How (not) to save for retirement

[PanthersATL]

As seen in https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/10/business/starbucks-shortages.html 

Quote

Fred Rogers knew something was wrong right before Memorial Day weekend when he opened his Starbucks app and an alert flashed that the company was experiencing shortages of certain items. He wasn’t able to order his 3-year-old daughter her favorite sandwich — sausage, Cheddar and egg — from his nearby Starbucks in Burlington, N.J. His drink, a Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino, was also not available.

This 33-year-old is treating his 3yo with a $5 Starbucks sandwich to go with his own $5 coffee habit. No word on whether she's also getting a coffee order, or how often they make this trip.  If it's once a week as a Sunday morning treat, that's one thing. If it's every day, then we have a problem.

Most retirement stories talk about how you should stop (minimize) ordering out the fancy coffees. What isn't talked about are stories like this one that bring up how young parents are also using their expendable(?) money to treat their children to the Starbucks experience when the kids could possibly be perfectly happy with a Pop-Tart or Breakfast Hot Pocket at home instead. 

[LinvilleGorge]

For all you know though, Fred Rogers might make $200k a year while living well within his means and Starbucks is just his favorite indulgence.

If you lived exactly like your retirement advisor would like, you'd live a miserable life. The only thing you're guaranteed in this life is the present. You gotta plan and prepare for the future, but you also have to let yourself live a little in the present. If having the occasional cheap breakfast out with your daughter causes you financial grief tbecause you spent $10 that could've gone toward retirement then I honestly feel sorry for you.

[Happy Panther]

Somebody spent $10 is all the information I could glean from this article. As far as it relates to retirement.

[PootieNunu]

4 hours ago, Happy Panther said:

Somebody spent $10 is all the information I could glean from this article. As far as it relates to retirement.

Regular people are not supposed to "splurge" like this.....

Its only ok for rich people to splurge on stuff for other rich people.....

This guy should know to stay in his place!

/s

[Ja Rhule]

Few years back both wife and I worked in uptown and it was our daily habit to meet for coffee in the am (we drove separately). We definitely spent over $50 a week on Starbucks.  But we almost never went out for lunch or dinner (kids and busy jobs… eat lunch at the desk) so Starbucks was our mini date every day.

Edited June 11, 2021 by Ja Rhule

[cookinbrak]

5 bucks for a microwave biscuit from Cisco. Whitey be trippin'.

< Never visited Starbucks

[Anybodyhome]

9 hours ago, cookinbrak said:

5 bucks for a microwave biscuit from Cisco. Whitey be trippin'.

< Never visited Starbucks

FTW.

Well done and the funniest thing I've read all week!

[Brooklyn 3.0]

On 6/10/2021 at 2:21 PM, PanthersATL said:

As seen in https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/10/business/starbucks-shortages.html 

This 33-year-old is treating his 3yo with a $5 Starbucks sandwich to go with his own $5 coffee habit. No word on whether she's also getting a coffee order, or how often they make this trip.  If it's once a week as a Sunday morning treat, that's one thing. If it's every day, then we have a problem.

Most retirement stories talk about how you should stop (minimize) ordering out the fancy coffees. What isn't talked about are stories like this one that bring up how young parents are also using their expendable(?) money to treat their children to the Starbucks experience when the kids could possibly be perfectly happy with a Pop-Tart or Breakfast Hot Pocket at home instead. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KatsAzz]

Starbucks is hardly the only company struggling with supply issues. Earlier this spring, ketchup packets became hotter than GameStop stock.

Automakers have slowed production because there are not enough computer chips for their vehicles. And homeowners are waiting weeks, if not months, for major kitchen appliances.

[Davidson Deac II]

Last time I met with my financial advisor, she was drinking starbucks.  

This thread does remind me of a guy I worked with a few years ago.  He complained to high heaven about people wasting their money on Starbucks five dollar coffee.  Then he would hit his favorite watering hole and spend similar amounts on craft beer.  

I don't have any problem with people spending money at Starbucks or on craft beer.  Most of us can afford it and still set aside for retirement.  But almost all of us spend money on things we don't need.  No point in singling out others who spend it on things we don't like.  Personally, if I had taken all the money I spent on the Panthers over the years and instead invested it, my portfolio would be a lot larger.  

[PanthersATL]

Taking a step back from the money piece -- any commentary on whether a 3 year old should have a "favorite sandwich", and that it's from Starbucks?