BYO Tea

January.

The holidays have come and gone, the champagne has gone flat, and the sparkle party dress you splurged for on December 31^st is really not going to cut it at the office. The price of Metrocards is up, your bank account balance is down, and it’s colder than ever, so your heat/hot water provider is laughing all the way to the bank. It’s that time of the year again, folks, the long, cold, stretch of winter broke that lasts until the days get longer and the nights warm up.

It seems to be a pretty common occurence, and yet, somehow, we’re always the only ones in the group who are truly on a budget. Buoyed by full-time jobs, professional gigs, and personal wealth, our nearest and dearest seem to gloss over this slump and continue to buy, spend, and splurge. While our Christmas checks went straight to rent and subway fare, we all know the people who have the deep pockets to hit post-holiday sales, take vacations to warm lands, and throw spontaneous dinner parties.

When that unavoidable call comes from your friends who are down to hit the diner, eat a handful of dry cereal, grab a tea bag from your cabinet, and head out.  That’s right, BYO…T.

Bring your own tea.

A genius idea, taken from one of our most thrifty cross-country friends: once at the diner, simply request a mug of hot water and lemon. While your friends may initially think you’ve gotten yourself on the latest cleanse or full-time fast, they’ll be pretty jealous when the check comes and you owe less than $1.

Most people like their own brand of tea anyway, so the wait staff should understand. Just ask for a cup of boiling water, and save a little of your hard-earned pocket money for a little tip.

Got any other ideas for saving money when you’re the only one who’s broke? Please send us your tips and tricks- we’re always looking to add to our arsenal. Leave us a comment below, send us an email at bbonabudget (at) gmail (dot) com, or Tweet us @bbonabudget.

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