The Latte Factor
If you've ever read anything about personal finance, you should already know about "The Latte Factor." Basically, the latte factor points out that a few dollars spent everyday--on lattes, coffee, magazines, cigarettes, and other little purchases--add up, and that putting aside this money instead of spending it can mean saving big bucks in the long run.
My Switch to Water
Well I try to avoid coffee myself, so I drink A LOT of water. This is one of my better habits, and I encourage you to drink plenty of water, too. For me, it all started in college. I spent hours studying every night, and when I study, I snack (one of my worst habits, I suppose). I've always been a big tea-drinker, and I drank tea to compliment my various salty or sweet snacks. I'd made good use of my ten dollar percolator from Walgreens, getting up every so often to fill it with water. Then I'd wait for the water to heat, pour it into my mug, and dunk in the teabag. I would do this so frequently, re-using the same teabag that there was nothing left to steep and I was just drinking hot water. So I cut out the tea and ever since then, I've been a hot-water drinker. This pertains to my story because...
Water, Water Everywhere...
...water is everywhere and it is FREE! I can buy a bottle of water, or soda, or juice, or I can carry my own reusable container. I have a 32oz Nalgene bottle which I bought for about $16.00 a few years ago. This, my friends, is the greatest investment I have ever made. I carry this bottle with me nearly everywhere I go, and it has saved me time and time again from having to buy a drink (and for those juice- and soda-drinkers, you can fill your bottle with that, too...of course you'll have to buy the juice or soda first). There are the obvious times when I've been thirsty that I grab my water bottle...but then there are those other times where my throat was dry and I just needed a sip of something. If I didn't have my bottle, I'd spend a dollar for water or a can of soda that I know I probably won't finish. There are times where I find myself at a fast food joint or convenience store (yep, I like to eat, and I don't always eat healthy) and I save a buck here and there because I have my trusty water bottle with me. If you couldn't already tell, I am passionate about water and my water bottle.
In fact, I've made such a routine out of drinking hot water every morning that I find it perks me up for the day like other caffeinated beverages typically would--without the jitters. And on yet another tangent, I'm in the habit of avoiding caffeine (especially coffee) because I plan to become a surgeon, and I wouldn't want to rely on a cup-o-joe for that early AM surgery and end up having shaky hands.
Lastly, reusable water bottles are environmentally friendly. How many of us buy 35-packs of crystal geyser and later find half-full water bottles sitting all through the house or in the car? With a reusable water bottle, you can help youself and the environment.
Enjoy your water! Don't worry about drinking too much unless you're exercising (don't forget you need plenty of electrolytes, not just water!) or you're in a water-drinking contest...but come one, really?
Reusable Water Bottle Comparison:
SIGG: Swiss-made, aluminum water bottles. There are a variety of styles to choose from to customize your water-drinking experience. Tested as taste and scent inert and resistant to any leaching.
I purchased one of these mainly because everyone was telling me about the plastics scare involving BPA (a chemical found in certain plastics and can liners). Also, these things look pretty good and I wanted to give them a shot. Well, after a week of using mine (which I bought from Whole Foods), I went back to my Nalgene. Why? Because I like to fill it with hot water, and, um, handling a hot metal container is not doable unless you have oven mitts on. By the way, everytime I opened my SIGG to fill it, the thing reminded me of a helium gas tank...I guess you have to see it to believe it). Secondly, the bottle was too small for my drinking needs. I'm used to 32 ounces, and this held 25. But it's not just a matter of size, it's also the bottle shape and dimensions. I'm used to carrying my Nalgene by my fingers at the hook of its lid, and with SIGG I had to grip it with my hand or put it away. And, a full 32 oz. Nalgene felt a lot easier to carry and hold to me than my measily 25 oz. SIGG. Also, I am used to the wide-mouth opening of the Nalgene, which makes it easier to chug water and clean the bottle. While all of these factors made me return to my lovely Nalgene, I am aware of how extremely particular I am and I doubt anyone else is more picky than me. With that said, I think SIGG bottles are awesome looking, made well, and do a great job of, well, containing water. I hate to neg SIGG so much because I chose to buy their bottles, which means I think they're swell compared to other stuff out there.
Kleen Kanteen: Lightweight, stainless steel water bottles. Similar to SIGG its variety, with plenty of accessories. Browsing the site, I see that they have 40oz bottles available with (relatively) large mouths. I have never tried Kleen Kanteen but I imagine they're similar to SIGG.
Your everyday stainless steel travel mug.
Handy for the car, easy-grip handles, insulating for warm beverages, looks sleek. Perfect for the office (somehow seems more appropriate for corporate) or more sedentary environments. The only reason I don't use this at work is because I haven't found a large enough size to prevent me from re-filling my cup every 5 minutes.
-->Nalgene: My favorite container for the reasons I mentioned above (see SIGG). To recapitulate: holds a lot, holds warm drinks well, wide mouth top, easy to clean, durable, feels lighter. Also, I like that I can see the liquid. I'm weird. Apparently, Nalgene has transitioned to BPA-free bottles (which I still have yet to purchase) so in that respect, Nalgene bottles are safe to use.
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