Coffee, Ice Cream, and Copenhagen: A Week of Rethinking My Spending

A few days ago, I had a realization: I’m not handling my finances as well as I thought I was. In thinking about it, I also realized that I’m probably not the only one. So I decided to monitor my spending habits for the past week to become a more conscious spender—and to write this blog about some small practices that have helped me become a bit more financially efficient.

Coffee

Because it’s Ramadan and I’m fasting, it was actually easier for me to control my spending on coffee. Most cafés around me close around iftar time, so buying coffee wasn’t really an option anyway. But even before coming to Copenhagen, I had already developed the habit of making good coffee at home using a Moka pot and high-quality ground coffee. It’s a habit that started at my home university and has continued here.

Making your own coffee not only saves money, but also gives you control over how much caffeine, milk, or sugar you want. My tip is actually to spoil yourself a little when you do make coffee at home. You can buy different types of milk or syrups you like from Netto, or even invest in good-quality coffee beans, and you’ll still spend less than buying coffee outside every day.

I think what often pushes us to buy coffee is when we get lazy with the coffee-making process. But when you take a bit of time with it, making coffee can actually become enjoyable. You can experiment and make the perfect iced salted caramel latte—one that’s not too milky, not too watery, and actually has enough coffee to keep you awake. There are also so many tutorials online that make learning easy. That said, I’ll admit I still bought one cup last week when I went out with friends.

Shopping

When you stop spending money on coffee, you suddenly realize you have more room in your budget—and that can easily turn into spending on shopping. Copenhagen is full of amazing places where you can buy all kinds of things, and it can get overwhelming very quickly.

The two tips that help me most are simple. First, prepare a shopping list with the things you actually need. Sometimes it also helps to check the store’s website beforehand to get an idea of prices before going in person. Second, sign up for memberships or store apps when possible. Many places offer discounts or member deals that can make a noticeable difference over time.

Meals

It’s true that eating out is expensive, and cooking or meal prepping is usually the more affordable option. However, groceries can also be tricky if you’re not paying attention. One time I ended up paying 72 DKK for ice cream—the most expensive item on my receipt—simply because I grabbed it without checking the price.

There are many Danish local products that are reasonably priced, and being conscious about what you’re buying can really help reduce your grocery bill. Planning meals and making sure you’re buying things you’ll actually use also prevents waste. That said, it doesn’t hurt to spoil yourself every now and then—especially when you need it.

Going Out

Now that the weather is getting nicer, there are so many things to do that cost little or nothing. Walking around the city, having picnics in parks, or visiting free museums like the David Collection are all great options.

One activity I especially enjoy is dish parties. Whether indoors or outdoors, everyone brings a dish to share. It’s a great way to socialize, try different foods, and keep costs low at the same time.

My general advice is to mix different types of activities throughout the week—some that cost money and others that are completely free. And while traveling outside Denmark can be exciting, it’s also worth consciously exploring the space around you.

Sometimes being financially efficient isn’t about cutting out everything you enjoy. It’s more about being mindful of where your money goes and finding small ways to balance saving with still enjoying your time.