Budget for alcohol?

fakeplastictwee

Most of my leftover money goes on socialising in the pub. I forego clothes cds etc for the pleasure. Feels fine when im sat in a beer garden in the sun but checking my bank balance at the end of the month is fairly depressing. Trying to cut down.

MattSS

I recently 'quit' drinking. I say 'quit' because I still drink on special occassions but that accounts for three nights out of the last nine weeks.
I don't miss it at all and went from drinking two or three nights a week with friends to happily sitting in the pub drinking tap water whilst they get the pints in. I get some stick for it but I'm happy!
I didn't quit for monetary reasons but I do often merrily thinking about the extra £20 or £30 a week I probably have in my pocket.

If you won't miss it it's definitely something worth considering to cut it out of your life. I don't think it's anywhere near as hard to see of as cigarettes would be either.

mrsb83_2

For drinking and eating out (including take aways) for two we have a budget of £200 a month.

Nottoobadyet

I have a "drinks out" budget along with my "meals out" budget. When i lived in London it was about £40-£50 a month, as I was young and evenings in the pub were a major part of my social life.

These days I am living in Uganda where beer costs about 60p a bottle, so I spend a bit less Anyway nights out here are more about dancing than boozing it up, so I find that I hardly drink anyway.

elsiepac

I've been thinking about alcohol too recently as when an unexpected bottle of wine crops up it can really put a big dent in your careful budgets!

So, this month I did a Tesco Wine Club and I think I'm going to try and do it maybe every other month. This should mean I either buy none on top or very little. I'm funding 2/3 from my entertainment budget and 1/3 from my groceries budget. I got a real bargain this month anyway - obviously got the half price wines, so including delivery it came to £59. I had a voucher through the post for £5 so that got rid of delivery - £54. Then I did a voucher search and found the £10 one for your first order. Now, it's not my first order but I thought it was worth a try - it worked but cancelled the original voucher - £49. I left it all in my basket and on payday morning when I went to place the order, delivery now said free and then they had taken the £10 off! So I paid £44 for the 12 bottles, and they're really nice ones too! :j

Also, a friend of a friend of a friend etc, can get 6 bottles for £15 - nothing dodgy, a legit thing, so I might start doing that if it's any good when I get my first lot!

LC x

climbgirl

Very interesting timing! I've been thinking about giving up (or saving it for purely special occasions that crop up every couple of months).

In terms of budget, I count it as part of my general going out expenditure so there isn't a specific amount set aside for booze. I've never really added up what it costs though, so it might be interesting to track that for a month. I'm not a big drinker and never drink at home. But all those glasses of wine over a meal out and a quick pint after work soon add up - both in financial and health terms.

Only this morning I was reading about a movement started in Australia called Hello Sunday Morning, the idea being that you quit drinking for three months. It was started as a response to the binge drinking culture that is growing in Australia and all the problems that brings - a culture that I think exists here as well. It's interesting to read about people's experiences and changes they've made as a result of doing the three month challenge. Quite tempted to try it myself now!

fd1972uk

Not going to give up on alcohol, that's a defo.

We probably spend roughly around £15 per week, although this does include soft drinks for ourselves too.

We have entertainment money that we save away and that will go towards that (although usually tied in with something else i.e. restaurant etc etc).


FD

money_honey

We include ours in our weekly shop as we don't go out much (having a 2 year old and not many options for childcare puts a dent in that!) plus I'm pregnant at the moment so only having the odd glass of wine here and there. Usually though, we would probably buy around £10 worth of alcohol in the weekly shop, then DH or I may budget up to £40ish every couple of months for a night out, this comes out of the entertainment budget.

fd1972uk

HM - Your entertainment will soon be a day out at a soft play area and the McD's.

Yep kids, certainly curtail wild parties and booze filled nights. Probably they are their own debt assistant......................until they grow up.


FD

Blobby8_2

Around £100/week at the moment for me (I've cut down a bit) its £3+/pint.