For several years adhered to the same weekday routine – I’d wake up at the last possible second in order to make the bus to work, throw on some clothes and make a harried pit stop at the corner coffee shop. There I would proceed to lay down a few dollars of my hard-earned money on an overpriced cup of coffee or an extortionate espresso shot. In my view, I was paying the cost for convenience.

Aside from this small extravagance, I had always been careful with my money. It struck me that buying coffee every day was creating a strain on my budget – all those lattes and cups of joe were adding up over the long term. Something had to be done, and I knew it would be a matter of changing my daily routine. “First things first,” I thought, and bought a Solis espresso machine online.

I started waking up one hour earlier than I had before, and the difference was immediately noticeable. Not only did I save money by brewing my own beverages, but I suddenly had some free time to take it slow in the a.m. Never before had I read the morning paper in the morning. This was a routine I could get used to. By the time I left for work – and not in a rush – I felt awake, alert and ready to tackle whatever tasks might come my way.