Save & Splurge

Portrait of Sweatha for the Washington Post Magazine - Sace & Splurge; Selected Image (Copyright Keith Barraclough - Keith Barraclough Photography)

Swetha Amruthur, 25, Blogger at DeafDC.com, Burke

>>Save:

"I am in school part time, so when I buy textbooks I use www.campusbooks.com. It's similar to eBay. I also try borrowing from the library -- I just keep rechecking them out."

>>YIELD: $288.46 last year

>>Splurge:

"I am addicted to Starbucks -- their chai latte. I normally buy a tall, skim, extra-hot, two-pump, no-foam chai latte every other day, and I also buy freshly ground coffee beans every other week, also from Starbucks."

>>Cost: $844.74 per year

Interview by Kate Ghiloni