The Starbucks Decision

When trying to save money the first thing every expert will tell you is to quit Starbucks. And yes, it's true. My employer has an on site Starbucks that sucks me in almost every day. In my case, it's a social and caffeine related habit, it's not because I actually like Starbucks. In fact, I really hate the taste of Starbucks coffee. And yet, there I am every afternoon, standing in line to purchase the newest peppermint java or pumpkin spice latte.

So I did my own Starbucks calculation. $2.17 a day is what I tend to spend on a small coffee and my daily York patty indulgence. I work three days a week approximately 47 weeks a year. That comes out to $305.97 for the year or three weeks of donating $100 a week!

I now have a tiny coffee pot in my office and I love it. Every afternoon, I get to enjoy the smell and sound of the coffee percolating. My office neighbors are drawn in too, so I can retain the social aspect of the coffee ritual. The coffee pot cost me $20 (or my husband rather. A sweet gift from him).

Each week, I plan to implement one cost saving or simplification habit as a goal towards next year's giving project.

Happy Giving!

Let the Research Begin!

Hello and welcome to my blog!

While on a recent weekend vacation with my family, I had a dream that inspired this adventure. I woke up in the middle of the night with this "$100 a week" thing absolutely stuck in my head. I woke up my husband and told him about my plan. The next morning, he said he vaguely remembered me chatting about something, but thought I was talking in my sleep.

An so my plan was hatched. After a few years of inward struggles and depression, I decided that shifting my focus outward for a year would be a good experiment for me. $100 a week is not much in the scheme of things, but it is a significant commitment  for me and my part-time salary. It will involve much-needed cut-backs in my own life.

My company will match all contributions provided they are located in the United States or Puerto Rico, recognized as tax exempt by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and are not private foundations. Public schools are also included. I intend to make most of my contributions to these organizations, so I can take advantage of the match. However, there are certainly some organizations and groups that will not qualify for the match.

So in preparation for the beginning of 2012, I am gathering a list of organizations that I will be donating too. I welcome and appreciate any and all suggestions!

Happy Giving!