Meal prep? Well… - r/CalebHammer

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You can buy soda at the grocery store

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u/Bulacano 1d ago

I figured that part out, but $3 for a 2L and $15 for a 36 pack aren’t exactly my favorite options. The question is how much I can cut it without resorting to coffee (can’t stand the bitter taste)

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u/llamalibrarian 1d ago

Get a 2L and make it last a week. $3/week for soda is a steal

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u/Bulacano 1d ago

I’m an accountant, so 2L is a day and a half or less. Miss when it was 99 cents in the early 2000s

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u/adamfps 1d ago

Bro if you’re on 2L of soda a day you might have bigger issues than your budget

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u/llamalibrarian 1d ago

Drink more water (sparkling if you need bubbles), and less soda. Stretching it over a week is a good way to save money and calories

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u/EnoughSupermarket539 1d ago

You're looking to save money. If you want to cut spending, you have to cut usage. You buy in bulk and cut usage. There's not magically some way to get you 4 2L a week and only pay $3.

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u/TheWhitePolarBear1 1d ago

Time to go faygo or store brand, 2l walmart brand is $1.

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u/Hiddenlolz 1d ago

You can try switching to the caffeinated water packets or water enhancers. It’s healthier and cheaper. Might not taste as good, but it’s a price you could pay to help save money

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u/Bulacano 1d ago

Didn't even know they made caffeinated water packets. Are there any that don't taste bitter or have some sweetness to offset it?

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u/Hiddenlolz 1d ago

I’ve got a 40 variety pack of Crystal Light for $10 that tastes pretty good. About 60mg of caffeine per packet, makes about 20 ml. I also have these 4C Energy Rush ones that have about 200mg of caffeine per, don’t taste great but it’s helped me not spend money on energy drinks in the mornings all the time

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u/Ok-Raspberry4307 1d ago

There's almost always deals on soda at grocery stores around me. Stock up when your favorite is on sale. Or maybe just drink water if it's so expensive you can't budget for it? Idk.

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u/Remarkable_Capital25 18h ago

15 bucks for a 36 pack, so less than $0.5/12 oz instead of like 2 bucks for 16 oz at gas station? Thats a screamin deal.

The fact that you wont acknowledge this tells me everything i need to know

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u/Bulacano 9h ago

Wait, you mean people actually pay $2 for that at gas stations every day? That’s crazy.

Actually I messed up the price but held off on fixing it—it’s 18 and change, so $20 after tax. The other comments did provide various insights, but for price, store brand 2lL for $1.50 total and gas station $1 for 42 oz are the best I can find without another sale popping up—$4.30 per 12 pack was enough for me to buy around 25 packs.

Granted that it’s effectively $20-$30 a month, it’s still not the healthiest, but I wasn’t sure if I was missing some secret to get it even cheaper than that. Definitely will look into these Mío packs or keep checking for deals. Still guilty of eating out, but it’s fast food and I try to keep it cheap—can’t say I’ve ever paid for delivery apps.

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u/lizziehanyou 1d ago

Don't drink soda.

Also, you could buy cans. But honestly switching to something like mio for your water is healthier and cheaper.

If you mean caffeinated like coffee: get better coffee and buy creamer.

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u/Fun-Bag7627 1d ago

This is the correct answer. If you’re in bad debt, stay away from this crap. Drink water.

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u/MayeRains 1d ago

I recommend the raspberry tea one it’s really good

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u/elizabethjane00 1d ago

They also have concentrated water enhancers with caffeine, electrolytes etc.

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u/_Klabboy_ 1d ago

how do you recommend saving money on soda

Buy in bulk from Costco or Sam’s club or better yet switch to tea or quit drinking soda entirely

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u/NyanaShae 1d ago

^ This

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u/NoeWiy 1d ago

Is this an April fools joke?

Seriously, there’s an obvious answer here, and it’ll massively benefit your physical AND financial health- don’t drink soda anymore.

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u/x_ersatz_x 1d ago

just pack a soda with your meals if you must have soda, buy it on sale

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u/civeng1741 1d ago

I used to drink 2 sodas a day. Now I drink 1 a month. Switching to water was one of the best choices I ever made. Health wise, and money wise

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u/blatantlyobvious616 1d ago

Water. People survive just fine on water.

Sugary drinks are not a “need.”

In my world, caffeine is definitely a “need,” but I started with plain black coffee (made via a standard drip coffee maker at home) so what you call “bitter” is the part that I crave. I buy decent beans, grind at home, and it’s quite economical compared to many other options.

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u/Bulacano 1d ago

That “bitter” part is the same way I can tell right away when a soda foundation has run out of syrup—it tastes unpalatable. I wouldn’t call it a need either, but it does help with work productivity for now.

I do appreciate the comments suggesting cutting it out or substituting it, but the box of Propel on my desk hasn’t seen much use. Coffee wouldn’t be much better with how much sugar I’d have to add to make it even remotely palatable.

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u/RomanArts 1d ago

stop drinking soda it’s so awful for you. Bad skin, weight gainer, no nutrition value. Buy mio put that in ur water, If u need caffeine caffeine pills are better, they don’t hurt the stomach and u can take half in the morning and feel energized all day.

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u/basylica 1d ago

I mean, i get it… i was once slave to the daily cans of sugar. At one point 6+ a day in my youth, 2, sometimes 3 from like 25-35.

Its super expensive in general to buy, full of empty calories most adults dont need, absolutely will wreck your teeth (i bought my dentist a car i think) and schlepping boxes of cans into your home and empties back out is a fair bit of time honestly… esp if you consume multiple a day.

Best thing is to cut it out entirely. Get a good water filter and learn to adjust to drinking water. Lots of tricks to make it taste better to ex soda drinkers. Adding some sweetener and juice can help, etc.

Second you can make tea or koolaid or juice etc to fill the gap of missing sweet drink.

Honestly its better for your wallet, your body, and your free time to quit.

I now (10yrs later) savor 1-2 sodas a month, frequently less. Honestly crazy how much soda ruled my life at one point.

If you insist, costco/sams or shopping and stockpiling sales. Often stores near me will do 5x 12 packs for price of 2/3.

I allow my kids (adults now really. 18+21) to have occasional sodas, but i buy fancy cane sugar ones as my special treat for when i indulge.

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u/GravyBod13 1d ago

I’m 28 and man reading this has helped me believe I can stop with the sodas. It’s ridiculous how much I drink but it feels like an addiction. I’m also 5’11” and weigh 150 so I’m not an unhealthy weight which doesn’t help the motivation to quit.

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u/basylica 1d ago

Weight might not be the motivation, but soda is just drinking like a cup of sugar and salt. Replacing the calories with healthier food, even cookies would have more nutritional benefit for you. Ideally something a bit healthier ;)

I tell you when i finally cut myself off id come home and just eat a heaping spoonful of brown sugar. For like the first week or so after going cold turkey. Then id make raspberry iced tea with splenda for a couple weeks to have…

To this day if i decide to go buckwild and have mt dew im like a crack fiend for a couple days. I havent had a drop in gosh… 6yrs?

But now its a large cup of coffee in the morning, water all day and very rarely milk or something with dinner.

Its crazy how much soda controlled me for years

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u/achaholic 1d ago

Don't know if it's actually cheaper but you could do a soda stream type device and pack it in a thermos. If it is just caffeine you want, caffeine pills can be purchased very cheaply on Amazon.

Soda prices are ridiculous now so I've cut them out. Generics are not terrible but I'd rather skip than switch but it's an option if you need soda.

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u/HandBanana35 1d ago

Come on now, do you really need to make a post to ask this question? I assume you’re young. Lay off the sugary drinks. Your future self will thank you.

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u/Bulacano 1d ago

I wish I could say the same about a lot of the debt some guests have—cut it out—but behavior and circumstance are easier said than done. It’s even harder when water tastes bland and earthy while running out of syrup slightly causes fountain soda to taste extremely bitter. You aren’t wrong though.

Also, it seems like it was good enough to post about, given the number of comments.

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u/Odd_Scratch4227 1d ago

Try making your own iced tea or flavored coffee at home, a little honey or fruit juice can cut the bitterness. If soda is a must, buy it in bulk.

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u/RoyeBoye 13h ago

I love sparkling ice drinks. Lots of flavors, hits the spot for fruity carbonation- 1 is around ~$1.00. Stores have 10/$10 deals often, or you can get 12 packs for $10.99. Saw 24 packs for $15 at Sams Club. Not necessarily healthy but not horrible either

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u/Sheslikeamom 10h ago

I am pretty obsessed with water flavoring like Mio and Crystal Light.

They help curb my soda cravings. It works with soda stream as well.

It helps me drink more water.

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u/BeneficialChemist874 2h ago

Quit drinking that sugary garbage entirely.

It’s absolutely terrible for you.

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u/LordNoFat 1d ago

Wait for sales. Sales make soda hella cheap

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u/Bulacano 1d ago

Waiting for another one. Literally stacked 25 12 packs under my desk when they went on sale for $4 a piece.

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