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.
Everyone in the family has agreed that you can’t pay the bills, have food on the table, and buy luxury drinks. Now that you’ve made the sacrifice and everyone has decided that they can give up their personal favorite fancy drink, you’re all feeling a little miserable. If you can’t look forward to that Fruit Smoothie, what’s the sense of all this sacrifice? This is not a pleasant thought.
If you and your family feel truly discouraged about giving up this treat, you might want to find an alternative to these high-price drinks. Your family is sacrificing so much these days, why not find a way to make it less painful. If you don’t have to ask your family to give up yet another luxury, you might make the day a little brighter for everyone. So, how do you sacrifice without sacrificing?
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!
You can easily re-create those old fashioned homemade beverages, but there are a lot of new recipes to try, as well. Some of these recipes have been tweaked with just enough added yummy ingredients that you’ll never miss your fancy coffee or slushies again. You may even have some of the makings for your favorite drink right in your pantry.
Getting started making your own homemade beverages is easy. You’ll need to get your blender out from hiding, clean it up, and set it somewhere handy. Blenders are essential to all Smoothies, and some of the coffee and tea mixes, as well. These dry mixes often contain ingredients that just come out smoother when they’re well blended. So, the blender is your new friend.
You’ll find recipes for Fruit Smoothies and Slushies, which are usually blended with a combination of milk, and ice, or other liquids. They are ready to drink right out of the blender. Because I’m a fancy coffee and cocoa fanatic, I like the instant coffee and cocoa mixes that I can make. These mixes are kept in a sealed container and ready whenever you want to treat yourself to a fancy Swiss Mocha Coffee, a French Vanilla Coffee, or even some Chai Tea. Spoon a little of the mix into your favorite mug, and suddenly it doesn’t seem like you’re sacrificing anymore.
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.
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