I have picked up a habit of having a daily cappuccino, and a few months into this new habit it is definitely having an impact on the waistline.
I realised I have to start cutting back, but what really surprised me was what this habit is doing to my pocket.
After all, what impact could my R15-a-day habit really have? How about R450 a month! We all talk about how we don’t have enough money to save, yet here I have found a R450 monthly saving in my budget, which will also help to shed a few kilos.
Over five years that money, invested monthly in a unit trust that averaged 10% a year, would be worth R35 000.
So here is the strategy: I still enjoy cappuccinos, and you have to live after all, but I will make it a treat rather than a habit by cutting back to two a week and only enjoying them at coffee shops that make the perfect cappuccino.
I will save R300 a month. I have a big birthday coming up in 18 months’ time, so I will use my R300 monthly savings to put towards this. I will save it into my bond, but if that was not an option I would probably opt for Capitec’s 18-month fixed deposit, which allows for multiple deposits at 7%.
By then I would have saved about R5 600 and I would have saved even further by not having to buy a new wardrobe.
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