Foo - drinking my money away

Holy mother****ing ****!

I'm bored at lunch... so I logged onto my bank's website and added up how much money I spent on alcohol since the 15th of last month, out of curiosity. Looks like I got about a $400 a month habit. Really freaks me out when I look at it from that perspective. Especially considering that 3 months worth of drinking is equivalent to a custom frame. Or even putting down a hefty credit card payment.

I think I'm going to be sick.

Doesn't surprise me at all. I bought my first bike with the money I saved after I got my six month chip.

you're flushing your money down the toilet!

On the bright side, this might be the wakeup call I need.

If I saw $400/month, I'd probably have to drink more to forget about the money I've wasted.

Wow. Do you go out to bars a lot, or just buy the top shelf stuff?

Don't feel bad. I've saved $3500 bucks since I quit the corner bar last July. It has paid my new gym membership and a nice used toyota for the kids to tool around in. Quitting smokes in March has paid for new bar and stem I needed after hitting a speed bump (not recommended) two weeks ago.

Wow. Do you go out to bars a lot, or just buy the top shelf stuff?
Lots of bars, lots of Scotch, lots of good beer.

Heh. I know several people that spend more money on bar tabs. Its quite scary and I'm amazed that they can still walk :p

Lots of bars, lots of Scotch, lots of good beer.

Just skip out on the bars. That's where it gets expensive! Much cheaper to buy your own stuff and drink at home with friends. :) Or out camping. :)

Just skip out on the bars. That's where it gets expensive! Much cheaper to buy your own stuff and drink at home with friends. :) Or out camping. :)
I thought the only reason people drank was so they had an excuse to socialise with people?
I mean thats the only thing missing from my life.

Or out camping. :)
This girl knows what she's talkin' about. Camping...woohoo!

Just skip out on the bars. That's where it gets expensive! Much cheaper to buy your own stuff and drink at home with friends. :) Or out camping. :)
I have tried limiting the amount I drink before, to no great effect. It'll work for a while, but then I wind up at the level I was before. At this point, it would be easier to just quit drinking. I can still go to the bars and all that jazz. I'll just be the one driving everyone home.

And I usually end up spending more on alcohol when I camp... heh...

I have tried limiting the amount I drink before, to no great effect. It'll work for a while, but then I wind up at the level I was before. At this point, it would be easier to just quit drinking. I can still go to the bars and all that jazz. I'll just be the one driving everyone home.

And I usually end up spending more on alcohol when I camp... heh...


Hmmmm maybe it would be an interesting experiment. Try quitting for one month and buy yourself a nice present with the extra money. :) See how you feel at the end of it and decide whether its all worth it or not. :)

Hmmmm maybe it would be an interesting experiment. Try quitting for one month and buy yourself a nice present with the extra money. :) See how you feel at the end of it and decide whether its all worth it or not. :)
And the good news is the present wont kill your liver as much as the drinking :D

Hmmmm maybe it would be an interesting experiment. Try quitting for one month and buy yourself a nice present with the extra money. :) See how you feel at the end of it and decide whether its all worth it or not. :)
That's a pretty good idea.

It would certainly test my will power with Memorial Day comming up...

Watching drunk people while you're sober can be quite entertaining. Initially, you'll want to butt in and stop them from the obvious slow-motion train wrecks that they're headed towards, but after you recognize that you can't head them off directly, you learn to be more subtle (like changing the subject), or just let them take their crash anyways.

If you're really creative, you might be able to make some cash on the side via blackmail (I didn't really say that). :D

I've been around way too many drunks. It gets old and annoying rather quickly. And I've seen it spiral into things that have nearly resulted in lost lives due to the emotional stabilty of the person under dire circumstances.

Holy mother****ing ****!

I'm bored at lunch... so I logged onto my bank's website and added up how much money I spent on alcohol since the 15th of last month, out of curiosity. Looks like I got about a $400 a month habit. Really freaks me out when I look at it from that perspective. Especially considering that 3 months worth of drinking is equivalent to a custom frame. Or even putting down a hefty credit card payment.

I think I'm going to be sick.

....mine is close. My body is starting to feel it to.

I thought the only reason people drank was so they had an excuse to socialise with people?


The only reason I socialized with people was so I had an excuse to drink.

Lots of bars, lots of Scotch, lots of good beer.


What is your favorite brand of Scotch?

The only reason I socialized with people was so I had an excuse to drink.
:roflmao: :beer: :beer: :roflmao: :beer: :beer:

I'm spending about $200 / month for alcohol, mostly $7 to $10 bottles of wine these days, since I gave up beer in Jan 2005.

Hmmm...well ep, I know wine snobs who would be drinking only one or two bottles a month if that was their tab. In other words, dollar amount isn't always the best indicator; it's really subjective to say whether or not somebody else has a drinking problem.

On the other hand, most people who think that they may have a drinking problem frequently do. It's just one of those things that doesn't come up much by accident. If you think this is something that you should be paying more attention to, you are probably right. You would be the best one to know.

It would be like bringing home a second pay check if you can make a change. And if you do have a problem, and can deal with it before it really starts to take hold of you, all the better. Once the worm turns with alcohol, it isn't real pretty and there's no upside. Either way good luck with it. ;)

Cigarettes are worse than alcohol as far as addictions go, IMO.

^^ you must have never had to deal with alcoholics then.


If you wake up in the morning sick and stay sick all day until you have your first drink and it feels like medicine then you definitelly have a problem that needs fixing. Also if you keep a bottle hidden away in the desk or the home office just to have a little poke that no one else knows about just to keep your 'levels' up then it's time to start thinking about quiting.

And Hell I'd say even if you don't have a problem 400 bucks is an aweful lot a month. Cut back or get used to the PBR :D

Well, I think it's more a money problem than it is a drinking problem. With where I am financially, I shouldn't be throwing that much away. But, at the same time, it is beginning to take its told, physically, and is on my list of things to change...

Cigarettes, too.



Favorite Scotch rotates between Cutty Sark and Dewar's. Nothing fancy.

...Favorite Scotch rotates between Cutty Sark and Dewar's. Nothing fancy.

I'm partial to "butter".

This thread's yet another reason for the further confusion of why weed's illegal, but alcohol isn't. Both or none!

Good deal ep...sounds like this is one money problem that is pretty easy to solve if that's the way you go with it. :)

Doesn't surprise me at all. I bought my first bike with the money I saved after I got my six month chip.


Friend of Bill's too ? :beer: <======== Coffee

I bought a Dodge Stealth in the 90's with what I saved....
More important than money was how much better my life got
when I put the evil juice away :eek:
I kept friends, jobs, money...... Simply amazing !! :eek:

I can't tell if the OP feels like he has a drinking problem or if he just goes out too much.

Friend of Bill's too ? :beer: <======== Coffee

I bought a Dodge Stealth in the 90's with what I saved....
More important than money was how much better my life got
when I put the evil juice away :eek:
I kept friends, jobs, money...... Simply amazing !! :eek:

Mutual friends, indeed. Trudging (no, make that pedaling) the road of happy destiny!

I can't tell if the OP feels like he has a drinking problem or if he just goes out too much.


In the question lies the answer, Grasshoppah !!!! :D

In the question lies the answer, Grasshoppah !!!! :DWell, I dunno, I'm sure in my twenties I probably spent at least $400 a month, but I've never been one to wake up with the shakes or feel like I absolutely must drink. Shoot, I've never even wanted to drink two nights in a row. I just liked going out, socializing and getting drunk. I know in AA they try to convince you that everyone who drinks with any regularity is an "alcoholic" with a "disease," but I remain unconvinced. Some people like to get drunk, but don't have to stay that way 24/7.

Well, I dunno, I'm sure in my twenties I probably spent at least $400 a month, but I've never been one to wake up with the shakes or feel like I absolutely must drink. Shoot, I've never even wanted to drink two nights in a row. I just liked going out, socializing and getting drunk. I know in AA they try to convince you that everyone who drinks with any regularity is an "alcoholic" with a "disease," but I remain unconvinced. Some people like to get drunk, but don't have to stay that way 24/7.

Yes I agree Kris...Binge drinking ain't a "disease", it's more of an "extreme sport".:beer:

that must have been quite an eye opener! I will usually limit my 'going out' budget. When going out in my little Hick-town, I will stick a $20 in my pocket before heading out; pay as I go and when the cash is gone, I'm on water. Keeps me from getting too silly, and leaves my head clear for the ride the next day.

You will have to let us know what you get with your newly saved $dough$!

. I know in AA they try to convince you that everyone who drinks with any regularity is an "alcoholic" with a "disease," but I remain unconvinced. Some people like to get drunk, but don't have to stay that way 24/7.

Hmmmmmm.......I attended AA for years, many different places, rooms etc, and
I never heard anything like that. Infact, just the opposite. They say "millions
of people can drink everyday and not have a problem, but you are not one of them."
Very non-judgemental. Im a believer like Cruise to SCientology.
AA saved my life. The friendships I made and the support I got couldnt
be bought with any amount of money or in any re-hab. After the 'rock bottom'
I suffered I wake up everyday thinking of stuff I heard form somebody in there :D
In the end though....Its like gears and Fixies. What works for some deosnt work
for others.

Glad to see you made it. If you were out drinkin', then you wouldn't be in here postin', and many of us would be one less friend.:beer: (coffee)

It takes a strong person to use an addictive substance without being dragged under the horse, so to speak. But it takes an even stronger person to get back in the saddle, tie off the horse, and walk the rest of the way.:)

Thanks Serendipper ! :beer: :D
Very nice post !

Now....What can I do about this obsession / addiction
that has replaced it ?.....Pista ? Rush hour ? IRO ?...Hmmmm, Schwinn :eek:
Tax refund....Im starting to itch again :eek: :eek: :roflmao:

Thanks Serendipper ! :beer: :D
Very nice post !

Now....What can I do about this obsession / addiction
that has replaced it ?.....Pista ? Rush hour ? IRO ?...Hmmmm, Schwinn :eek:
Tax refund....Im starting to itch again :eek: :eek: :roflmao:

Ride your Surly at dawn. :)

i used to spend $300+ a week. now i'm down to about $60 or so. but i don't go out to bars much anymore, and brew my own beer (much cheaper - $30 or so for five gallons. less than a buck a pint). and i don't drink quite as much as i used to.

$30.00/month for Dr. Peppers....and that seems like too much for me!

Grr. This thread is driving home the fact that I forgot to go by the liquor store today, and only had enough whiskey for one shot. I can't drink enough beer to get a buzz without getting bloated anymore...

Guess I need to go hit a bar.

I'm bored at lunch... so I logged onto my bank's website and added up how much money I spent on alcohol since the 15th of last month, out of curiosity. Looks like I got about a $400 a month habit. Really freaks me out when I look at it from that perspective. I say you haven't been drinking ENOUGH! Typically you're freaked out well before you've had enough. If you've had enough, you'd know that you wouldn't be freakin' out... :)

$30.00/month for Dr. Peppers....and that seems like too much for me!

Cool, another Dr Pepper fiend :beer: Being that you are from east Texas, I 'm guessing you are spending that money wisely on the good, cane sugar Dr Pepper, right? You better be! ;) People that don't have it, would kill for it.

Heh, I don't think I ever spent $400 a month on cigarette! :eek:

Holy Jeebus, my lungs hurt just thinking about it!

Cool, another Dr Pepper fiend :beer: Being that you are from east Texas, I 'm guessing you are spending that money wisely on the good, cane sugar Dr Pepper, right? You better be! ;) People that don't have it, would kill for it.


I need someone to send me one of those. Here in the Philly area, one only hears rumors of their existance.

Cigarettes are worse than alcohol as far as addictions go, IMO.

That's the alcohol talking

Well. OK you're right. Nicotine is by WHO reckoned to be the most addicting drug

I think it depends on how addicted you are, in terms of which is worse, alcohol or nicotene. Very few people are mildly addicted to nicotene when it comes time to quit. There are varying degrees of alcoholics.

Personally, for me it was VERY hard to quit nicotene. Quitting alcohol was easy. Again, it depends on how chemically addicted your body is. Even though I've drank a LOT of alcohol in my days, I quit drinking for a complete year and never even missed it. Now I do have an occasional beer, but it coincides with an occasion, instead of just being 5PM.