Cutting out soda means cutting food cost
For some people going to the Starbucks and ordering a $4 coffee is a normal and daily occurrence. For other people, stopping at the 7-11 to buy a $2 diet Coke every morning is the routine. Whether your weakness is caffeine or you simply crave the taste of sweetened water in a Big Gulp cup, the point is that by buying soda you are using a significant portion of your total cost of food. Not only is water better for you, but it is also free.
Cutting out soda means cutting food costs. In 2003, the soft drink industry saw its greatest sales growth. For five straight years, it is estimated that the soft drink industry sold 10 billion cases of soda annually. Parents, teachers, and health professionals attribute the problem of obesity in children and poor dental health to the consumption of these unhealthy carbonated beverages. As a result, there is a nationwide push to ban the sale of soda pop in elementary and junior high schools. Instead of fueling the soft drink industry and harming our health in the process, soft drink money is better saved or spent on something more productive. Advocates for the removal of soft drink vending machines from our schools, suggest that the money that would have been spent on drinks be put back into the educational system to benefit the educational experience of the children. With the average American drinking an estimated 56 gallons of soft drinks each year, there is definitely money to be saved in at least cutting back on our frequency of purchasing soda.
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As of the beginning of this year, the carbonated beverages industry saw sales decrease. Researchers suggest that this is for a number of different reasons. First of all more people are realizing the benefits of buying bottled water or bottled teas instead of soft drinks. Secondly, with most people being more concerned about how they spend their hard-earned dollar, many are realizing just how much money they stand to save by cutting out the soft drinks.
When you are away from home, just skip the drinks. Not only do drinks add a sickening amount of calories to your system, but they also eat up a large chunk of your hard-earned money. Drink water at restaurants instead of soft drinks. You can usually save around $2 a person by ordering water instead of soda. Also, if you are having a special celebration, you should know that many restaurants allow you to bring your own wine or other specialty beverage in for free or for a modest 'corkage fee' charge.
Some justify soft drink purchases that are made at a grocery store or warehouse store. Sure, you may save money per can when you buy in bulk, but the bottom line is that soft drinks are an expense that we can all live without. By not spending the money that you usually do on soda six or twelve packs, you can improve your health and increase the amount of money that you have in your cash reserve. By increasing the amount of money that you are able to save in your reserve, you increase the likelihood of being prepared in case an emergency hits or the unexpected comes your way. By cutting out soda, you make it possible to spend that money on better/more food options or you can add it to your savings and spend that money in ways that are much more exciting.
If you still need some convincing, a 2002 study from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that "families on weight loss diets not only reduced their waistlines but also cut their food costs. Reducing the amount you eat and cutting out empty calories such as soft drinks, candy bars and chips are two ways that you can cut food costs."
