Take Coasters From the Bars
Drink coasters are a smart thing, but a stupid purchase. One of life’s greatest paradoxes is that the most expensive coasters are usually made of tough and massive material, which, instead of absorbing moisture, allows it to accumulate until it can hold onto your surfaces. The solution to this problem is obvious: don’t buy stands; steal them from bars instead.
The word “steal” is a little drawn out. First, these paper circles or squares get dirty pretty quickly, which means they are thrown away after one or two uses. Bars usually expect – or even want – to be picked up by you, as they almost always have the name of the bar on them, so you mostly help them advertise when you bring them out into the world. (And they definitely don’t give a damn about advertising coasters for beer or liquor.) If you’re still struggling with the morality of taking coasters from bars, just ask the bartender if you can order one. They won’t say no.
Aside from using free paper coasters from bars, there are many benefits. They are more absorbent than expensive coasters made from hard material (like dull tiles), they are thin and light, easy to store, and they make you look like a cool and interesting person who has been to many cool and interesting places. This is one of my favorite souvenirs that I collect and it reminds me of all the wonderful times I have spent in various wonderful establishments around the country. (Oh, and they are free. Did I mention they are free?)