Making Iced Coffee At Home.

My New Favorite Money-Saving Treat: Homemade Iced Coffee ☕️🧊

Lately, I have discovered something that makes me very happy—and it is saving me money at the same time!

Iced coffee. ❤️

I have really been enjoying making my iced coffee at home instead of stopping somewhere and spending several dollars every time I want one. Don’t get me wrong, I still love a good coffee-shop iced coffee, but there is something pretty satisfying about walking into my kitchen, making my own, and knowing I just saved myself some money.

And honestly, it is SO easy!

Right now, I have both mocha iced coffee and caramel iced coffee in the refrigerator, so I can choose whichever flavor sounds good that day. I also have a few creamers and syrups that make it really easy to change things up.

My creamers right now are:

• Chocolate Caramel Zero Sugar
• Cinnamon Bun

And for syrups, I have:

• Chocolate Coconut Macaron
• Salted Caramel
• Caramel Pecan
• Hazelnut

With those ingredients, the flavor combinations are practically endless!

☕️ My Basic Homemade Iced Coffee

The basic recipe couldn’t be easier.

I start with my homemade iced coffee, pour it over a glass full of ice, add a splash of creamer, and then add a little flavored syrup. Give it a good stir, and that’s it!

No fancy coffee machine. No complicated recipe. No driving anywhere.

Just coffee, ice, creamer, syrup, and a few minutes.

And let me tell you, it is GOOD!

🍫 Chocolate Caramel Iced Coffee

This one is perfect when I want something sweet and chocolatey.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup chilled iced coffee
• Ice
• Chocolate Caramel Zero Sugar creamer
• 1–2 pumps Chocolate Coconut Macaron syrup

Fill a glass with ice and pour in your iced coffee. Add your Chocolate Caramel creamer and Chocolate Coconut Macaron syrup. Stir well and enjoy!

The chocolate and caramel flavors together make this one taste like a little coffee-shop treat without the coffee-shop price.

🧂 Salted Caramel Iced Coffee

This is another easy favorite.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup chilled iced coffee
• Ice
• Chocolate Caramel Zero Sugar creamer
• 1–2 pumps Salted Caramel syrup

Pour your iced coffee over ice, add the creamer and salted caramel syrup, and stir.

Simple. Sweet. Caramelly. Delicious.

And yes, I realize “caramelly” probably isn’t technically a word—but it should be. 😂

🍰 Cinnamon Bun Caramel Iced Coffee

Now THIS sounds like breakfast in a glass!

You’ll need:

• 1 cup chilled iced coffee
• Ice
• Cinnamon Bun creamer
• 1 pump Caramel Pecan syrup

Add everything to a glass filled with ice and stir.

The cinnamon bun creamer with the caramel pecan syrup gives the coffee a warm, bakery-style flavor that makes me feel like I’m drinking dessert for breakfast.

And I’m completely okay with that.

🥥 Chocolate Coconut Hazelnut Iced Coffee

For something a little different, try this combination.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup chilled iced coffee
• Ice
• Chocolate Caramel Zero Sugar creamer
• 1 pump Chocolate Coconut Macaron syrup
• 1 small splash of Hazelnut syrup

Mix everything together over ice and give it a good stir.

Chocolate, coconut and hazelnut? Yes, please!

🍮 Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Iced Coffee

This one might become one of my favorites.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup chilled iced coffee
• Ice
• Cinnamon Bun creamer
• 1–2 pumps Caramel Pecan syrup

Pour everything over ice and stir.

It has that sweet, cozy, cinnamon-and-pecan flavor that makes an ordinary cup of coffee feel a little special.

💰 The Best Part? I’m Saving Money!

One of the things I really love about making these at home is knowing that I’m not spending money on an iced coffee every time I get a craving.

I already have the coffee, creamers and syrups at home, so I can make myself a delicious iced coffee whenever I want.

Plus, I get to experiment!

Some days I want chocolate. Some days I want caramel. Some days I just start grabbing bottles out of the refrigerator and see what happens. 😂

That’s part of the fun.

I’ve discovered that making iced coffee at home doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A few basic ingredients can give you so many different combinations, and you can make it exactly the way you like it.

For me, this has become one of those little things that makes my day better.

A glass full of ice, some homemade iced coffee, a splash of creamer, a little flavored syrup—and I’m a happy girl.

And my wallet is pretty happy too!

So if you’ve been buying iced coffee every time you leave the house, maybe give homemade iced coffee a try. You might just discover your new favorite coffee routine—and save a little money while you’re at it.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Cheers,

Karen❤️

MakingToDo List

Thursday Check-In: Beating the Heat & Checking Things Off My List

Good morning, friends!

Grab a cup of coffee and come sit with me for a few minutes.

It’s going to be another scorcher here in Oklahoma today, with temperatures expected to reach around 107 degrees. Summer is definitely making its presence known! Thankfully, my employer has been letting us wear shorts all week because the air conditioning in our building hasn’t been working properly. They have also placed large stand-up fans throughout nearly every aisle, which has made a huge difference. I even keep a small fan on my desk. Not only does it help keep me cool, but it also creates a little background noise that helps drown out some of the conversations around me while I’m working.

I can’t believe we’re already to Thursday. The weekend is finally in sight!

After work this evening, I’ll be making a quick trip to Walmart to pick up some of Landon’s back-to-school supplies. Brody and Savannah have already purchased quite a bit from his school list, so we just wanted to help out with a few of the remaining items. I looked everything up online this morning, and our total should be around $63, which isn’t bad at all. We’re also planning to pick up a few classroom donation items like cotton balls, sidewalk chalk, colored copy paper, and a few other miscellaneous supplies that teachers always seem to need.

I still need to buy back-to-school outfits for Wesley, Angel, Clifford, and Max. I’m thinking Old Navy will probably be my weekend destination since I’ve always had good luck finding clothes for them there.

Today’s To-Do List

1. Fill my weekly pill organizer so I stay on track with taking my medications every morning.
2. Finish my July journal before the month comes to an end.
3. Continue sorting through the tote bags in my sunroom, especially the ones filled with old paperwork that needs to be shredded or tossed.
4. Stop by Burger King after work and pick up dinner for Mr. C and me.
5. Focus on getting 10 saves at work today so I can finish the month strong.

I’ve also been spending some time looking over my budget, and I realized I owe a little more on my vehicle than I originally thought. The balance is down to about $790, though, so I’m finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

The best financial news this week is that I canceled two subscriptions that I really wasn’t using anymore. That will save us about $100 every month, and that money can now go toward more important goals.

One of those goals is paying down my credit card debt. I really don’t want to head into retirement with debt hanging over my head. I’ve struggled with finances at different times throughout my life, and while I’ve come a long way, I know I still have work to do. That’s okay, though. Progress doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one step, one payment, and one good decision at a time.

That’s what I’m focusing on today.

Easy Vanilla Caramel Iced Coffee ☕

If you’re trying to stay cool, here’s one of my favorite easy iced coffee recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chilled strong coffee or cold brew
• ½ cup milk (any kind)
• 1 tablespoon caramel syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla syrup or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Ice
• Whipped cream (optional)

Simply fill a glass with ice, pour in the coffee, milk, caramel, and vanilla, then stir well. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel if you’re feeling a little fancy. It tastes like a coffee shop treat without the coffee shop price!

Well, I’d better get ready for work. I hope you have a wonderful Thursday! Stay hydrated, try to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day if you can, and remember that even the smallest step toward your goals is still progress.

Thank you so much for stopping by and spending a little part of your morning with me. I always appreciate your visits.

Cheers,

Karen❤️