Yea, I live in the US and I came from a poor immigrant family. The arguement about the true price of your 4 dollar coffee is lost on people. That's why poor immigrants typically rise in economic classes in the US and the folks who defend their poor purchasing habits stay locked in.

You buying the occasional overpriced, poorly made coffee doesn't hurt in the grand scheme of things. The compounding habit does. For whatever reason, a majority of Anglo saxons and anglo culture just dont understand compound interest in general. Maybe it's because western culture adopted Protestant ideals more than they think. My half jewish, half catholic background doesn't jive well I guess. Anyways, let's get into examples, shall we? And no, I won't get into the Lamborghini/Ferrari endgame. Italian cars are crappy anyways. They catch on fire too often.

3 dollar coffees a month, that's 90 bucks. I go through about a bag of coffee a month, at $15 a bag of BRCC, I only save 75 a month. That's only 900 a year extra I have by being slightly snobbish about my coffee routine (french press or cowboy coffee it). Let's also do your eating out example, because habits are not in a vacuum, they're holistic and systemic. Most things I would want to eat at a restaurant are 15 to 20 bucks. I won't get into a decent steak or seafood because that's too easy to prove my point. Let's do, I dont know, chicken alfredo, I made that a week ago while babysitting my buddies kids. I spent like 25 bucks, but that included popcorn and icecream. So 20? This fed a toddler, 6 yr old, preteen and my own fat ass, with enough left overs for lunch the next day for everyone. If we went out, that's 15 for me and then 15 for the preteen and then another 15 to split between the younger ones. So 45 bucks. 25 dollar savings. However, there would have been no left overs. So let's say an extra 20 in savings, 45. Alright, to get just me on the savings, I'm thinking about 6 adult portions. 7.50 in savings per meal for myself when I want a fully proper dinner on average. You say 3-5 times you eat out a week. 4 for an easy average. That's 30 a week, 120 a month, 1440 a year. My average savings for not eating out and drinking crappy coffee is $2,340 a year as a single guy. $195 a month. Thats the advertised payment of a new Jetta. Choosing to be at the whim of someone who brews coffee like shit and people who over charge for super simple meals or doing things myself.

Let's nix the car. Let's think opportunity cost. Are you really maximizing your extra 10 minutes saved ordering dinner? Are you reading earnings reports or geopolitical negotiations? Maybe the latest white paper for next 5 minute programming fad? No. You're watching netflix. Stfu. I watch netflix and cook. Well, that and audible and curiosity stream. I also buy lots of books. And I do the occasional masterclass and random course online.

That extra 2k a year isnt enough to be a market mover. It is however enough to invest in yourself pretty well. Which goes all the way back to my immigrant comment. Your philosophy is investing in the market. That's dumb as hell especially when you're young. My philosophy, and most immigrant families that pinch pennies, is about investing in yourself. I think most people agree that a person's greatest investment is themselves, not outside endeavours. So yea, is that overpriced cup of coffee worth not investing in yourself?