Finances FYI Presented by JPMorgan Chase
You’re not alone if you reach the end of the week or end of the month and wonder where your money goes.
If you’d like to save money, you may not realize how quickly everyday indulgences like a morning latte or takeout food add up — especially if you don’t track your expenses or follow a budget.
For example, the national average price for a latte is $5.46. If you buy one daily over a five-day work week, that’s $27.30 a week, or $1,419.60 for 52 weeks in one year.
If you’re constantly anxious about money, you may wonder how many other people share your struggles.
Let’s examine some financial stress statistics, crunch some more common daily expense costs, see how the money adds up, and offer some savings tips.
Over 40% of U.S. Adults Stress About Money
In a 2025 Money and Mental Health Bankrate survey, 43% of U.S. adults say money negatively affects their mental health, and 69% of those people say rising costs and inflation are the reason.
Plus, only 29% of respondents said they reviewed their budget. So, a lot of people aren’t tracking expenses.
Feeling stressed about finances makes sense when price increases and high inflation rates mean you’re paying more for things you previously bought for less, especially if you’re earning the same wage amidst the price hikes.
So, is there a way to take control of your money and get ahead?
Exploring the Costs of Everyday Indulgences
Tracking your daily expenses and becoming aware of what everyday or frequent indulgences cost is a crucial part of developing a solid savings plan.
Here are some average prices of everyday indulgences:
- Morning latte – $5.46
- Fountain soda – $3.00
- Fast food meal – $11.56
- Breakfast restaurant meal – $15
- Lunch restaurant meal – $18
- Dinner restaurant meal – $25.00
- Large metro area cocktails – $15-$18
- High-end restaurant cocktails – $22-$25
- Movie theater ticket – $16.08
- NFL Tickets for families of four -$631.63
- Manicure – $20-$50
- Regular gallon of gas – $3.082
- Thrifty groceries per person per month – $297-$372
- Liberal groceries for one person per month – $493-$558
These average prices will vary by city and state, but they do serve as examples of common consumer purchases.
Do the Math to Calculate and Track Your Expenses
To get an idea of the actual cost you spend daily or weekly, log all your indulgent expenses into a budgeting app, write them down in a notebook, or record them in an electronic spreadsheet.
To calculate fast food expenses, for example, if you eat a fast food meal three times a week, at $11.56 on average, you are spending around $34.68 on fast food per week.
If you drink a morning latte each work day for five days at $5.46 a day for a total of $27.30 in a week, add in three fast food meals at $34.68, get a manicure for $20, and see a movie for $16.08, you are already spending $98.06, which only accounts for three meals out of seven days.
If you eat at more restaurants or have more takeout meals throughout the week, your food expenses increase.
Money-Saving Tips
The most obvious way to save money is to cut back the frequency of some of your indulgences, and leverage deals when you do enjoy them.
For example, have three lattes a week instead of five. Doing so will reduce your latte expense by an average of $10.92 per week.
Pack your lunch at home instead of opting for fast food or dining out, and take a can of soda to work instead of paying for a fountain soda.
Top Nutrition Coaching estimates that an inexpensive restaurant meal costs $16, while an average meal at home costs $4.23.
A fountain soda averages $3, and a single 12-oz. can averages .567 cents. If you drink five fountain sodas a week for $15, you can drink five cans for about $2.84 total.
That’s savings of about $12.16 per week or around $48.64 in a four-week month. If you opt to use a refillable water bottle and fill it at the tap at home instead of drinking soda, you save even more money.
Carpooling to work or taking public transportation saves money, fuel, and energy.
Finding grocery and restaurant coupons and deals, planning menus, and eating leftovers are other ways to save money.
For a long-term savings strategy, NerdWallet recommends following the 50/30/20 budget. With this plan, you allocate 50% of your take-home pay for rent and expenses, $30% for wants and entertainment, and 20% to repay debt and build savings.
The Bottom Line
Indulgences that seem small now add up quickly. Cutting back on frequency and taking advantage of discounts and deals can save money – and still allows you to occasionally enjoy a treat.
Also, by following a budget and savings strategy like 50/30/20, you can spend less and save more, which will help you achieve financial goals and reduce stress.
Finances FYI is presented by JPMorgan Chase. JPMorgan Chase is making a $30 billion commitment over the next five years to address some of the largest drivers of the racial wealth divide.
