Let's say on your way to work each morning you stop in at the local coffee establishment and purchase a cup of your favorite roast, ground and steamed and served up just like you like it. Let's say you shell out roughly $2.50 for that cup of bliss. Now let's say you do that every day for 10 years.

What's the cost of your morning ritual? It works out to about a thousand dollars a year. Your morning cup on the way to the office over a ten year period costs you about $10,000.

Now lots of people will tell you that's money spent foolishly. They'll tell you that money could have been invested rather than consumed. Had you done that your own personal net worth would be about $20,000 north of where it is now. (Starting 10 years ago you were at zero. Now you're out the $10k, but had you invested it you would have $10k. The difference works out to $20k.)

But would it? Would it really?

Is the coffee you prepare on your own as good as that which you buy at the coffee shop? The taste of a well-brewed cup is worth something; and that something might be greater than that which you brew at home. Factor taste into the analysis and the $20k shrinks a bit.

Does it give you the satisfaction you get from your coffee shop's cup? Not the caffeine buzz, but the frame of mind that comes from treating yourself to the better things life has to offer. What's that worth? It might mean slightly more motivation or a better frame of mind in daily dealings with your boss, coworkers, employees or customers and prospects. That could be worth a lot more than the $20k over a 10 year period, don't you think?

Suppose being a regular at the coffee shops provides a sense of belonging, not only for you but for the people who run the shop and the other regulars there. That's a community you belong to. It's part of your network. Is it a stretch to believe that in 10 years' time your network might yield just one lead of substantial value? That lead might be a new business opportunity, or a career opportunity, something you would not have otherwise known about.

There are lots of well-intentioned people out there showing us ways to save money. Lots of it is good advice; but I'd urge you to not lose sight of how you're investing each and every dollar. Every dollar you spend - or don't spend - is an investment. It's a choice with Return-on-Investment implications. Learn this and wealth will find you.

Related reading: Looking back, perhaps I should have named this article the $35,000 oil change