You can make 20 pots of coffee, pour them all out in the sink except the last one, pour off 16oz. from the last pot into your cup and the remainder into the sink and you'd STILL COME OUT AHEAD of buying a cup at Starbucks.
I have an otherwise smart neice who complains of having no money yet thinks nothing of buying two $5 iced mochas every day. $310 per month, $3,650 per YEAR! RETARDED!!!!!!!
That's insane. I occasionally might drink a cup of coffee from Starbucks, but only because of convenience, and I have a fellow church member gives me a Starbucks gift card at Christmas. I still have money on the one from 2 Christmas ago, and the card was for 20 bucks.
Back to your point, spending 7-8 bucks a day on coffee you should be making at home is crazy. I bet most of Starbucks consumers are under the age of 30. Convenience is nice, but on a daily basis is gonna blow up your budget in a hurry. I don't see why your niece doesn't get together with coworkers and brew there java at work?