A Sydney office worker on a personal mission to save money has revealed exactly how much he spends in a typical day – and the one controversial trick he uses daily to stay on track.
Ray, a 29-year-old finance worker who is saving up for a home deposit, recently shared a ‘money hack’ he uses all the time – explaining that it potentially saves him at least $7 every day.
And it all centres around getting his daily caffeine fix.
‘On the way to work I pass by McDonald’s and I ask them for a free cup of ice, every single time,’ he explained in a recent video. ‘They’re probably sick of me by now.’
‘But a free cup of ice is great because I can then go into the office, use the office milk and make an espresso shot with the office coffee machine,’ he continued.
‘I pour all of that into my cup of ice and there you go – you have a free iced latte.’
Another video posted to his @ruirayxu Instagram account documented Ray’s total daily spending on a typical work day – and saw him reiterate his free ice hack.
‘I grab a free cup of ice from Macca’s because our office doesn’t have a freezer, which honestly still blows my mind.
Ray, a 29-year-old finance worker, regularly shares money-saving ideas and his personal finance journey reflections on his @ruirayxu Instagram account
Ray shared his money-saving trick of ordering a free cup of ice at Macca’s on the way to work and then adds the office-supplied espresso and milk to make a free iced latte
‘I make my espresso shot from the office coffee machine and use the office milk as well,’ he said, adding that he is ‘basically saving $7 on iced lattes’ every time he does this.
Ray’s viral video about what he ‘spends on a random day in the office in Sydney as a frugal 29-year-old saving for a house’ resulted in a grand total of $24 across the whole day.
Explaining how he kept his spending low that day, he said that, in addition to doing his free iced latte hack twice, his workplace provided a team pub lunch once a fortnight, so he spent $0 on lunch as well.
His only expenses for the day were his Metro commute to and from the office, which cost $11, and a grocery shop which totalled $13.
‘So, in total I spent around $24 today. Not bad for a full day in Sydney,’ Ray concluded.
The video struck a chord with finance-minded Aussies and racked up over 78,000 views. But it was Ray’s tip for regularly scoring a free Macca’s iced latte that really caught the attention of money-savvy viewers.
‘Wait, what?! You can get a free cup of ice from Maccas?’ one person replied.
‘Free ice from Maccas… why didn’t I think of that,’ added another.
One recent viral video documented the total money Ray spent in one day, adding up to $24. He said he’d saved $7 by not ordering an iced latte and instead getting a free cup of ice and using it to make an iced latte in the office kitchen
Ray explained that he would sometimes return to Macca’s for multiple free cups of ice throughout the workday
‘Love the ice hack!’ agreed a third.
Another declared: ‘I’m gonna start doing this too.’
‘Those ice lattes are actually genius,’ another said, adding that they planned to try the hack with iced chocolate instead.
One person responded saying they knew Macca’s offered free ice water if you asked for it – but had never thought to simply ask for ice on its own.
Daily Mail spoke to Ray about the unexpected money-saving idea. The iced latte fan explained how it came about from the fact that his office doesn’t have a freezer, meaning he had to think outside the box if he wanted to enjoy a budget-friendly cold brew at work.
‘I know people usually ask for cups of water from Macca’s, which is also free, so one day I thought of asking for ice to see if it’d be the same – and that’s how I discovered it.’
Ray did note in the replies to his video that getting a ‘free cup of ice from Macca’s’ isn’t something you can simply order off the app or digital menu – you have to go in-person to ask for it at the counter.
But Ray said he doesn’t care if asking for a free cup of ice without purchasing anything else is viewed as stingy.
Ray didn’t worry about being viewed as stingy for asking for a cup of ice to make his free coffees
‘I don’t think it’s being cheap but rather intentional with my money,’ he told Daily Mail (Pictured: stock image)
‘Sometimes you can sense the judgement, but if it helps me save $6-$7 on iced lattes every single time, then it’s worth it to me,’ Ray said.
‘I don’t think it’s being cheap but rather intentional with my money,’ he added.
‘I’d rather spend my money on holidays, events, creating memories with loved ones or investing the difference so I can eventually retire earlier,’ he continued.
‘I believe the more you sacrifice today, the earlier you can be work optional.’
However, not all replies to Ray’s iced latte hack saw things in the same light.
‘This is grim! Spend some money and stop taking ice from Macca’s,’ read one reply.
‘Why should Macca’s support a grub?’ another agreed.
Still, Ray doubled down in the replies to his video, affirming that he’d continue doing it if it helped his broader financial goals.
After utilising his free coffee hack and scoring a free lunch paid for by his workplace, Ray explained that the only things he paid for on that particular workday were public transport and some groceries
‘Why’s it grim?’ he replied. ‘Saving money for more important things. And what’s wrong with asking for ice? Others ask for water – I ask for ice.’
Some responses to the video even took issue with Ray raiding the office dairy supply to make his iced lattes – but other replies defended it as a perfectly acceptable use of workplace milk.
‘It’s free and shared office milk,’ read one response in his defence.
‘The work milk is there for staff to use. At work. What did you think was going to happen to it?’ another added.
Meanwhile, many were impressed that Ray’s workplace so generously offers employees a team lunch every fortnight – with the company picking up the tab.
‘What company provides lunch to employees every fortnight?! Never heard of any company that provides these benefits,’ one person wrote.
But another replied: ‘My last work provided fresh fruit platters, bowls of berries, delivered coffees, had a coffee machine, bowls of chocolate and lollies. Treat your employees well and they’ll stay.’
‘All corporate organisations should do the same,’ another agreed. ‘Lucky you finding these gem companies to work for.’
