Today I was doing some fundraising on Grafton Street (a busy shopping area in Dublin) when I realised that there was a McDonald's with a McCafe. Unfortunately I didn't have my loyalty card (see below).
Stink!
Saturday, 30 September 2006
Thursday, 28 September 2006
Free Coffee
There is still a few more days to go until the end of 'Spend Nothing September' and, to be honest, I'm quite proud of myself. I've only slipped up once. Right at the start of the month I went out to study at the library, but it was closed. So, rather than walk back home, I went to Moda for a drink and as a place to study. All I bought was a tea for 1.35.
Needless to say, I'm looking forward to October when I can buy coffee (and other stuff) again. I fear that any money saved in September could easily be blown in October if I'm not careful.
But tonight I realised that I needn't have suffered for so long without my regular latte because in my wallet is a small stack of loyalty cards for free coffee! (You know, buy 10 drinks and get the next one free.) The only problem is I would feel a bit embarrassed to go into a coffeehouse just for the free drink - it's probably the Englishness in me.
Here's what I've got on the go at the moment:
I've filled up two cards from Moda (that's two free coffees) plus I'm on my way to a third.
McCafe owe me a free one (actually, now that I think about it I don't mind just getting the free coffee from McCafe. It would be like sticking it to the man. Kind of.)
I'm one drink away from a free one at BB's and half way there with O'Briens, Bench Cafe, and Insomnia (they still haven't opened their store near me yet.)
By the looks of it I am also entitled to a free photo development and almost there with a free refill for a printer cartridge. I think I also have a card somewhere for a bookstore.
Anyway, if you want to go out for coffee in the next few days I'll gladly come along as long as you don't mind paying for your own while I use the loyalty card.
Needless to say, I'm looking forward to October when I can buy coffee (and other stuff) again. I fear that any money saved in September could easily be blown in October if I'm not careful.
But tonight I realised that I needn't have suffered for so long without my regular latte because in my wallet is a small stack of loyalty cards for free coffee! (You know, buy 10 drinks and get the next one free.) The only problem is I would feel a bit embarrassed to go into a coffeehouse just for the free drink - it's probably the Englishness in me.
Here's what I've got on the go at the moment:
I've filled up two cards from Moda (that's two free coffees) plus I'm on my way to a third.
McCafe owe me a free one (actually, now that I think about it I don't mind just getting the free coffee from McCafe. It would be like sticking it to the man. Kind of.)
I'm one drink away from a free one at BB's and half way there with O'Briens, Bench Cafe, and Insomnia (they still haven't opened their store near me yet.)
By the looks of it I am also entitled to a free photo development and almost there with a free refill for a printer cartridge. I think I also have a card somewhere for a bookstore.
Anyway, if you want to go out for coffee in the next few days I'll gladly come along as long as you don't mind paying for your own while I use the loyalty card.
Thursday, 14 September 2006
Homemade Latte II
Um, just a quick warning about homemade lattes:
If you are going to heat milk in the microwave, keep an eye on it. Otherwise, like me, the milk will boil over in the mug. Then, because you didn't notice, the microwave will begin to cook the thin layer of milk that has flowed down the side of the mug leaving you with a crusty milk covered mug and not much in the way of usable milk for the latte.
I hope this advice helps. Always glad to be of service.
If you are going to heat milk in the microwave, keep an eye on it. Otherwise, like me, the milk will boil over in the mug. Then, because you didn't notice, the microwave will begin to cook the thin layer of milk that has flowed down the side of the mug leaving you with a crusty milk covered mug and not much in the way of usable milk for the latte.
I hope this advice helps. Always glad to be of service.
Monday, 11 September 2006
Homemade Latte
For once, the reason why I have not blogged for a couple of weeks is because I haven't gone out for coffee. In fact I haven't gone out for anything!
A few weeks ago my wife and I decided to challenge ourselves to a "spend nothing month". So we're giving it a go this month. It's for no particular reason really other that increasing some discipline when it comes to spending. We're not using it to get out of debt (although that's how we heard about it on....okay I'll admit it...Oprah. The couple being interviewed had a spend nothing year (!!!) to help their finances.) We're simply doing it to, in some small way, fight back against the monster god that is Consumerism.
The rules are pretty simple. Don't buy anything - except of course what you need to survive, like groceries. It means not buying CD's, DVD's, clothes, cakes, take-aways, sandwiches, chocolate bars, trips to the cinema (like that ever happens when you have young children!), newspapers, books, etc, etc, etc. AND COFFEE!!!
By the way, despite the fact that most of these items could easily be bought at our large Tesco that's not allowed.
So I'm having to improvise. I've found an easy way to make a homemade latte if you haven't got a fancy esspresso machine.
We are well into our second week and things are going well. Although you would be surprised at how often you think about buying stuff when you've said you wont. So many sales and special offers.
Why don't you give it a go?
A few weeks ago my wife and I decided to challenge ourselves to a "spend nothing month". So we're giving it a go this month. It's for no particular reason really other that increasing some discipline when it comes to spending. We're not using it to get out of debt (although that's how we heard about it on....okay I'll admit it...Oprah. The couple being interviewed had a spend nothing year (!!!) to help their finances.) We're simply doing it to, in some small way, fight back against the monster god that is Consumerism.
The rules are pretty simple. Don't buy anything - except of course what you need to survive, like groceries. It means not buying CD's, DVD's, clothes, cakes, take-aways, sandwiches, chocolate bars, trips to the cinema (like that ever happens when you have young children!), newspapers, books, etc, etc, etc. AND COFFEE!!!
By the way, despite the fact that most of these items could easily be bought at our large Tesco that's not allowed.
So I'm having to improvise. I've found an easy way to make a homemade latte if you haven't got a fancy esspresso machine.
We are well into our second week and things are going well. Although you would be surprised at how often you think about buying stuff when you've said you wont. So many sales and special offers.
Why don't you give it a go?
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