"Like lots of
ladies, I love the delicious hot coffee beverages from Starbuck's,
but I don't like the high prices. Last April, my local grocery had a
clearance sale on individual packets of flavored gourmet hot
chocolate mix -- only 10 cents each for packets of cinnamon,
hazelnut, or mint hot chocolate. I bought a supply, and now when I
want a flavored coffee drink, I just mix 1 packet of the hot
chocolate mix with hot coffee..... not quite a latte or cappuccino,
but very delicious and the price is perfect!" ~ Anonymous
"Same basic premise as cold drinks in the summer: it's cheaper by
far to make your own at home. We have an assortment of travel mugs to
take coffee, tea or cocoa on the road. I have always put morning
coffee in the thermos to keep it warm at home. I recently bought my
daughter a small stainless steel thermos to fill with tea for an
afternoon pick-me-up after school and her afternoon job. For that one,
I warm the bottle with hot water, dump out that water, put a tea bag
in the bottle, and fill the bottle with boiling
water, taking out the teabag after about three minutes. It stays
warm all day that way. I bought the bottle and a travel cup as a set
on a promo sale at the discount sporting goods store.
As far as WHAT to put in those mugs, we buy coffee beans at Costco and
grind and brew our own coffee. I have made my own cocoa mix but I
think the cost is about the same and the results are more satisfactory
to buy the large tin of cocoa mix at Costco. We keep a variety of teas
on hand and get them at various places. Our favorite grocery store
usually has a store brand of tea in various flavors for $1 for 16 tea
bags. My daughter enjoys chamomile tea in the evenings and I buy that
when it's on sale at the health food store. We leave relatively near
to Canada so when someone is going up there we have them get tea,
either bags or bulk. The bags aren't much cheaper than they are here
but the quality is very high. I sometimes buy instant cappuccino
packets at the dollar store. My husband occasionally enjoys
something other
than coffee or tea; we can find a close cousin to Postum in the health
food department of the grocery store.
Occasionally we do treat ourselves to a coffee stand drink, generally
using a discount coupon. These come in coupon books such as
Entertainment or in the mail in the books and envelopes of local
merchant coupons." ~ Christy M.
Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to share
his or her ideas!
