Frugal Family: Hot Chocolate

It was a rough week in stay-at-home-dad land, capped off by our car being towed last Friday. It was clearly my fault, but upset me nonetheless.  

My screw-up had me strongly considering writing this week’s post about the worst deals in the neighborhood, with a visit to the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s tow pound at the top of the list.  

Previously, I was convinced that Post Office service was the worst, but someone hit the slow motion button on the tow pound employees.

I’m also at a loss for how the city can have a budget crisis; there was a car being towed in every minute for the two hours I stood in line. At $185 a pop to free your car, city streets should be paved with gold. 

My wife has wisely told me I can’t cry over spilled milk. As soon as she uttered those words my baby boy did just that.

But, I’m determined to set a positive example for the future generation — with the exception of following parking rules, obviously — and will be focusing on the positives of life this week. So, it’s rainbows, unicorns, puppy dogs and…hot chocolate. By this week’s frugal family focuses on where to get the best hot cocoa in the neighborhood.

5. — ($2.55 for an extra-large) — I know it’s the Wal-Mart of coffee shops, but, the extra-large cup is the size of a horse trough and this earns "Double Ds" big time bonus points.  

4. — ($2.50) — This place is one of the best kept secrets in the neighborhood. They add just a tad of hot chocolate to the whip cream, which makes for the perfect drink.

3. — ($8 spiked hot chocolate) — Because when hot chocolate doesn’t take the edge off, whiskey and hot chocolate together should do the trick.

2. — ($1.50) — At this price, I should have brought the entire tow pound staff a cup to try to sweeten them up.  

1. Swiss Miss — ($1.69 for a 10-pack of hot cocoa from Fresh Direct) — Did you know that they make Swiss Miss pudding? I found out after the car was towed and I went on a Swiss Miss pudding and hot cocoa binge until it almost came out of my nose.