In the event of any confusion regarding tonight’s title … I’m not trading the turkey for coffee.

Instead, I’m going to reduce my coffee intake by 50% starting immediately.  After tallying up the amount of money spent at Starbucks over the 2005 and 2006 years, I was shocked to discover that I could have bought my own coffee-producing nation for the same amount.  To that end, I’ve made this decision.

No … seriously.

At work I am fortunate enough to have free access to a beverage which tries to look, taste and smell like coffee.  It even goes by the same name, so I shouldn’t need to buy any on the way home after a difficult day.  On weekends, rather than getting a latte, I will have a grande mild coffee.  I’ve given myself a maximum coffee budget of $20 per month, and $10 for the remaining two weeks of January (since we’re already half into it).  Any extra money that I might have at the end of each month after paying all the bills will be put towards my wedding next year.

I really enjoy coffee.  The latte’s, the occasional espresso, a capuccino here and there (depending on where I am), and even the rare americano.  The caffiene is nice, but more than that, I enjoy the atmosphere of the coffee house.  I enjoy the smell of the beans as they add their distinct flavour and aroma to the hot water passing through.  I enjoy the polite conversation with the baristas while my drink is made.  It will be hard to give up.

However, this is something that I’ve considered for a long while.  For some, coffee is a treat that can be enjoyed every once in a while with friends.  For others, it’s a fundamental part of their morning or working routines.  Without coffee, some become irritable, while others develop headaches and have difficulty focussing on tasks.  Unfortunately, I am one of the ones that become irritable because of the headaches and can’t focus on any task worth doing.

So … time to ween myself from the addiction.  I’ll readily admit that I will continue to drink coffee at work, and have a grande mild from Starbucks on weekends once or twice, but I will scale back my intake by one half starting today.

I’ll try not to become totally useless like the last time I tried to quit coffee….