Shark Tank judge and businessman Kevin O’Leary has stirred a debate with his comments on daily spending habits, criticising workers who regularly buy coffee and lunch. In a video shared on his Instagram account, O’Leary pointed out how small, frequent expenditures on items like coffee and sandwiches can add up to significant amounts over time, urging individuals to rethink their spending.
"Stop buying coffee for $5.50," O’Leary remarked in the video. "You go to work and spend $15 on a sandwich – what are you, an idiot?" He suggested that people, particularly those early in their careers, could be wasting as much as $15,000 a year on such expenses. O’Leary, known for his blunt financial advice, added, "It costs 99 cents to make a sandwich at home and bring it with you. You start to add that up every day, it’s a ton of money." He specifically highlighted those earning around $60,000 annually, advising them to be more mindful of how they allocate their income.
His comments quickly went viral, attracting a variety of responses from users on social media. Many agreed with O’Leary’s perspective on saving money through small daily choices. One user commented, "100% agree. I bring my lunch every day – not only do you save money, but it’s also one less decision on what to eat, and you eat healthier."
"Habit stacking. Little stuff adds up," a user commented.
However, not everyone was convinced. Some criticised O’Leary's viewpoint, questioning the practicality of his advice. "I have to chuckle at people who have made a fortune off consumers then tell the consumers not to spend money on the things that made them wealthy," one user wrote. Another added, "It’s not 99 cents for a sandwich – food at the store is not free or cheap. Bringing your lunch and making coffee at home is less expensive, but it’s not as simple as that."
"Cheap mentality," another user added.
Some users highlighted broader financial issues, suggesting that rent hikes and rising living costs are more pressing concerns than coffee and sandwiches. "It’s not the coffee or sandwiches that are killing my budget; it’s the 10% jump in my rent each year and the bigger things," one person argued.
The debate also drew parallels with recent remarks by another business figure, Chris Ellison, Managing Director of Mineral Resources. Ellison had controversially said that he wanted to prevent employees from leaving the workplace for coffee breaks, citing the financial costs of such interruptions.
"When I get them first thing in the morning, I want to hold them captive all day long. I don’t want them leaving the building. I don’t want them walking down the road for a cup of coffee. We kind of figured out a few years ago how much that costs," Ellison said.
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