the jargon that avocado toast is what makes millennials poor. We all know that’s because of institutional forms of oppression. #GetWoke But I do believe that financial literacy and monitoring spending habits is something that as young people we should learn. Keep in mind, I got a C in college level math and I majored in writing. But basic arithmetic is something to value. Thanks public school! I was prompted to write this because when I got my mail my mom saw me open the envelope and she saw my gold card. She rolled her eyes and I knew what she was thinking. ‘He’s spending all his money there.’ Well mom, the truth is not really. I get my caffeine kick at home. The times that coffee crosses my mind are just when I really need a jumpstart for a good workout or when I know it’s gonna be a late day at some industry party or a star-studded screening. You know, just normal Will things. But even when I need CRACK, aka coffee, I find it easier to make it at home. This beats having to worry about waiting for 15 minutes in a drive through for a drink I could slurp down in 2 good sips. Thanks for icing me friends… I am a civilized person though, so yes, I use a Keurig. I could NEVER be those people who drink drip coffee. Like freezing my coffee grounds, I’m talking about you Allie H, and then putting my coffee to drip and sit all day, I gag thinking about that. I will rejoice in knowing I have joined an elite, and insane, crowd of people who think Starbucks is the shiiz. But this card is more a gimmick to me. I won’t be carrying it around with my other cards. Could you imagine how my Costco executive member card would feel being next to it? It could never take it seriously. PS if I really wanted a good cup of coffee I’d just go to Coffee Bean! #SorryNotSorry! |
Author William SamayoaMarketer by profession and storyteller by passion. L.A. raised, proud Latino, and pop culture enthusiast. Categories
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