drinking

quids_in_2

I am thinking about stopping drinking or seriously cutting it down. I think if I were to calculate how much money is spent on booze in our house we would be very ashamed and annoyed with ourselves.
But how to stop/cut down??
I stopped smoking 8 years ago but this seems different.
I/we do not drink every day or anything. But if I start I don't stop! Binge drinking I guess.
A total waste of money!!

Any help or ideas please would be most welcome.

carolinosourus

Just don't buy it! If it's not in the house then you won't be able to drink it. Though I'm not the sort of person that would pop to the shop if we wanted more, I know that a couple of my friends on the other hand will go to the local shop in order to continue drinking...

Why don't you try working out how much you spend in a month or something, that might shock you into cutting down and give you a bit of ammunition if others in the household aren't so keen! Also maybe you could set a monthly booze-budget, then once that's gone it's gone!

Have you spoken to other members of your household about this? If they're not supportive you'll have an uphill battle. You managed to quit smoking so you know you can do it Good luck. Sorry this wasn't more helpful!

So_Sad_Angel

Hi Quids

There is a cutting down thread in DFW....I joined it at the weekend & like you I don`t drink everyday but if I have one glass I have to have more. Personally I have to stop completely as cutting down won`t work for me.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1821615

There is fantastic support on there with great hints /tips too....although it is a fairly fast moving thread!! LOL leaves no time for drinking.:D:D

Good luck,

Angiex

fernliebee

I'm an all or nothing person too! I stopped drinking 2.5 years ago as I was getting really bad hangovers and spending a lot of money on binge drinking, and I would get stomache cramps so I could tell it wasn't good for me. Don't get me wrong, I was only drinking on a fri or a sat so not all the time, the problem was the amount and how quickly I could drink. I decided the bad outweighed the good and decided to stop. This also meant I completely gave up smoking too, as I had given up apart from when drunk.

I just told people I wasn't drinking and would drive if we went out. I would offer friends lifts too as I was saving so much money, and it normally stopped their moaning about my lack of drinking! ha ha!

I wasn't one to drink in the house really, only if friends came round, so I wouldn't buy any, anymore. It does help as DH doesn't drink either (has never drunk.)

I think people think it will be boring if they are not drunk, but I find as everyone else is drunk, I get into the spirit of it anyway, and enjoy myself. I go out still, although clubbing in town has never been my thing really, I prefer going to see bands or DJ's, or going to a night that one of my friends has organised. It's surprising how many other people don't drink either.

**confuzzled**

OP I used to be like that too, now I'm pleased to say I can have 1 drink and leave it at that...although it's taken me a while:rolleyes: I severely lack in willpower:o
I started by alternating an alcoholic drink with a glass of non-alcoholic/water.....helps keep you hydrated too so no nasty hangovers;) Friends whinged about it but I used the excuse that it kept my skin clear:) Thank god I can drive now and use that excuse lol It also helped me lose weight as you tend not to get the drunken munchies so much either so a double bonus for me:D

Whichever way you find is best for you. Good luck:)

Pee

And I suppose the option of sourcing alcohol cheaper - Aldi do very nice Brandy, Rum and Port for instance - or home brew beer and wine - is not what you are looking for? (Sorry, not trying to be the devil on your shoulder!)