You've been told plenty of times that cutting out the Starbucks will save you money. Now, I'll tell you something you may not have heard. If it means $4 a cup to you, you don't have to give it up.

After listening to my latest podcast in which a financial adviser recommends skipping coffee-shop lattes and pocketing the cash, a friend asked me if she absolutely had to.

“I don't want to give up my morning coffee,” she said. “I'm in love with my barista.”

This friend has a full-time job, makes decent money and is on strong enough financial footing not to end up homeless or a target of bill collectors because of her coffee habit.

To her, starting the day off with a little harmless flirtation and a strong jolt of caffeine prepared by someone else is worth $4 a day, or $20 a week. Besides, she could easily spend $20 at a happy hour with colleagues, a nice dinner with a friend or taking someone — say that barista — out for a movie.

Whether your habit is a $4-a-day latte, the occasional designer bag or a monthly facial, if you can work it into your budget and you really want it, there's no reason you shouldn't have it.

I'm not saying you should put off paying bills to pamper yourself. But it is OK to spend a little bit of whatever you have left over on yourself after paying your rent, electricity, cable, Internet, cell phone, car insurance, car payment and credit card bills.

Don't get me wrong. I'm an advocate of saving money and creating a financial cushion for yourself should the unexpected arise. You should do that for yourself, but you should also get to enjoy at least some of those dollars you've worked so hard to earn.

Yes, $20 a week on lattes and mochas adds up to about $80 a month and nearly $1,000 a year.

That's enough for a fancy gym membership, monthly massage or ski trip.

It's enough money to pay down debt, cover a couple of monthly bills or start saving for one of those very adult things like the down payment on a house. The cash could also go toward retirement, savings accounts or investment opportunities.

If you'd rather save up those coffee dollars and take a seven-day Caribbean cruise at the end of the year, then do it. If you'd rather have a new pair of shoes every month, then just think heels when your body craves caffeine. If you want to cut your coffee expenses in half and put the rest toward an IRA, find some discipline and make it happen.

But if your day flows more smoothly and your smile is a little brighter when you wake up with Starbucks, stop and have your $4 coffee.

As long as you have the cash and you can accept your spending it that way, there's no reason for guilt.