One expense on our list of cuts was Starbucks. While this may seem like a no-brainer for those contemplating what counts as a true necessity, for me, a trip to Starbucks can restore my sanity like nothing else can. When I put Starbucks on the chopping block at the start of the No Spend Challenge, my husband protested. I’m not sure if it was because he was trying to protect what is important to me or simply didn’t want to have to deal with the crazy person that emerges when I don’t get time and space to collect my thoughts. Either way, he argued in favor of keeping Starbucks on the list of necessary expenses.

However, I was insistent that the money could be better allocated by saving it. So we cut Starbucks from our budget with the agreement that we would bring it back if needed. I made it through January, February, and March without it. I definitely felt the loss, but I was making it. Then April hit and my life went into warp speed. The problem was the sheer chaos that entered my house and my daily routine. Between construction and kids, I couldn’t think straight. Without Starbucks as a retreat and “office” to focus on work, my sanity was quickly slipping away.

When my brothers and their families came to visit in May, I finally broke the fast and headed to Starbucks so I could get some work done. With 15 people in the house, I needed a place to clear my head and focus on work. Since then, I have been to Starbucks three more times to work. Finally, I am caught up and my mental state is thanking me. Because I work from home, and my home is a full and happening place, I need somewhere to go where I can be productive. Starbucks is that place.

Although we decided to add the expense to our list of necessities (in moderation), I learned a few lessons in my four months of abstinence. First, I can live without it. I learned new ways to work at home and tried out alternative locations like the library and a local bookstore. Second, not all atmospheres are created equal. It seemed like the Starbucks-like space should be easy to find elsewhere, but other environments did not prove to be as conducive to working as my local Starbucks. Finally, there are more ways to spend than money. Working at home usually takes me about twice as long to complete a task as working at Starbucks. There are a variety of reasons, but the bottom line is that it is more cost-effective in time and money to spend a few dollars on a drink and be more efficient.

Now that I have Starbucks again, my sanity is being restored. I am caught up on work and getting back to the projects that are important to me. It will cost me a few hundred dollars over the course of the year, but what I gain is worth much more. My husband is happy. As he says, the cost of a visit to Starbucks is cheap office space and well worth the price.

~ Alyse