im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee.

im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (Full Version)

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LittleGirlHeart -> im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/7/2013 10:54:13 PM)
Even for the very simple recipes, it seems by time you buy the milk and the half in half, or the creamer, or the heavy whipping cream, the coffee, or any other ingredient , that you're still looking at maybe 10 dollars, when just buying the stuff is 4. And there's still the issue of potentially not liking it:(

LafayetteLady -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/7/2013 10:59:47 PM)
Because when you buy all this stuff, you are getting more than ONE coffee drink out of it. You aren't buying a single serve can of coffee, milk, creamer, heavy cream, etc. No matter how much you like this stuff, it is NOT good for you and something you shouldn't be drinking. You aren't looking for low fat, low sugar recipes, you just want to save from the coffee house version. You don't need the sugar, and I don't care if you use artificial sweetener, your body treats it just like sugar, if not worse. You don't need the fat in all the milk, creamer, half and half or heavy cream either. Do you have any idea how much you could eat for the calories that are in that thing when you are done?

LittleGirlHeart -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/7/2013 11:09:57 PM)
True on getting more than one or 3 drinks out of it. I'm looking at several recipes, including low fat, or low sugar or low calorie. Including just coffee ,ice and milk. I'm ok with it not being good for you, especially when I cut everything else not good out, either mostly or completely for long periods of time. Being well behaved and feeling deprived , or like you are missing out sucks and gets old

CynthiaWVirginia -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 1:52:09 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart Even for the very simple recipes, it seems by time you buy the milk and the half in half, or the creamer, or the heavy whipping cream, the coffee, or any other ingredient , that you're still looking at maybe 10 dollars, when just buying the stuff is 4. And there's still the issue of potentially not liking it:( There are single serving coffee makers...and there's real half and half in individual servings in a box at Sams. I bought a box so I can have some in my purse when on the road, because I am allergic to most artificial creamers that fast food places use. One box will likely last me a year. In other words...I completely fail to see how making a cup or glass of coffee, then refrigerating it, could cost more than a dollar, tops. [;)] Even with all the bells and whistles on. Heavy cream for whipped cream on top? It's more cost effective to buy real whipped cream in a spray can. Also, I keep a square of baker's chocolate and will grate a little bit on top of the whipped cream if that's what I'm in the mood for that day. One square of baker's chocolate (sugar free, used for baking) will last me a year, and a can of whipped cream will last us for several months. My favorite coffee is Master Chef and is sold at Walmart. I use a type of stevia called Truvia, along with some Splenda (my coffee mugs are at least 16 oz. and I like it sweet, lol). Do a half pot of coffee with the full pot dose of coffee grounds. Put water into your plastic pitcher and then pour the hot coffee into this and add sweetener. Put the lid on. When serving some up, just pour and open up your single serving (or two of them) of real half and half. There are 192 servings of half and half in a box for $7.58. Try out recipes when you have days off to see what you like. I prefer different flavors in some of my coffees, and a lot more types of flavors in my homemade hot cocoa. Get real vanilla extract, not artificially flavored, toss out the small metal lid and get an eyedropper instead. (I bought mine from a pharmacy, ones used for bottles of amoxycillin are perfect for the job.) A few drops of real vanilla extract tastes better than any of that imitation stuff. In my hot cocoa, sometimes I add mint extract, banana, raspberry, or orange. With cocoa and banana, I think I needed 8 to 12 drops, with mint, only 2 or 3. I think vanilla only needed three drops for my 16 oz. mug. Each small bottle will last me at least a year. My son enjoys some coffee creamers from Walmart...Mounds or York Peppermint Patty flavored. I'm thinking that these creamers that don't sell in individual servings, and are often only seasonal in my area...can be frozen into small slot icecube trays and then stored in some plastic container in the freezer, taken out and used in individual servings. Have fun finding out what you like and how to get what you want. Btw, half and half freezes well. I'm not sure that heavy cream will thaw out and still be good for coffee.

AthenaSurrenders -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 4:48:14 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart True on getting more than one or 3 drinks out of it. I'm looking at several recipes, including low fat, or low sugar or low calorie. Including just coffee ,ice and milk. I'm ok with it not being good for you, especially when I cut everything else not good out, either mostly or completely for long periods of time. Being well behaved and feeling deprived , or like you are missing out sucks and gets old If this is your one big treat, and you really don't mind it being bad for you, you'd be better off buying one from starbucks once a month. If you make it at home, you will have to buy a full jug of milk, a full carton of cream, a bag of sugar, a bag of coffee etc. You will end up with enough to make 10 or so drinks. Then, since some of that stuff goes off, you will face the choice between wasting it (and therefore making your drink more expensive than the one from the coffee shop) or using it up (and therefore drinking 10 coffees in that same month; much worse for you). If you want to find a healthy version with very little sugar or cream in it, that you can drink frequently without upsetting your blood sugar and blowing your diet, it will work out cheaper in the long run to make it at home. You'll just have to absorb the costs up front. Quick edit, I know this isn't what you are asking about: Your comment about being deprived reminded me of my old attitude. If you think of eating healthily as a punishment you will set yourself up to fail. You're not depriving yourself - this isn't something you do because you're undeserving - you're showing your body respect and love by giving it what it needs to thrive. You're taking care of yourself, and that's a good thing. I sometimes still catch myself craving junk food and telling myself 'I've been good, so I deserve a break' and have to remind myself that I don't deserve a 'break' from healthy eating, I deserve a healthy body which can do all the things I want to do in life. You wouldn't let your dog drink this stuff, right? Even if she could beg for it? Because you love your dog and care about her health. You should love yourself just as much, if not far more, than your dog. Sorry for preaching. I know it's hard. It's a battle I still fight because I have a dysfunctional relationship with food. Keep trying those coffee recipes until you find a healthy one that you like, and then you're not depriving yourself, you're giving yourself a delicious healthy snack.

ShaharThorne -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 5:00:50 AM)
Mom loves her coffee with one thing of sweetner and a splash of French vanilla creamer. We have a small coffee pot and we only fill it up half full.

LittleGirlHeart -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 5:33:22 AM)
Athena, it's more like don't eat this, don't eat that, cut this out. There's already so much I would love to have, and I dont eat it or drink it because it's bad for you, or because my health says I shouldnt, that sometimes it's nice just to go with cuz it tastes good and makes the day a little brighter.

LittleGirlHeart -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 5:38:25 AM)
I'll be right over to join you , sounds delicious! quote: ORIGINAL: CynthiaWVirginia Try out recipes when you have days off to see what you like. I prefer different flavors in some of my coffees, and a lot more types of flavors in my homemade hot cocoa. Get real vanilla extract, not artificially flavored, toss out the small metal lid and get an eyedropper instead. (I bought mine from a pharmacy, ones used for bottles of amoxycillin are perfect for the job.) A few drops of real vanilla extract tastes better than any of that imitation stuff. In my hot cocoa, sometimes I add mint extract, banana, raspberry, or orange. With cocoa and banana, I think I needed 8 to 12 drops, with mint, only 2 or 3. I think vanilla only needed three drops for my 16 oz. mug. Each small bottle will last me at least a year. .[/color]

angelikaJ -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 6:40:27 AM)
LGH, Using an artificial sweetener such as Splenda should not affect the taste too much. And that will prevent your sugar from being wacky which in turn makes you feel unwell. You can, btw: take the leftover coffee and put it into ice cube trays and freeze it, and then pop the cubes out and put them into a freezer bag. I am not finding it especially difficult to make frozen coffee drinks that I like. The recipes are fairly simple: coffee, vanilla, splenda, half and half and ice. 1 pack of splenda = 2 tsp of sugar. Half and half will keep pretty well in your fridge for awhile IF you put it in the coldest part of the fridge.

ShaharThorne -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 6:53:40 AM)
We found out by accident that the coldest part is the top shelf in the back. Baby M put a bottle of water back there and a few days later, it was frozen solid. Mom had a good laugh about it. This is the same fridge that is trying to cronk out. Ice forms on the back and when you hear a certain noise of ice falling into a container (we don't have an ice maker), it is time to get the hunks of ice off of the bottom shelf.

DomKen -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 12:36:42 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart Athena, it's more like don't eat this, don't eat that, cut this out. There's already so much I would love to have, and I dont eat it or drink it because it's bad for you, or because my health says I shouldnt, that sometimes it's nice just to go with cuz it tastes good and makes the day a little brighter. You have no idea what a restricted diet is but you are on a path to find out. If your diabetes does not flat out kill you it may destroy your kidneys, many people with end stage renal failure are diabetics or had hypertension. In renal failure you must restrict/avoid phosphorus and potassium. Foods high in either include all beans and bean products, milk and most dairy products, tomatoes, bananas, avocados, melons, oranges, chocolate and a long list of other foods.

DomKen -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 12:38:55 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ShaharThorne We found out by accident that the coldest part is the top shelf in the back. Baby M put a bottle of water back there and a few days later, it was frozen solid. Mom had a good laugh about it. This is the same fridge that is trying to cronk out. Ice forms on the back and when you hear a certain noise of ice falling into a container (we don't have an ice maker), it is time to get the hunks of ice off of the bottom shelf. That sounds like either someone is keeping the door open too much or there is a physical leak. That ice is condensing out of the air when then air is chilled. if the fridge is airtight the only way fresh air with lots of water could get in is when the door is opened.

LafayetteLady -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 12:45:58 PM)
Yes it does. However, allowing yourself to have one or two coffee drinks a week would be just as easy. And we both know you haven't cut everything else out Chris.

JeffBC -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 1:22:43 PM)
OK, I just did some math in our local market. I deliberately made this recipe ridiculously fatty & sweet (the fat is the expensive part). We're talking 50% full cream here and a ton of sugar (which is cheap but hey). I got to 16c per oz of death juice. A 12oz cup would be $1.90. Now.. I don't know if anyone can actually drink 50% full cream laughs... so adjusting that formula a bit down to something like 25% I get...about 14c pe oz or I'm still not sure anyone could actually drink that. In real life my formula goes would be something more moderate like about 5c per oz or 0.63c per 12 oz cup. In short, if I were to make something that was loaded with fat & sugar by my tastes and allow for a full 0.25c of random other ingredients in the drink then I'm spending $0.63 for each 12oz serving. How much do those drinks costs around your parts from the store? In addition, of course, comes the fact that mine is going to be infinitely superior.

AthenaSurrenders -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 1:32:05 PM)
I'd guess the price might be raised a bit if you are buying the special branded flavour syrups or the pre-flavoured coffees but that still seems like a fair estimate. Part of the problem with most 'cheaper homemade' recipes though, is that unless you regularly have all the ingredients at home, it's going to require you to pay out up front to build up a stash. If your budget is tight enough that a $4 coffee is out of the question, you may not be able to get together enough to buy $15 worth of ingredients that first time, even if in the long run it will save a ton of money. It's the same problem a lot of people have when they try to switch to cooking from scratch after relying on microwave meals and take outs - it's cheaper, sure, but it feels a lot more expensive for the first month or so when you need to buy herbs and spices and flour and oil and a cheese-grater and measuring cups. It's hard to break the cycle without a little bit of extra money to invest up front and I think that's why many people say it's too expensive to eat home cooked food. (not really aimed at you Jeff, just musing!) Chris - I know what you were saying about how it's nice just to relax and have a treat. But I think you're missing my point that getting out of the mindset that unhealthy foods are a reward for sticking to your restrictions will go a long way to making healthy eating sustainable.

LafayetteLady -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 2:50:44 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders Chris - I know what you were saying about how it's nice just to relax and have a treat. But I think you're missing my point that getting out of the mindset that unhealthy foods are a reward for sticking to your restrictions will go a long way to making healthy eating sustainable. It's not just that, it is accepting a lower fat/sugar option can also be good. I LOVE the Dunkin Doughnuts Caramel Swirl Latte. I don't worry about whole milk vs. skim (although I've had it with both and they are both fine to me). But I have never put sugar in it. I also learned that the typical "recipe" calls for 3 pumps of caramel (not those syrup fake things, but the real stuff). I always get an extra shot of espresso (sometimes 2 extra, lol), but now I tell them to only use 1-1 1/2 pumps of the caramel. It's still sweet, and I get my "treat." Of course, the extra shots jack the price up, so it is not a treat that is often in my budget. On the other hand, my son will get those "coffee" drinks that come out of the machine with powder and water. He adds sugar! I often forget and try to steal it from him. As soon as I take a sip I hand it back because it is so sweet.

BitaTruble -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 3:18:25 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart Even for the very simple recipes, it seems by time you buy the milk and the half in half, or the creamer, or the heavy whipping cream, the coffee, or any other ingredient , that you're still looking at maybe 10 dollars, when just buying the stuff is 4. My recipe, in my area costs .68 cents per serving (I grind my own top quality beans or it would be even lower per serving) but the ingredients which I use are always on my shopping list anyway because I'm a coffee drinker and a candy maker. Coffee, milk and condensed milk are staples in our home. quote: And there's still the issue of potentially not liking it:( That's the most important issue, of course. It doesn't matter if you are spending $4 per serving or $1 per serving.. if you don't like it, you're wasting your money.

erieangel -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 3:57:05 PM)
Athena, what you said about "upfront money" for supplies and such is the thing I run into all the time on my job when trying to get people to cook at home rather than eating out or microwaveable foods. I've been trying to talk one guy into buying some cooking utensils for over 2 years--he lives on subs and the soup kitchen lunches mostly. At least he gets a moderately balanced meal at the soup kitchen.

JeffBC -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 5:21:36 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders I'd guess the price might be raised a bit if you are buying the special branded flavour syrups I allowed for a full $0.25 per 12oz of "special ingredients". I think I'm covered on some caramel syrup or whatnot even of a high quality. quote: or the pre-flavoured coffees Wait.. I thought we were talking about coffee here LOL I'm afraid that I don't count powdered whatever as "coffee". Then again, I don't count much of anything I can find in a coffee shop or restaurant as "coffee" either so it's possible I might be a coffee snob LOL.

jlf1961 -> RE: im begining to wonder if it really is cheaper to make than buy iced coffee. (6/8/2013 5:33:39 PM)
If God had intended coffee to be cold, he would not have made it necessary to heat water to make it. I mean it is not like you can take a gallon glass jar, stick it outside and brew the stuff, like you can tea.

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