How much DID you spend on tea in 2014?

I predict close to $1000 if I include shipping or any teaware that might catch my eye.

As of 22 Jan, my running total is $94…the bulk of that being 6oz of Teavana’s ridiculously priced, but delicious, Golden Dragon Yellow Tea.

EDIT: To facilitate the cost of having a new girlfriend, I’m reducing my prediction to about $500.

January 2014 – $94

Hopefully I can keep it to only the verdant monthly. ill see how that goes.

I predict I will spend about $100 – $200. I’m more of window-shopper than a buyer. Current running total is $0, because I like to space out my purchases to every other month or so.

I would estimate about 400

100 – Matcha
100 – Asian Grocery Stores, Pu-erh
100 – Coffee, Starbucks Via Packs, Demarco Coffee, Gourmet Coffee
100 – Steepster Meetups, Silver Tips Tarrytown NY Tea House, Ebay teas, Mail Order

Great idea! And also terrifying, because I’m not sure that I want to know how much it all adds up to.

Prediction (more like naïve underestimate): $300
Updated Prediction: Ok, I hit $300 in less than 4 months. The new goal is to average $40/month. Some months will probably be less, but I’m accounting for a few Mariage Freres purchases and Black Friday. So the new goal is to stay below $620 for the year.

Purchases
January total: $30.50
Teavana – $2
box of Stash from the grocery store – $5
Kung Fu Tea – $5
Amoda – $12
BrewTEAllySweet’s stash sale – $6.50

February total: $96.24
Amoda – $12
MissB’s stash sale – $16
Mighty Leaf – $8
Trader Joe’s – $3
Anna’s stash sale – $12.50
Harney’s (gift) – $6
Butiki – $18.74
Coffee & Tea Festival tickets – $20

March total: $142.70
Amoda – $12
Anna’s stash sale – $4.70
Coffee & Tea Festival – $126 (ouch)

April total: $45.90
Amoda – $12
Argo – $5
Teavivre – $17.90
Two for the Pot – $10
Simple Loose Leaf – $1

May total: $80
This is really just an educated guess. My only spending was during my trip to Taiwan, but I didn’t keep very careful track of my costs between the bubble tea, iced tea, hot tea, loose leaf, and tea purchased with meals. Plus the tea gifts and the $8 I dropped on teaware.

June total: $37.50
Trader Joe’s – $3
Simple Loose Leaf – $22.50
World Market – $12

July total: $78.48
DavidsTea – $21.23
Butiki – $31.25
Teavivre – $16
52teas Kickstarter – $10

August total: $55
Amazon – $5
Duty Free – $50

October and November total: $241.08
Butiki – $225.57
Coffee & Tea Festival Ticket – $15.51

December total: $113.49
Teavana – $17.00
Butiki – $31.49
DavidsTea Boxing Day – $65.00

Year Total: $965.89

I am hoping to keep my tea purchases this year under $2000. We’ll see. I’m afraid to add up January, but here goes. Teaware and shipping included though I rarely pay for shipping.

Through January 24th
Verdant (gift) – $30
Verdant (me) – $87.87
Teavana – $224.87
The Tea Merchant – $108.95
Stash – $132.94
Taiwan Tea Crafts – $199.75

Total: $784.38

This does not bode well.

January Total: $806.26

Running February number: $68.65

Last year I definitely spent over $1000, most of which occurred during my trip to NYC in June (David’s Tea! H&S! Laduree! Pearl River Mart! Mariage Freres at Bergdorf Goodman! Kusmi!) and then when I came into some money and got splurge-y near the year’s end. With no trips planned and money uncertain this year, we’ll see. I’ll guess $700? That seems like a really low estimate but I’ll be conservative. I never really buy teaware and I go through tea like gangbusters, it’s pretty much my only indulgence.

So far for January:

Millie’s Savory Teas: $12
Teavana: $27
Sands of Thyme: $30

Total: $69

I can tell already that those Millie’s teas are going to kill me, I tried one variety pack and am completely addicted, they’re so good. Depending on how money shakes out I’ll probably be ordering from Tea Guys or David’s Tea next. I’m also tapping my feet waiting for another Tealux sale so I can try a bunch of their pu-erhs.

So, I made a little joke on this thread and have been subscribed to it ever since. I’ve been reading all of the posts, and while you all might think I have ulterior motives for what I am about to say, I think it should be said anyway:

Tea is STILL one of the most affordable luxuries on the planet. A tea that costs you even $100/lb comes out to 45-cents per cup. Try getting that kind of deal from Starbucks. You could and probably have (I know I have) spend more on a bottle of water, and definitely on sodas. I don’t think I want to know what I spend a year on soda (I love tea, but I have to have some ginger ale and Dr. Pepper from time to time.

Anyway, I didn’t mean to be intrusive, just felt someone should point out that there are a lot worse things you could spend money on.

No number really other than less than last year.

I have plenty of tea so this is what I foresee

I’d like more Milk Oolong from Mandala and am almost out so I’m going to ask for some for my birthday in march. 4oz for 29.50

In the summer a couple of small Verdant orders to tide me over using my credits and bit of my own money. No specific money limit here, just be sensible and modest in my spending.

I’ll get Franks 12 days of Christmas in the fall when it comes out.

I’ll set aside some money for Black Friday, number to be decided depending on finances at the time. Probably refresh my Butiki stock then.

If there’s anything else I really want that isn’t on my list I’ll try and trade for it or go without. I want to appreciate what I have not focus on what I don’t.

January—None

February— $22.85

Shan Valley samples and shipping $9.85
Steepster Select through Living Social $13

There was a Mandala order but I’m not counting it since it was for my birthday!