Friday TeaDay 1/16/09 Tea is candy, 2009 budget?

[gingkoseto]

Realistically (without denial ) I aim at less than $400. Most of the time I don't drink (relatively) expensive tea, and I am very interested in finding out inexpensive sources of good tea (well but occasionally just end up paying "tuition" to bad sources and learn a lesson ). If I am not too much tempted by new sources (depending on how tempting they are) and make good use of left over oolong from last year, I believe it's possible to make it below $300.

But I don't think I have the patience to track all expenses

Last year, I did finish majority of the tea I got before last fall. That's a good sign and I think I've got well disciplined.

[Herb_Master]

$25 2 weeks ago, $370 Last week, I shudder to think how much If I give in to all my temptations.

[bsteele]

73 cents... tops.

[kongni]

I'm seeing a lot of denial in this thread!

I would like to think that I spend less than 1k every year on tea. I spent about $300 alone on shincha last spring....maybe more....

Having a second steep of some nice sencha.

[neowolf]

I'm not sure what to put here. I don't really budget for tea.. I just.. buy it. I budget my bills, and guestimmate my weekly expenditures but tea normally comse out of the "fun funds" I have beyond that. If I run low, I buy more, if I'm out of my favorite, I buy more.. if I don't quite have the funds, then I adjust the budget as needed to squeeze it in!

Alas. running late for work to no tea just yet today. Tragic.

[geeber1]

Nice pics today Salsero, Nick and Brandon. They're all very peaceful!

I haven't really considered tea a budget item. I think my "budget" is along the lines of Neowolf's - take the funds out of the fun funds.

This morning, I'm having the last of the ToT Nilgiri Blue I received from Victoria. Guess it's time to start finding some TeaBucks!

[Victoria]

Humm well that's my problem ... I don't budget.
That and denial.
All I can hope for is that it is significantly less than last year.
If so, I'll be happy.


Brandon - I really like those Tea Board/Trays.

[Sydney]

I'm gonna try to get it under $200 this year, so that's what I checked off.

We'll see. heh

It's possible to make that amount stretch pretty far if you choose your vendors right and such, though.

I had a couple of $70-75 orders from TeaSpring last year that constituted a large percentage of my tea consumption for the year.

[Charlotte]

Fun question! I'm guessing under $300. I don't normally drink tea in the summer because it's so hot here. I am dying to try the spring greens so that may change.
It's funny for me to look at that number because at this time last year I spent a whole $7 for a 3 oz. tin of green tea from Target (shudder!) and thought that was way to much! Boy, have I come a long way!!!

Monkey Picked Oolong in my cup this morning. BTW - it doesn't go with cottage cheese. Blech!!!

[Victoria]

This morning, I'm having the last of the ToT Nilgiri Blue I received from Victoria. Guess it's time to start finding some TeaBucks!

Oh, I decided to have the Nilgiri Blue again this morning too. I am trying to decide if I want to keep it in my permanent rotation. It seems different than the other Nilgiri; less Darjeeling and more Ceylon-like. Which of course is what makes it so interesting. And smoooooth.


Happy Friday everyone!

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[chad]

Should be less that $300, but if I change my "taste" that could go up!

Pai Mu Tan (white) in the mug this morning.

[Intuit]

Hehehe.
Note that Chip consistently removes teaware as a factor in our answers to many of the daily polls.

I don't have a budget, but like Gingko, I tend to be conservative in my tea purchases. There are a lot of very drinkable and reasonably-priced everyday teas to be had.

[Smari]

Beautiful photos this morning!!
Voted less than $200 since I will be getting most of my teas as gifts or passes from people; so I won't be spending much out of my pocket like in 2008 (where I spent $500+!).

This morning, warming up from 9*F weather with Tea Fortè's Raspberry Nectar blended with mate & lemongrass.

[auggy]

Tea comes out of my discretionary budget line, so I don't have a set tea amount. But I tend to spend 50 - 70 bucks an order and I guess that I place an order about every 6 weeks or so - though the longer between orders, the higher the amount spent is. Anyway, so I voted under $500. But I could be surprised at the end of the year and overshoot that. Who knows! As long as it falls comfortably in my monthly blow money, I'm fine.

Ceylon something or other this morning. DH likes this tea more than I do. It has the taste of fresh raspberries - something he loves and I'm just okay with. But it is a good tea.

Busy day ahead of me today. As the whole of this week has been. And it is freakin' cold. I'm ready to run away. Pentox, Victoria, either of you mind if I start living on your couch?

About 100€ per month (125 to 150US$)

On the other hand, maybe I need to move in with olivierco so I can have access to his tea pantry!

[shogun89]

I'll probably spend around $300. BTW, Awesome picture TaiPing Hou Kui!