On Not Feeling Guilty About Buying That Daily Coffee

I've lost count of how many people have confessed their "guilty" spending habits to me. The most common? That daily coffee.

It's always the same. A nervous laugh, then: "I know I should make it at home..."

But here's what I've learned after 25 years in the money world: it was never about the coffee.

Beyond the Price Tag

When I decluttered my life last year, I kept my David Lloyd gym membership without hesitation. At over £100 monthly, it's objectively expensive.

But its value? Immeasurable. It's where my kids learned to swim. My sanctuary between clients. My thinking space. My social hub. My structure when life feels chaotic.

Some expenses look extravagant on paper but deliver returns no investment fund could match.

Your Money, Your Values

What I've discovered is simple: the healthiest relationship with money isn't about spending the least. It's about spending in alignment with what genuinely matters to you.

I've seen clients who earn six figures but feel guilty about fresh flowers. Teachers who spend more on books than others spend on cars. Doctors investing in music lessons that save their mental health.

Each spending choice tells a story about what we truly value.

The Conscious Currency

This is what I call "conscious currency" – when your spending decisions come from clarity about what matters rather than what others think should matter.

That coffee run? If it's your moment of peace, your small daily joy, or your way of supporting a local business – and if it fits within your means – it's not a waste. It's a conscious choice.

So here's my advice: Stop apologizing for spending money on things that genuinely add value to your life. Instead, get clear on what those things actually are.

Own your financial choices when they reflect your truest values. Just make sure they're actually yours, not someone else's expectations or habits you've never questioned.

Because at the end of the day, money is both a tool and an energy. The real question is: what are you creating with it?

What's your "coffee"? What do you spend on that others might question, but you know brings real value to your life?

If you enjoyed this perspective, keep an eye out for my upcoming book "The Conscious Currency" where I explore our relationship with money beyond the numbers.