[StarPonysMama]

I just was thinking last night about the money I have spent on alcohol. Not sure if any of you can estimate your cost of drinking but, I thought it would be fun. Look how much money we save!!!!! Not to mention the money we spent on credit cards, debit cards, or random drinking binges. We have all given ourselves a raise!

On average I would buy:

2 twelve packs of Miller Lite a week totaling approximately $22.00
Then, on the weekends let's say I spent an average of $25.00 on Friday and Saturday night (this is a light party week too!) totaling $50.00

So, $22.00+$50.00 = $72.00/week

There are 52 weeks in a year and I used to party every weekend!

So,

52 X $72.00 = $3,744.00 per year. I've been drinking heavily since I was about 21 or so.

I'm 29 so, 8 years......... $3744.00 per year X 8 years = $29,952.00

WOW - I could have put that on my mortgage, car, or my student loans could have been paid off! And this does not even include the random bottles of whiskey, after parties, and kegs that I bought for keg parties. I could be a wealthy woman!!!! LOL!

We made bar owners wealthy! Hahahahaha! No more money for you!

Just thought it would be a fun way to see firsthand what we are all accomplishing!

[DePressMe]

Oh, my gosh...I have never added up how much it cost...you're right I could be in that new Mazda RX8 if I did not drink.

[Cyran0]

This issue was brought home to me about six years ago when I had no choice but to declare bankruptcy. I had maxed out my credit cards and taken out a five thousand dollar loan to (among other things) buy coke. Having done this continues to hurt my family to this day (we're still financially screwed).

So yeah, addiction and alcoholism takes a financial toll and it's one of the things I remind myself of to stay sober.

Cyran0

[Perna]

We did what we did, it's part of our life. I don't kick myself for choices I made in the past. I lived on beer and potato chips for five+ years, right when credit cards first came out, before there were computers yet and the shop had to call the credit card people on the telephone. Liquor stores and restaurants didn't bother doing that (restaurants did but usually after you'd left since it took time and they didn't want to keep the patron waiting and the credit card people would always okay it for them). Grocery stores didn't take credit cards yet. I was over my credit limit. I did the best I could in my circumstances, given the level of experience and maturity I had at that time. We all did. We haven't been stupid, bad, morally corrupt or selfish; we've been trying to live our lives the best we can. It's a tightrope folks, easy to fall off, especially when you're young and just learning to walk it.

[splitimage]

I worked out the math on my drinking one time, and boy was it depressing. Even with sticking to cheap scotch it was still a minimum of $30 a day. Throw in extras on weekends and I guestimate I was spending about 12,000 a year on booze & I did this for at least 5 years. That could have been a really nice down payment on a house. I really notice it now, how much money I'm saving which is a huge motivator for staying sober.

--splitimage

[Raynaadi]

Before my first meeting with the friend I got sober with, we tallied. I don't remember the exact figure but I know it was about 10,000 a year that I spent on booze. Yeah, pretty big shocker and what a reward to realize! I only wish I'd put that money in a jar daily when I got sober hahahah!!!!

[StarPonysMama]

NOW THAT - putting the money in a jar - A GREAT IDEA!!!!!!

[Raynaadi]

Thats what they recommend to do when people quit smoking lol. I was never good at saving when I have extra money though haha. I don't honestly know how I afforded to drink! Since I quit I've never been rollin in the dough. Guess cuz I'm actually responsible and pay bills now?

[BalishBun]

good lesson.

[DePressMe]

HaHa! Rayna, yeah, it is a new experience to be responsible and pay bills! What a change. Think of this--how much will quitting drinking improve our credit score? I am sure it will take a few years, but...paying bills on time is part of your credit score.

[StarPonysMama]

Oh yeah,

Forgot about the DUI I almost got in December of 2004. I had to hire a high power attorney to get out of it with a reckless driving charge. Cost me $5800.00. Ha!

I BEG them to pull me over now!

Feels great.

[Raynaadi]

I've gotten pulled over once in sobriety. I was turning into a church for an AA meeting. The cop pulled me over in the parking lot and asked if I was picking someone up. (The meeting was at night so he must've wondered why I was at a church at night, idk) I said I was going to an AA meeting and he kind of stammered and told me I had a headlight out and to have a good night. My friends were driving past into the meeting as the cop was talking to me hahahaha!!!!