Cut back on costs and calories without sacrificing any fun. Photo: Shutterstock.
If you’re looking for an easy way to cut back your carbs and credit card bills, addressing your alcohol intake might be an effective way to do so. A glass of red wine might be good for your heart, but for the most part, drinking definitely isn’t one life’s healthier activities. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to liver disease, cancer, heart problems, memory loss, and depression, but even less serious drinking can kill brain cells, make you prone to accidents, and weaken the immune system. All things you would probably like to avoid.
However, Time Magazine recently investigated another harmful side-effect of drinking: the one it has on your bank account. Consuming alcohol is both a social and cultural experience, and for most people it’s apart of weekly life. The magazine analyzes a couple different drinking levels, but hones in on the most common: the individual who goes out once during the week after work and once on the weekends.
During the week, you likely order food alongside one or two drinks when going to the bar after work. This totals to about roughly $40-$50 for the night. This is provided you don’t pay for a cab fare or babysitter. Next, let’s say you go out on a Saturday night. The fact you don’t have work the next day means you’re more likely to order several drinks over the course of the night, in addition to food (after all, what’s a Saturday without a late night burrito). Plus, you’re more likely to order shots or specialty drinks that cost a bit more than your weekday beer. Time estimates that a night out like this ends up totaling around $100. Throw in a bottle of wine or two to go with a dinner at home, and you’re at a total $160 spent on alcohol per week, or $650 monthly. At the end of the year, a moderate drinker spends around $7,000 on booze. Holy moly.
So what can you do? Don’t let your Saturday nights be the reason you can’t make that Indo trip happen this year. There’s no healthy way to drink heavily for your body or your wallet, but there are a couple things you can do to cut the costs and consequences of moderate drinking. Below are a couple ways to minimize the undesired effects of drinking without sacrificing any fun.
Order 1 Light Beer
Don’t groan and moan at this one. During the week, heading to the bar after work is more of a social experience. The purpose is to relax and unwind, not get stupid drunk. You’re just happy to have a beer in hand. If you typically order two drinks on this type of a night, consider swapping one for a light beer (bracing for the angry craft beer devotees on this one). Drink the most beautiful, dark, flavorful beer you can find for your first beer, but if you’re just looking for something to hold for the last half hour before you head home, grab a light beer. I’m not trying to argue that light beer is superior in ANY way, but swapping out just one beer per week won’t crush your soul, and it might save you calories and dollars that add up over time. Goal: may your wallet be larger than your gut.
Cook and Drink at Home (First)
For your weekend night out, make a plan to cook and drink at home or at a friend’s home before you head to out to bars. You can cook much healthier, tastier food for less money than that bar burger and fries. Save the leftovers for the inevitable drunk munching when you stumble home to save money on that front as well. In terms of drinking, you can buy a much higher quality of alcohol for either a lesser or similar amount of money, and you can use healthier mixers than the sugary crap they use at bars. You’ll be all the less hungover for it the next day.
Only Bring Cash Out
This is a super effective way to limit both your spending and your drinking. Plan ahead of time how much you want to spend/drink for an evening and only bring that amount in cash in your wallet. Leave all credit and debit cards at home. This prevents you from starting the ever dreaded credit card tab that somehow just keeps going and going. Having a limited amount of money to spend will help you pace yourself throughout the evening, and then when the money’s gone, it’s time to go home.
Embrace Happy Hour
If you’re just looking to go out and spend time with friends, try moving your night out a bit earlier. Many bars have great happy hour deals that will save you a TON of money. You’ll actually be able to have conversations with your friends, and by pushing your drinking schedule a couple hours earlier, you’ll be to sleep off that hangover and wake up refreshed the next day. Definitely a good call if you’re looking to sneak a Sunday morning surf into your weekend schedule.
