I have finished reading your book and was trying to locate my latte factor. I looked at what I was spending each day and thought I had really no “latte factor”. I went to work and ate my sack lunch that I brought from home. I didn’t buy sodas or anything else during the day. I was certain I didn’t have a latte factor.
But there was one thing that I HAD to pay for everyday – it was my parking. I work downtown in a large city and there are parking garages everywhere. They will charge in between $5 – $20 a day to park on their lot. The price would depend on the size of the lot and how close you are to your work. Some parking lots would charge you less if you got there early “the early bird special” but you would have to get their before 7:30am and then park on the highest floor of the parking lot. Some times when I was running late my favorite parking lot would be full and I would have to drive to the next one that would cost more. Sometimes I have been caught with out any cash on me to pay the parking lot attendant. So I would have to find an ATM and withdraw some money. (Don’t get me started on ATM fees)
Finally, I got fed up with the whole thing and looked at taking the bus to work. It was still about the same cost (time and money wise). It seemed that there was no escape from this.
UNTIL, by chance, I was in downtown when I noticed a parking lot some 10 blocks away from my work and it was FREE. It was in a remote but safe part of downtown. I map it out and it was about ¾ of a mile walk to work if I was to park there. For the first couple of times that I tried it, it was a long walk and my legs ached; it was definitely reaching out of my comfort zone. It took me about 15 to 20 mins to walk. I told myself to try it for a month. So to minimize the perception of having to deal with a long walk each morning and afternoon, I loaded up my MP3 player with my favorite music and audio books like “Automatic Millionaire” to listen to. The month went by pretty quickly and I noticed that the walks where getting easier and easier. I even started to look forward to the walks. It would give me 30 – 40 mins a day in which I could listen to other audio books. I am getting ready to purchase a home so I am currently listening to “Automatic Millionaire – Homeowner” for the second time.
It has been a year ago since I have been walking the 10 blocks walk into work. I have saved about $1,200.00 (a great start on a down payment for my home), lost 10 lbs, and listen to some great audio books. Sometimes your latte factor just takes a little step out of your comfort zone to see it and realize the many benefits it will have on your life.
