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I tried 5 vanilla iced coffees from the grocery store. They'd all save me money, but a few stood out above the rest.

Vanilla iced CoffeeMate, Dunkin, International Delight, Starbucks, and Cafe Bustelo coffee bottles in front of gray backsplash
I tried different vanilla-flavored iced coffees from Coffee Mate, Dunkin', International Delight, Starbucks, and Cafe Bustelo.

Elliott Harrell

  • I'd like to spend less money on ordering coffee at cafΓ©s, chains, and drive-thrus.
  • So, I tried store-bought vanilla-flavored iced coffees to see if any could replace my to-go order
  • Starbucks and Cafe Bustelo had my favorite drinks, though International Delight also impressed me.

Like most of us, I know making coffee at home could save me money.

However, if doing so takes too much time and the results aren't even that delicious, are those savings even worth it?

So, I tested out five premade vanilla iced coffee drinks from the grocery store in hopes that at least one could be a worthy replacement for my drive-thru habit.

To see how much I could actually save, I compared the cost of a 12-ounce cup of each to what I usually pay for roughly the same thing while out. For reference, a 12-ounce iced coffee with vanilla syrup and milk is about $3.75 at my local Starbucks.

Here's how the coffee drinks stacked up.

I liked the price of Coffee Mate's French vanilla iced coffee, but I wouldn't get it again.
Coffeemate vanilla iced coffee bottle next to glass of iced coffee
Coffee Mate's French vanilla iced coffee costs me about $0.09 an ounce.

Elliott Harrell

I've had Coffee Mate's creamers before, but this was my first time trying its iced coffee.

The French vanilla iced coffee rang up at $4.49 for 50 ounces, about $1.08 per 12-ounce serving, making it one of the least expensive options I tried.

The vanilla flavor tasted a little unnatural and a bit too artificial to me, and the coffee left an almost chalky aftertaste in my mouth. This was my least favorite coffee of the bunch.

I wasn't super impressed by the Dunkin' iced coffee.
Dunkin vanilla iced coffee bottle next to glass of iced coffee
I could only find a small bottle of the Dunkin' iced coffee.

Elliott Harrell

The French vanilla Dunkin' iced coffee was only available in single-serve bottles at my local Walmart.

One 13.7-ounce bottle was $2.98 β€” based on the price per ounce, a 12-ounce pour would cost about $2.64. Of the coffees I tried, this cost the most per ounce, though it's worth noting this price may have been lower if I'd been able to find a larger bottle.

I appreciated that this coffee had real milk in it, but I felt it also had a slightly artificial vanilla taste. I wasn't particularly impressed by the price or the flavor.

International Delight's vanilla iced coffee had a good coffee flavor.
International delight vanilla iced coffee bottle next to glass of iced coffee
I could save money by drinking International Delight's vanilla iced coffee at home.

Elliott Harrell

In terms of price per ounce, the least expensive option I sampled was International Delight's vanilla iced coffee.

I paid $4.86 for a 64-ounce carton, so a 12-ounce serving cost about $0.96. I'd be able to drink four cups of this for the price of just one vanilla Starbucks iced coffee, which felt impressive.

The vanilla flavor wasn't overwhelming, and this coffee didn't taste as sweet as some of the other options. I appreciated the subtle flavor, and I'd drink this again, especially at this great price point.

I loved that I could add my own milk to Cafe Bustelo's vanilla iced coffee.
Cafe Bustelo vanilla iced coffee bottle next to glass of iced coffee
The Cafe Bustelo drink didn't contain milk and cream.

Elliott Harrell

Cafe Bustelo's vanilla iced coffee cost me $5.99 for 40 ounces, or roughly $1.80 per 12-ounce serving. This was the only option I tested that didn't have milk or cream in it.

In my opinion, the coffee didn't have much of a vanilla flavor. This may be because the base seemed to be more concentrated (espresso) than some of the other drinks I tried. However, I prefer a subtle vanilla flavor over an overwhelming one, so this was a win for me.

The coffee was smooth, and I really liked that I could control how much milk or cream to add to it β€” or that I could drink it black. I'd absolutely buy this again.

Starbucks' vanilla Frappuccino chilled coffee drink tasted like I could've ordered it from the drive-thru.
Starbucks vanilla iced coffee bottle next to glass of iced coffee
I was really impressed by Starbucks' bottled vanilla Frappuccino.

Elliott Harrell

A four-pack of Starbucks vanilla Frappuccino chilled coffee drinks cost me $7.78. Each bottle was 9.5 ounces, which would make a 12-ounce serving about $2.40.

Although Frappuccino is in the name of this drink, this isn't a milkshake-like beverage like the ones at Starbucks locations. It's more of a milky iced coffee.

And, in my opinion, this vanilla coffee drink tasted the best by far.

I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference between a cup of this and a vanilla iced coffee from my local Starbucks. This was my favorite pick, and it felt like the best compromise β€” it really tasted like something I'd ordered from a barista, not poured at home.

Although Starbucks was my winner, I'm glad I found several iced-coffee options I like β€” now, I'm confident I can still have a great drink at home for a lower cost.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Mark Cuban says AI could make 'just one dude in a basement' the world's first trillionaire

Mark Cuban sitting in a red sofa.
Mark Cuban said he thinks the world's first trillionaire could be someone who is just good at using AI.

Mat Hayward via Getty Images

  • Mark Cuban has said that AI could create the world's first trillionaire.
  • He said the technology, as it rapidly develops, could make "just one dude in a basement" mega-rich.
  • Cuban said he uses AI extensively for work and in his personal life.

Mark Cuban said artificial intelligence could make "just one dude in a basement" the world's first trillionaire.

The 66-year-old billionaire said in a recent episode of the "High Performance" podcast that we haven't yet seen "best, or the craziest" that AI can achieve.

"It's just the very beginning, right, you know, we're still in the preseason," Cuban said, adding that, as it becomes more advanced, we'll find more ways to make our lives better and more interesting.

"Not only do I think it'll create a trillionaire, but it could be just one dude in the basement. That's how crazy it could be," he said.

Cuban compared the push for AI to the early days of computers and smartphones. He said people hesitated to make the shift but would now struggle to live without the devices.

Someone who can come up with a way that makes AI as essential "will make a lot of money," Cuban added.

"Most people condemn things when they first happen," he said. "But then, when you see people using it and you realize the value, that's when people come around."

The former Shark Tank investor told the podcast it was "insane" how much he has been using AI.

He said that he uses AI for writing software and its text-to-video function for work. In his personal life, Cuban said he recently used ChatGPT to track his medicine and exercise habits.

"I'm not here to tell you it's going to replace everyone's job β€” it won't," he said, but the technology is incredible, whether you're innovative or just feeling bored.

The world's richest person, Elon Musk, has a total net worth well short of $1 trillion, at around $360 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaire Index.

His net worth peaked in December at around $439 billion as Tesla shares soared.

Read the original article on Business Insider

We sold everything to start a new life with our 2 kids in Argentina. I don't know how long we'll stay, but so far it's worth it.

Macarena Alvarez with her husband and two kids
Macarena Alvarez with her family in the snow.

Courtesy of Macarena Alvarez

  • We owned a stunning house in a lovely UK village, and the boys were happy with school and friends.
  • We left all of that behind and moved to Argentina, my home country.
  • It's been nine months β€” nine crazy and intense months. We're still adapting, but I'm glad we did it.

Being an immigrant can be hard. This wasn't the case for me.

I didn't have to flee my country because of life-threatening reasons. I chose to leave Argentina to pursue a Master's in Creative Writing in Madrid.

While I was living there, I traveled to London for the weekend and met a nice guy in a pub, whom I married a couple of years later. Not long after, I was pregnant.

We had our first son and lived in London for another two and a half years, until our second son was born. We needed more space and help with the kids, so we moved to Wales, where my in-laws were 20 minutes away and a nursery was around the corner.

I was able to carry on working remotely. My husband left his job in London and found a new position close by. Life went on. We were fine.

In fact, we were more than fine β€” we had a stunning house in a lovely village, the boys were happy with their school and friends, and although we didn't have our dream jobs, we were able to pay the bills and had a good work-life balance.

That's why I don't think anyone expected us to announce a move to Argentina.

It was a difficult decision, but we were determined

Macarena Alvarez with her husband
Alvarez with her husband.

Courtesy of Macarena Alvarez

When we broke the news to friends and family, they understandably wondered if we were sure about our decision.

Of course, we weren't. Who on Earth can be sure of such a move? We'd have to sell our dream home and everything in it, find a new home and new school for the kids, and quit our jobs and find a new way of living halfway around the world.

Not to mention, we lived in a first-world country. Argentina is not first world. We'd be throwing everything away to start a new life in an economically unsteady country. We were determined, however.

I wanted to give my sons a chance to make the most of being part of a multicultural family. They had to experience both heritages in the flesh. They deserved to know what living in their mom's country and speaking Spanish was like.

It was an emotional nightmare at first

The kids weren't happy about the move. The eldest literally said, "You're ruining my life." There was no turning back, though.

Preparing for the move meant we were completely swamped with the logistics of estate agents, removal companies, Facebook Marketplace postings, and video calls with schools in Buenos Aires.

The amount of things we collected as years went by was insane, and because the house was big we kept them all: strollers, teddies, high chairs, rocking chairs, bottles, breast pumps, bicycles, scooters, puzzles, keyboards, microphones, blankets, books, you name it. Not to mention the piano and every single piece of furniture.

My husband drove back and forth from the garbage dump so many times, and each time he came back, his face spoke to me: I'm exhausted, this is hard. We gave things away, too.

I remember the tears every time I put baby clothes in a bin bag and every time I dropped something meaningful at a charity shop. What am I doing? Am I crazy? I remember those thoughts, too.

Despite the doubt and hardship, we kept going.

We've been in Argentina for 9 months

Colorful buildings with people walking on streetsin Argentina
Tourists visiting the colorful buildings in La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Jeremy Poland/Getty Images

Having my husband's support was what really made the move happen. Even though the move seriously affected his career and finances, he went along with it anyway, for which I'm extremely grateful.

In Argentina, there are no more gardens, mountains, or sheep on our way to school.

We now live in an apartment on the outskirts of the city, the boys share a bedroom, and we drive past three different schools on our way to school.

There's traffic, horns, bikes, buses, and lots of people. When we first got here, my youngest would cover his ears. Yes, son, city life is loud.

It's been nine months now β€” nine crazy and intense months. We're surviving and still adapting.

Things are looking up

My husband and I no longer have corporate jobs. I work as a contractor interviewing candidates for different clients and also make a living out of my podcast and artistic workshops. My husband works a remote job with fewer hours than in London, which gives him more time to do what he loves: engage with the kids.

When I'm a bit sad, I go to my sister's or arrange to see my friends: they know how to make me laugh. My husband has made some friends through football. And the kids are not asking when they'll be going back to the UK as much.

They like their school and the fact that we have a swimming pool in the building. They enjoy hanging out with my siblings and their little cousin and having lunch with their grandma once a week. And they speak Spanish now.

As much as I loved their British accents, I hated that they couldn't roll the "r" or say anything in Spanish apart from "Hola", "cΓ³mo estΓ‘s". Now they can communicate, for real, and that's truly awesome.

We still don't know how long we'll be staying here, but we know it was right to come, no matter the suffering. We may not have a fixed income, but we have a feeling that no one can take away from us. We feel alive.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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