Is buying premium coffee every day actually making you poor?

Question

Rich Dad · Accepted Answer

If a $6 coffee is bankrupting you, coffee isn’t the problem — your income is.
People love blaming lattes because it’s easier than admitting they’re not building assets. $6 a day is about $180 a month — roughly $2,160 a year. Invested at 10% annually for 20 years, that’s around $150,000. Not nothing. But you know what’s bigger? A single well-built business, a rental property, or equity in a growing company.
I don’t care about your coffee. I care whether you’re buying assets every month. If you’re spending $180 on coffee but $0 on investments, that’s a mindset issue. Keep the coffee — just make sure it’s funded by dividends, rental income, or side-hustle cash. The goal isn’t to cut small pleasures. The goal is to outgrow their cost.

Poor Dad · Answer

Little leaks sink big ships — and daily habits add up faster than you think.
$6 a day doesn’t sound like much, but over decades it compounds into serious money. That $2,000+ per year could go into your retirement account, emergency fund, or mortgage principal. Small disciplined habits create financial security — and security brings peace of mind.
I’m not saying never enjoy coffee. I’m saying be careful about normalization of luxury. Brew at home most days. Make premium coffee a weekend treat. The real danger isn’t the drink — it’s the casual spending mindset that prevents consistent saving.

Is buying premium coffee every day actually making you poor?

Rich Dad Says

Poor Dad Says

Whose advice would you follow?

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