My daughter gave me a travel mug coffee maker for my birthday. She knows how much I love a fresh cup of coffee, whether I'm at home or at the office. She also knows how frugal I can be, and that I don't like to waste time or money. She had heard me complaining that I was wasting both, and it was all because of my love for a hot, fresh cup of coffee.

It's so economical to use. My normal routine was to make a full pot of coffee every morning, so I could have a fresh cup to start my day. The remaining coffee would sit there on the burner plate for hours. By the time the pot was empty, the coffee was no longer fresh. In fact, it was often too bitter to drink. Pouring it down the drain was like throwing money away.

It's expensive to buy it by the cup when away from home. Like a lot of other people, I used to follow the trend and purchase a huge specialty coffee every morning on my way to work. I'd buy another to go with my lunch. Sometimes, I would pick one up to take home with me at the end of the day. I honestly didn't know how much I was spending on that one habit until I stopped doing it. Suddenly, there was extra money for a lot of other things.

There is a beverage station at my place of employment. The employees can pour a mug of coffee if they make a contribution to the supply fund to cover the cost of coffee, filters, sugar, cream, plastic spoons and napkins. Let's be honest. Some co-workers freely help themselves to what's there, but they don't contribute a dime to defray the expenses. Others pay more than it's worth and have only a cup or two during the entire day. By taking my travel mug coffee maker to work with me, I don't have to support anyone else's habit.

There's also the whole issue of cleaning up that can be avoided. Usually, the same few people get stuck making the coffee, keeping the pouring area clean and washing the coffee maker at the end of the day. Even at home, it seems like a routine chore that goes unappreciated. There is no mess with the travel mug coffee maker. Just drop a filter into the cone, pour the fresh water over the grounds, and you have a perfect, hot cup. In one moment, you toss the filter away, rinse the cone and quickly wipe up any drips. It's that easy!

I admit that I've become spoiled rather quickly. The convenience can't be beat. I can have a hot, fresh mug of coffee anytime and anywhere. When I've already had my coffee at home, I take a few minutes to clean the travel mug coffee maker and take it with me. I have a special little tote bag just for carrying it around with me. I don't like to be without it. It is economical, convenient, portable and makes my coffee breaks truly relaxing. My daughter has noticed. She's ordering a second one, so I can keep one at home and travel with the other one. Like I already told you, I'm spoiled!

Get yourself a travel mug coffee maker as a birthday present. It is economical, convenient, portable and makes my coffee breaks truly relaxing.