My Wallet Gets Beer Goggles Too.
Fresh out of college I used to blow through $300/mo. on alcohol easily. Living in NYC and going out at least 3 nights a week killed me - and that was WITH all my frugal tricks! I never reached the spending capacity of my friends (who could drop $200 *a night*), but it's safe to say my wallet's in much better shape now.These days my drinking costs me about $50-$100 a month, and even less if you take out the Mrs. from the equation. We both drink a beer or two a night to relax, sometimes a little wine, but nothing a couple of cases & bottles can't solve every month. It was really the cutting back of the nightlife that curbed our spending. Not that I'm encouraging it or anything (I definitely miss all the adventures!), but just that it was the main factor in our change here.
And I tell you what, people were spending a crap load on Halloween night! My goodness. Either I'm getting old or inflation is really creeping in here. Regardless, there are still a few tricks we can do to cut costs a bit. Here are some that cross the mind:
- Drink cheap beer/wine. Beast, Natty Light (if you really don't care about taste), 3 buck chuck.
- Stock up in bulk. Your favorite beverage 20%? Buy a few cases now and store it away.
- Hit up more happy hours - 1/2 off drinks and appetizers beats full price anytime.
- Pre-party at a friend's place before going out! Why spend $10 on a drink when you can get 6 for the same price? Bars and restaurants jack up the prices way too much, might as well enjoy a little before letting them rob you.
- Bring a flask with you. I don't know if this is illegal or not (or even all that smart), but it IS cost effective :) Especially if you're a fan of the mixed drinks. $1 Cokes is much cheaper than Jack & Cokes, and it only takes 10 seconds to pour a little in whenever needed.
- Drink Coffee/Energy drinks instead. It all depends on the effect you're going for, but coffee and energy drinks get you pretty hyped up at a 3rd of the price. You might look weird drinking it while dancing to the Thong Song, but I swear it works!
So how about you all? Anyone still spending $300+ a month? How about $15 like Well-Heeled?
Labels: money hacks, saving, where our money goes
posted by J. Money at
7:37 AM
13 Comments:
I don't drink, the joy of being Asian. But I do average about $30 a month on brewing supplies to make soda to drink at home or beer and wine to give out as gifts.
I'm the same as you, going out 2-3 times a week and going out to have fun can really add up. Even with pregaming, buying cheaper drinks, it just naturally adds up, and I don't do bottle service or go to fancy places. Just regular bars are still pricey. Pregaming is the best way to save money, split a bottle or a case with friends, but as the night goes on, sometimes tough to stop.
$300 for post-college 22 year old in NYC is not crazy...no scratch that it is NUTS but normal. I am 100% all about the pregame!
The only tip I would add is to figure out what is most cost effective for your goal (i.e. be social and have something in your hand vs. get blackout). So if your goal for a particular night is to go nutty and beers are 6 bucks and a glass of vodka on the rocks (or If I remember correctly J Money likes the cosmos lol) is 7 bucks - for the extra buck get the high alcohol content.
My husband likes his beer, but usually prefers to pregame (I'm the DD 99% of the time). We also don't go anywhere pricey. I'd have to guess we spend $100-$150 monthly on the libations.
What? It's weird to drink coffee and dance to the Thong Song? I'm going to start reconsidering my mornings. LOL.
I live in NYC and I try to not go out unless there is a special involved! I did brave the clubbing scene a couple of months ago and there wasn't a special. I paid $11 for a Tequila Sunrise. People, this is a well drink that will cost you $4-$5 at most happy hours. So yeah, never again! My budget is still under $40 because I restrict going out to HHs.
When in doubt, get your wife knocked up... You'll save a little each month on booze and also have an "All-time DD."
We spend around $100/month on drinks at the house and at the restaurants... That is well below what it used to be in college (and a couple years post college).
I've also got my first homebrew lagering right now... From my research, it doesn't appear that it will be that much cheaper than buying at the grocery... but hey, it's my own brew right?
I live in KC, not NYC so the cost differences are SUBSTATIAL but I've found that the little hole in the wall bars are so much MORE fun and so much LESS expensive than those big uppity places. You can still drink, dance and have a ton of fun. There's just usually less people and it's not as "nice". It's all about the company anyway right? :)
Wow, I feel for all of you living in NYC. I visit once or twice per year for business and have experienced the outrageous prices first hand. I live in a college town where there are always specials to be had, even after happy hour ends. If I'm paying more than $3 for a beer, I feel like I'm being ripped off. I remember the "good old days" (about 3 years ago) where you could find $1 beers each night of the week.
@Hygd - Hah! My Asian friends drink more than I do :) But I'll gladly take a case of beer for my birthday, thanks!
@Craig - I know, right? We can save a butt load by pregaming and all, but then we're nice and toasty and when we hit the bars we start to care a little less as the night goes on ;)
@Evan @ My Journey to Millions - Haha...Cosmos? bleh. Long Island Iced Teas? Alriiiiiiight! They may cost $10 ($20 in NYC which I'll never forget!) but they've got enough to keep you warm for a bit.
@RainyDaySaver - Can you move to DC? hehe....I would love a DD. Although If I start making babies then I'll have one, eh? I also like it that you call drinks "libations" :) Haven't heard that in a while...
@Investing Newbie - Yeah, I guess it depends on where you live. Here in DC happy hours are all over and pretty cheap, but I don't recall much action in NYC now that I think about it. There was this one place though - Asylum I wanna say? - where it was like $10-$20 to get in and then all you can drink on a Tuesday or Wednesday? it wasn't he most practical time to go out, but you could find a hundred or two there with you.
@AG - Backing Up The Truck - Hah, yes! One of the pros of having a pregnant wife. Although something tells me it works a lot better in theory ;) And I'd like some home made beer on my birthday from you too, thanks.
@Brandi - You got that right, sister. A group of friends can have fun anywhere!
@Broke M.B.A. - $1???? Wow I'd be in a lot of trouble. I do remember hitting up this pub a few years back in central VA and thinking my $4 tab was just for my one drink, only to be told it covered all 3 of ours! I couldn't believe it. I was ecstatic, but I was in shock :) Pretty interesting how different our lifestyles are here.
In fact, I just checked my stats and saw hit from all over the world today - Canada, Australia, Spain, Pakistan, Czech Republic, it's so cool! Who knows what people are used to spending, and how well (or not well) they have it. It's all fascinating stuff though.
I think we are on the same drinking wavelength or something. :)
1. My friends and I pretty much kept Natty Light operating through 4 years of college. You really don't know how horrible it is when you can't even afford, say, a still-crappy-yet-less-crappy Bud Light.
2. Happy Hours are my friend, yes they are. I really only try to drink at HHs.
3. OMG! My BF and I have TOTALLY taken a flask to the bar! In fact, in my review of old Phil Villareal's book, I said this was my favorite stingy technique. :)
Nice work!! LOL
yeah, actually when i was writing that flask part Phil's book popped into my mind as well :) it was one of the things I'd actually do from it! haha...
glad to see you're on the same page w/ me.
Man, I am with you on this. Now I am a homebrewer and get my ingredients and equipment in exchange for graphic design work. W00t!
If you're ever in town my kegerator awaits...
I want a kegerator!!! Are you within walking distance to DC? hehe...
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