Guest Post: Is Pop Guzzling Your Budget?

photo © 2008 Alexander Kaiser | more info (via: Wylio)

This is a guest post from Plain Graces

My family is relatively new to couponing and frugality. One of the areas that we are trying to cut back is sodas and bottled beverages. Diet Coke is my Achilles heel, and I am addicted. I have probably had a Diet Coke every morning since 1993 (I know that it’s not a good thing). My husband drank pop continuously and there was always one occupying his hand. Our children pleaded for carbonated beverages at the store and if we drove by a gas station. We were a family enslaved by the bubbly goodness of soda pop.

Recognizing the Problem

I knew I had a problem when my 8 year old son proclaimed to the whole store that his mother is addicted to Diet Coke and gets headaches when she doesn’t get her caffeine. He then adds insult to injury, and spouts out that caffeine is a drug. Thanks DARE for that one. I had about 15 pairs of eyes looking at me; and I smiled and apologized. His words were true and I do have a problem. Our whole family had a problem.

We all know pop is very unhealthy. It is loaded with sugars, sodium, dyes, and artificial flavorings. It spikes your blood sugar and a few studies proclaim diet sodas cause kidney problems to overeating. Caffeine is technically a drug, but I haven’t gotten to the point where I could possibly give it up. Chasing after wee beasties all day with the daycare and juggling my family justifies my indulgence. Just let me have my caffeine. Besides being bad for your health, they cost a lot and the price keeps rising.

The Solution

My husband was the one who came up with the idea of cutting sodas. We looked over my receipts from the grocery store and he tallied his pop money from work. Together we spent close to $20 a week or more on pop. That’s a lot- imagine how many liters and ounces that is. I always put money into terms of milk- that bit of dough could buyalmost 7 gallons of milk! Something had to be done.

Together we developed different strategies and they both seem to work.

His Alternative

My husband has been wanting to cut caffeine out of his diet altogether. His plan was to buy single serve packets of drink mixes that you add to a bottle of water. He is planning on bicycling this summer with the Boy Scouts in the Black Hills for high adventure camping and wants to get in shape. These boxes come in many flavors and brands, but the ones we usually get have 8-10 packets in them for $1. He found them at Wal-mart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, the day old bread store, and Walgreens. I have found similar products at my grocery store, but the generics cost me about $2 a box. If you consider the 45 miles we have to drive to get to a Dollar Tree, the extradollar makes up for the gas money.
David’s idea is the most popular around these parts. Our boys, all 3 of them, enjoy the wide array of flavors and always ask if they can have a bottle of water. I refuse to buy bottled water. We have reusable bottles that we fill from the filter on the fridge. I loathe plastic bottles and am too cheap to pay for water. We have saved about $12 a week using this method. Not too shabby for a guy, huh?

My Alternative

My solution involves caffeine. I just couldn’t give it up. I embraced the iced tea route. Every morning I load up a jug of warm water and a handful of tea bags. Yes, a handful. I call it tea espresso. I don’t get my headaches and I am not full of artificial products that come in my diet soda. I buy generic tea and get about 100 small bags for $1. It works for me, but when I venture to town I still get a Diet Coke at the store or station. I am hanging my head in shame as I admit that, but maybe someday I will be able to kick the soda habit for good.
All these little cutbacks are starting to really add up. My husband has noticed he’s losing weight and is able to sleep better at night. I think my skin is healthier and I don’t crave so many sweets. We have a little more wiggle room in our grocery budget and I can buy more fruits, veggies, and meats. I am now able to stock up here and there when I swagger across a good sale. The boys are drinking more water. What more could I ask for?

Finally Free

Pop no longer has a spot on my grocery list. My husband isn’t scrounging in my purse daily looking for pop money and I don’t yearn for Diet Coke before 8 am. Pop isn’t guzzling our money or our health anymore.

Plain Graces is a mother of three boys who runs a daycare in rural Nebraska. It’s a place where everyday items become deliciously blessed.

Are you interested in guest posting on Family Friendly Frugality? Please email me heather @ familyfriendlyfrugality.com