Yes, most people have coffee dates. But take coffee as a metaphor. It could be a beer date, an ice cream date, a hamburger date.

Let’s continue with the coffee example: They meet, they have some expensive coffee, $7+, maybe a pastry $5, taxes and tip = $16. If you decide to pay for your date that is $32. Wham… $32 gone… Bye-bye money, I will never see you again.

It drives me crazy to see how many broke people drink expensive coffee every day.

And of course, it’s only coffee, so most people put on an act of indifference as if it means nothing.

But it does! It means something.

At the end of the month, when you look at how much money you have spent (if you keep a budget), you will notice that the money flew out of your hands and that you have a hard time accounting for it.

If you are not the kind of person who does a budget,  you might notice that money doesn’t last long. One day you have it, and before the end of the month, it’s gone.

These are some of the excuses people use to dump money on coffee

1. I focus on big purchases. I don’t let the small stuff (like coffee) bother me. How we live one day it’s the way we live every day. How we do one thing is how we do everything. Today we let coffee creep into our lives, tomorrow we start wearing designer jeans, the day after we have to have the latest iPhone. And it’s all downhill from there. You get a new car and an oversized house. How you live one day is how you live every day.
2. I work hard, so I deserve it. Maybe a fancy coffee gives you a temporary thrill that lasts for a few minutes, maybe a few hours. But your money is gone forever. What you deserve is the feeling of being less stressed and happier. Something more lasting than a cup coffee.  No spending money on a designer coffee can help you get out of debt, it can give you financial security, it can give you the confidence and self-steam of having money in your bank account. 

   

But there is something even better than coffee

As Montrealers, we don’t have long summers. Thus, every sunny warm day is git from heaven. Going on to park dates, to one of the many parks in Montreal,  is more romantic than coffee.

How to make the best out of your park dates experiences

Every week I take a 90-minute walk, up and down the Mont-Royal mountain with a wonderful lady. I love it! Yesterday I went to the park Angrignon with another friend.

Here is what I get from my park dates experiences:

The ambiance: Nothing beats mother nature. The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, the sun is kissing the skin, the wind is caressing the hair. How can It get any better?  Restaurants, bars, boutiques, and coffee shops try to replicate being in nature but all imitations pale in comparison with the real thing.

Walking stimulate the brain. When I meet someone, I don’t like to sit on a bench. I like to walk. If the park has some water, even better. As you walk and talk, your creativity gets stimulated and you get to talk about the things that matter to you. And you get to listen to the other person. You get to know each other. You get to find out if you are a good match, you get to stop and look at a flower, at a plant, at a bird, and just share to the joy of sharing nature.

Give me some endorphins… Walking is an exercise. Usually, when you exercise, your brain release endorphins, which is a natural high. When you walk, your heart rate increases, you stimulate your whole body, but at the same time, you are able to have a conversation.

The cost is $0. Yes, I am frugal. Yes, I like free stuff. Yes, I don’t like spending money. You get everything for free. You don’t have to ask permission. You just go to the park and enjoy it.

Video about the daily cost of coffee for work

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