I am aware that I spent a ton of money on booze. I don't have the exact figure. I've also had things like - had to retake a $2,500 college class, or the drunk online shopping - type costs. I won't even bother trying to tally it up.
I did download an app to see how many sober days I had if I ever wanted the number - but it also calculates what I have saved since I got sober. I like to look to the future and the good things.
It tells me $9,255.00 - 617 days. That's pretty nice. That's the $15/day estimate. I'm sure real cost savings is much higher than just the straight up bottles and weekends I tried to guess to get to 15/day.
I haven't gotten myself into very costly nights or purchases due from blacked out behaviors. So when I'm about to buy a $7.00 dessert in a restaurant and I'm tormenting over the price - I just have to remind myself - you used to spend that on EACH drink, 2-3 for this dinner - so have that piece of cake. It's still cheaper.
As others have said - TIME is really where can't tally costs. Having all that sober time to do other things. Using time to get to work and not call in sick.
It's never too late to start working on the positive tally.