Save Money With Fancy Beverages Made At Home
Even as we struggle with finances, it’s very difficult to give up those little luxuries that make us feel nice and cozy. A steaming mug of Cafe Vienna makes me relax and smile. If buying yourself a fancy coffee or smoothie is your idea of a well-deserved treat, start adding up what you’re spending on these drinks for one month. It becomes evident real fast that maybe the reason you’re struggling with your budget these days is not just because of the economy… but because you’re spending money you don’t have on a luxury you can’t afford.
You can’t afford to put food on the table each night and still enjoy your favorite drinks. So, you and your family members decide to make the ultimate sacrifice; no more expensive designer beverages. It’s not in the budget. Something has to go and it’s going to be the fancy drinks. Your family is now walking around with long faces and you don’t like it one bit.
Now, you and your family are feeling a bit pouty about not having their favorite beverages anymore. I know you all agreed and you’ll stick with the plan, but are those long faces ever going to perk up? Is there something that can be done to lessen the pain of a sacrifice like this one where you give up a real, daily routine that is so pleasant?
There was a time when we “fancied up” our own beverages for a fraction of the cost of those designer drinks. It was the good ol’ days when you added a little cream and cocoa to your coffee, or you made a big pitcher of sweet tea right there in your very own kitchen. Do you remember those days? Well, just like when your grandparents and parents had to rely on their own ingenuity to save money, those days are back!
Even though you can easily mix up a Cafe Latte with some of your own pantry items, you’d be surprised at what some of the newer recipes for drink mixes have to offer. The designer beverage recipes that you can make at home have been re-worked to get the perfect blend of flavors and smooth textures so you feel like you just stepped out of a fancy coffee shop. But this is better… it’s inexpensive AND yummy!
Now, where did you hide that blender? If you stashed it somewhere far, far away, it’s time to retrieve it and place it center-stage in your kitchen. The blender will be your favorite new gadget. All Smoothies need to be blended, but you will also find some wonderful coffee and cocoa drinks that benefit from a good blending, as well. No matter what you make, you want the result to be a smooth, professional finish.
There are some recipes for Smoothies and Slushies that you make and drink as soon as they’re ready. However, some of the best recipes in my opinion are the instant mixes you create for fancy blends like Mocha Espresso, Ginger Tea, Toffee Coffee, and Bavarian Mint Coffee, just to name a few. Blend these mixes up, store them in an airtight container, and whenever you want a luxury cup of coffee, you just boil water, stir in a spoonful, and you’re done. Simple and delicious.
It’s great to find inexpensive homemade beverage recipes, but are they good? The answer is a resounding YES! Because you’re using ingredients like real cocoa, real lemon, and real tea in your beverages, you end up with a real taste! Your Hot Cocoa tastes like cocoa, your Honey Lemonade tastes like lemons and honey, and your Fruit Slushies taste like fruit. Every drink you make can also be a one-of-a-kind masterpiece because you control the ingredients.
Homemade luxury beverages is one way of treating ourselves without feeling the financial pinch quite so hard. You can enjoy the pleasure of pouring a cup of Mocha Espresso without the guilt of spending your hard-earned money. Treat yourself and your family to a little bit of fancy living.
Looking for original smoothie recipes and other frugal beverages for your family? Visit us at HillbillyHousewife.com for lots of healthy snacks kids can make, and much more!
