Anyone who goes to Mount Pisgah knows that every Wednesday morning, girls pull into the student parking lot at 9:05 a.m. and walk into school with some kind of drink in their hands. 

Although getting a “fun little drink” before school can help students make it through the day, there are concerns about the cost of this habit piling up throughout the school year. 

I am a victim myself of stopping on my way to school to pick up a girly beverage. It overall brightens my mood, makes me feel awake, and helps to make school more enjoyable. With recent inflation and the prices of goods skyrocketing, I have noticed this “little” habit getting more expensive over time. Is stopping to get a fun drink really a smart financial decision?

I decided to estimate how much I have spent on Starbucks and Dunkin so far this school year. On a weekly basis, I normally go to Starbucks on Wednesdays and Dunkin on Fridays. On the weekends, I might go every once in a while with my family. 

Not counting Sharptop week, we have been in school for 11 weeks. Assuming that I go to Starbucks or Dunkin three times a week on average and spend around 5 dollars every time I go, then my total so far comes out to $165. 

People may think that is a lot to have spent on drinks when we have only been in school for a quarter, but I think that it is fully worth it.

While it might not be the smartest financial decision, getting a strawberry acai refresher a couple times a week improves my mental health, and who wouldn’t love a sweet little treat to look forward to in the morning?  

For me, getting Starbucks or Dunkin before school is a form of self-care. According to the National Council for Wellbeing, “Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, increase happiness, and more. It can help you adapt to changes, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks.”

Although there is no problem with stopping to get a little treat before school, always make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to your first class on time.