How to make your drug money go further - 101
A simple guy making his way
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 7,867
How to make your drug money go further - 101
There was never any line item on a budget spreadsheet called Drugs.
I used money set aside for bills, rent, the money I occasionally had to put in saving.
I even used those checks you get from credit cards that you can write and get stupid rates on.
I used those to pay my drug dealers rent and he would give me that amount in crack.
So lets use a rating system like they do when looking at a restaurant guide. Those $$$ to show how expensive or cheap it was going to be.
My drinking / drugs weekend:
Drugs - $$$$$$
Alcohol - $$$$
Drug extras like cigarettes and paraphernalia - $$
Food - 0
Total-$$$$$$$$$$$$
Since making a real effort to remain abstinent I decided that for this weekend we would spend the equivalent of the money we never had when we spent it on "those"*things.
My sober weekend:
Dinner at a decent place - $$
Groceries for the week - $$
New clothes for work - $$
New shoes for work - $
Breakfast and lunch out again - $$
Total - $$$$$$$$$
By my estimates I still have, on a sunny Sunday relaxing, $$$ left.
And we used to do this every weekend.
So that is how I am making my drug dollars stretch.
I am gonna get to work tomorrow looking good... But more importantly.... feeling good.
And that is so cool.
I used money set aside for bills, rent, the money I occasionally had to put in saving.
I even used those checks you get from credit cards that you can write and get stupid rates on.
I used those to pay my drug dealers rent and he would give me that amount in crack.
So lets use a rating system like they do when looking at a restaurant guide. Those $$$ to show how expensive or cheap it was going to be.
My drinking / drugs weekend:
Drugs - $$$$$$
Alcohol - $$$$
Drug extras like cigarettes and paraphernalia - $$
Food - 0
Total-$$$$$$$$$$$$
Since making a real effort to remain abstinent I decided that for this weekend we would spend the equivalent of the money we never had when we spent it on "those"*things.
My sober weekend:
Dinner at a decent place - $$
Groceries for the week - $$
New clothes for work - $$
New shoes for work - $
Breakfast and lunch out again - $$
Total - $$$$$$$$$
By my estimates I still have, on a sunny Sunday relaxing, $$$ left.
And we used to do this every weekend.
So that is how I am making my drug dollars stretch.
I am gonna get to work tomorrow looking good... But more importantly.... feeling good.
And that is so cool.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Water's Edge
Posts: 239
Love your accounting and new way of spending. I go in a nice grocery store now and look at the pretty flowers at the entrance. Have been putting a bouquet of roses in my basket. No wine. Tab is a lot less than it used to be. And the roses sit in a vase in my kitchen and remind me how things have changed for the better.
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
You are adding to your list of things you will have when you stop drinking/using. I know it sounds trivial to you now, Ken, but it is a mindset that we all need to arrive at for that psychic change to happen.
begin
/[drugs] then [goodstuff];
else [badstuff];
end
begin
/[drugs] then [goodstuff];
else [badstuff];
end
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 27
Back in my heavy using days I would always consider buying anything that wasn't alcohol or drugs a "waste of money" I would feel disgustingly guilty if I did something like spend 20 dollars on food instead of buying a pitcher of beer at a bar or a 20 bag. I have to say I am quite angry at myself for wasting over 10 years of income on abusing myself, but thats addiction I suppose.
A simple guy making his way
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 7,867
Flip!!!! Thats exactly right!
I need a new mattress.. wake up with a back ache every day... I feel like I cant or I will not have any money... the last time i used I spent $600!
You put words to the way I feel... thanks!
I am struggling this afternoon... bad... but staying close to SR and reminding myself about the cost... $$ and self esteem and the list goes on that day eight is right there and I will be there with it.
Ken
I need a new mattress.. wake up with a back ache every day... I feel like I cant or I will not have any money... the last time i used I spent $600!
You put words to the way I feel... thanks!
I am struggling this afternoon... bad... but staying close to SR and reminding myself about the cost... $$ and self esteem and the list goes on that day eight is right there and I will be there with it.
Ken
Awaiting Email Confirmation
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: New England
Posts: 604
It is so true that quitting does save money in all kinds of ways. For me, the drinks were fairly cheap, but I smoked more, ate more fast food because I'd be too tired to cook, spent more money on aspirin, avoided paying bills so racked up more late charges,etc. It goes on and on. So true that we can now splurge on those fresh flowers or clothes or things we need like mattresses or car repairs instead of on booze. It's cool to have something tangible to show for the money spent too!!
Ken, sounds like you had a nice relaxing weekend, and that you're doing well on getting through the scary Sundays! Enjoy your new clothes tomorrow
Ken, sounds like you had a nice relaxing weekend, and that you're doing well on getting through the scary Sundays! Enjoy your new clothes tomorrow
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