Budget for alcohol?

ms_london

Hello all, Happy Monday!

Curious to see whether people either have a set budget for alcohol or whether anyone tracks how much they actually spend on it?

Apparently the average person spends over £100,000 on alcohol in their life time.. :eek:

I am starting to save for a deposit on my first house and am so tempted to just give it up, not only for financial reasons, but for health reasons too, it just got me thinking and I was curious to see if others were quite sensible, or if that was a real weakness in terms of where your money goes?

What would you say, if not alcohol, was where you spent the highest level of your 'treat' budget on?

Just being nosy

erdd2

No set budget and so little consumption I would struggle to buy a tent on the savings!

For my sins I am a smoker and believe me I forfeit in other areas for this, my choice and I am not complaining and if I decide what I forfeit is wanted more...I would have to try kick the disgusting unhealthy addiction.....for another day

Happy monday to you to

HappyMJ

Is that in today's money? Over 50 years that would equate to 2 pints at the pub every day @ £2.75/pint. I drink a lot but nowhere near that amount. That amount is right on the limit of drinking guidlelines.

My highest "treat" budget at the moment is the cat. Along with drinking, smoking, internet/computing/tech stuff.

Gordon_Hose

No specific budget for it, but any booze I do drink comes out of my monthly "adhoc spends" money.

I guess some people could/would incorporate their booze into the "socialising" part of their budget.

Tixy

ms_london wrote: »

Curious to see whether people either have a set budget for alcohol or whether anyone tracks how much they actually spend on it?

it just got me thinking and I was curious to see if others were quite sensible, or if that was a real weakness in terms of where your money goes?

I categorise it as part of entertainment.

I would average about £30 a month on alcohol (thats pub prices not supermarket). But some months I spend nothing at all on drink, others I might have 1 big night out and spend more than that in one night.

That £30 is comparatively a small amount for my budget, I don't choose/consiously limit my spending on drink, its just the amount I would be likely to drink regardless of budget.

ms_london wrote: »

What would you say, if not alcohol, was where you spent the highest level of your 'treat' budget on?

Clothes & shoes are my weakness.

elantan

ms London ... your still about yay ... hows you ?

we have no budget for alcohol now at all ... i gave up three years ago ( wouldnt give the money for the stuff) and oh gave up starting at the begining of the year ( but has had a few slips) he hasnt drank now for over 8 weeks ... he has/had a drink problem hence his reason for giving up ... ( if he wants to save our marriage that is )

i would say our biggest spend is on food ... we love food .. going out for meals and cooking at home ... dont think you can really do without food though ... although we could do with cutting down alot more than we are currently

sp1987

I don't drink so this thread has made me feel like I have saved something over my life! Lol.

littleboop

I suppose it depends if you see it as neccassary to get through your week or a treat. This is something my other half and I disagree totally on, which can cause some bickering as we share our savings.
Personally I see it as a luxury and so I indulge on special occassions such as birthdays, work do's etc. My other half, however, will think nothing of spending £20 a week on a couple of crates of beer as he says he deserves it after working long hours. Not that I'll disagree with this, but when I'm sitting next to him with a 50p carton of Tesco's value orange juice it can be hard to keep quiet!

Hovel_lady

Alcohol budget? Ha, my OH wishes :rotfl:
We have £40 a month "pocket money" each and can spend that on anything we want including alcohol. I don't drink but OH does and sometimes buys wine/beer.
I do however buy sugar and cheap fruit/veg form the housekeeping budget so OH can make wine. Generally that means there is no need to buy alcohol.

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi its funny you should post this as i have been pondering the exact same thing. I get the 3 for £10 at asda and usually spend about £40 per mth max!!!:eek:
I have decided that i wont but any (i am not giving up i will still have a glass at friends or occasion out etc) and on a fri pm i will put £10 in a jar and by christmas i should have £200 to spend on christmas groceries. I am sure realisticaly i will buy the odd bottle. Have to go to asda now though for the offer in a way i wish they would stop it (i know i know no one makes me buy it) its just hard to pay £5 or £6 for one when i get get 3 4 £10:eek:.
Its my bday sat so i am sure i will get the odd bottle!!!!:rotfl:
Its such an obvious way for me to save money though.x:A
btdxx

Bored

Alcohol bought in the supermarket comes out of my groceries budget, and alcohol bought in pubs, clubs and the like comes under entertainment. I don't drink much in the house, but nights out socialising often puts a dent in my entertainment section, especially since it's difficult to think about budgeting after the first few drinks! :S