How much DID you spend a month?
Were I handed back that money, I would probably consider it tainted and maybe donate it to charity or something along those lines. I'm not being a martyr, I just figure that I've already had my "fun" (sarcasm) and I'd be ashamed to spend it on myself unless *absoltely* necessary.
I did this calculation one morning at about 160 days and I had saved about $1500. I did this because I needed something tangible to keep me sober at that moment. And then I had to wonder where that money was?? Where did I get that money anyway?
So anyway, I also have to consider the cost of the extra stuff I bought that I don't need to spend money on today: breath mints, gum, body spray, perfume, more cigarettes, mixers, wine openers, plastic cups, all kinds of stuff I bought when I was drunk that I did not need, misc stuff in stores so it didn't look like I just came in for alcohol (though I had). Oh boy, and then there is a wreckage...legal costs, court costs, increased car insurance, car repairs, insurance bills for various alcohol related injuries, ad infinitum. Oh yeah, I should be much better off
I am never offended at be reminded of where I came from. I am grateful today.
So anyway, I also have to consider the cost of the extra stuff I bought that I don't need to spend money on today: breath mints, gum, body spray, perfume, more cigarettes, mixers, wine openers, plastic cups, all kinds of stuff I bought when I was drunk that I did not need, misc stuff in stores so it didn't look like I just came in for alcohol (though I had). Oh boy, and then there is a wreckage...legal costs, court costs, increased car insurance, car repairs, insurance bills for various alcohol related injuries, ad infinitum. Oh yeah, I should be much better off
I am never offended at be reminded of where I came from. I am grateful today.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,299
The truth ain't pretty eh?
I don't like war stories-but I'm okay with being honest about what I spent.Lemme see-when my fav bottle of wine was on special-it was 10 bucks.That's 20 dollars a day.140 a week.Not a great outcome.But mostly?It was 15 dollars a bottle.30 dollars a day.Put in 20 dollars a day for cigarettes too and you're talking almost half my wages for 2 weeks then gone in a week.I didn't care.
I do now.
Ridiculous.
I'm so grateful to have my life back.And some sanity.
Jules.
I don't like war stories-but I'm okay with being honest about what I spent.Lemme see-when my fav bottle of wine was on special-it was 10 bucks.That's 20 dollars a day.140 a week.Not a great outcome.But mostly?It was 15 dollars a bottle.30 dollars a day.Put in 20 dollars a day for cigarettes too and you're talking almost half my wages for 2 weeks then gone in a week.I didn't care.
I do now.
Ridiculous.
I'm so grateful to have my life back.And some sanity.
Jules.
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
It's impossible for me to guess...
I was a blackout drinker...usually in bars...tipped well
took taxis....averaged $30 weekly at liquor store.
I always took $30 for a night out + credit cards
and a check book. If I did not have a date
I went out alone 6 nights a week.
That was my final 5 years of drinking.
I quit almost 20 years ago....booze was cheaper then.
I think I'll have to join in the "Too darn much" crowd.
I was a blackout drinker...usually in bars...tipped well
took taxis....averaged $30 weekly at liquor store.
I always took $30 for a night out + credit cards
and a check book. If I did not have a date
I went out alone 6 nights a week.
That was my final 5 years of drinking.
I quit almost 20 years ago....booze was cheaper then.
I think I'll have to join in the "Too darn much" crowd.
If I was sticking to home only my bill roughly ran 200 bucks a month (with coke to mix with my tumbler of scotch).
If I went out twice a month my bill would easily double (but not because I drank a lot when I went out). Normally I would drink VERY little while out but would pay for our entire table (I hate people picking a tab apart for every little drink so I would just pay the whole damn thing)....so with that, my bill was always high.
And NO, I am not offended. It is a very simple question. I think it is good for us addicts to know just how much we wasted on destroying our lives. We know what it did to us....we know what it did to our families.....we know what it did to our health....why not know what it did to your pocketbook. Come on people...need to thicken up that skin a bit. (if you found the question offensive....just choose not to answer)
If I went out twice a month my bill would easily double (but not because I drank a lot when I went out). Normally I would drink VERY little while out but would pay for our entire table (I hate people picking a tab apart for every little drink so I would just pay the whole damn thing)....so with that, my bill was always high.
And NO, I am not offended. It is a very simple question. I think it is good for us addicts to know just how much we wasted on destroying our lives. We know what it did to us....we know what it did to our families.....we know what it did to our health....why not know what it did to your pocketbook. Come on people...need to thicken up that skin a bit. (if you found the question offensive....just choose not to answer)
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: toledo,ohio
Posts: 43
I'm not offended at all. In fact, Before I retired as a CPA, I did these wild spreadsheets to figure out how long my retirement funds would last if I retired. I had to force myself to figure in $300 a month just for wine (@ $10/bottle). It always drove me crazy what a waste of money this was. In addition, when I drink wine, I snack like crazy, which adds another $50 a month. I used to think about how that would make a monthly payment on a midpriced auto. How ridiculous.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 71
No offense taken either....
Now that you brought it up I thought about it....
beer: 200-300 month (i bought a kegerator 6 months ago to help "save me money". It ended up helping me not be able to see how much I really drank)
cigs: 1 pack a day @ 4.50=135 month
pot: about 100 month
AAUUGGHHHH....that adds up to $535 a month. The only thing I have to brag about is how good I was at WASTING money.
Now wait multiply that by 12
Thats right--$6420 a year OMG!!!!! Need I say more?
Thanks for that post. I thought I was crazy cuz even in the short time I have been sober I already feel like my pockets are heavier. And when you write it out on paper, its looks to be so. This gives me yet another reason to never turn back....
Now that you brought it up I thought about it....
beer: 200-300 month (i bought a kegerator 6 months ago to help "save me money". It ended up helping me not be able to see how much I really drank)
cigs: 1 pack a day @ 4.50=135 month
pot: about 100 month
AAUUGGHHHH....that adds up to $535 a month. The only thing I have to brag about is how good I was at WASTING money.
Now wait multiply that by 12
Thats right--$6420 a year OMG!!!!! Need I say more?
Thanks for that post. I thought I was crazy cuz even in the short time I have been sober I already feel like my pockets are heavier. And when you write it out on paper, its looks to be so. This gives me yet another reason to never turn back....
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 428
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 235
I always spent MUCH MUCH more going on because I'd do a bunch of over priced shots. It's sickening to think one can spend upwards of $60 at the bar in one night.
Reading this thread makes me realise why i never had any money despite having a relatively good job. I dont think i can work out how much i spent apart from everything that i had spare! I used to start the month on vodka and end it on the cheapest muck i could find, when you take into account extra cigarettes, take aways and various other crap that seemed like a good idea at the time its a wonder i didnt end up on the street.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 10
All,
Thx for responding. I find this very interesting how all our patterns were somewhat the same - kind of a common theme that I followed also. multiple daily trips to the liquor store, gum, things that go with drinking, etc.
Now after reading all the responses to this thread so far I'm thinking of how much time I personally blew being wasted and aquiring all the stuff I needed to get wasted.
Just have to look forward to each day and improve over the last day in order to make up for lost time.
Thx for responding. I find this very interesting how all our patterns were somewhat the same - kind of a common theme that I followed also. multiple daily trips to the liquor store, gum, things that go with drinking, etc.
Now after reading all the responses to this thread so far I'm thinking of how much time I personally blew being wasted and aquiring all the stuff I needed to get wasted.
Just have to look forward to each day and improve over the last day in order to make up for lost time.
The money I saved when I got clean was actually a terrifying thing for me and it made me question how non addicts spend so much.
Even when I put some in savings, I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t want an ipod or fifteen pairs of shoes etc.
Then a friend fell on hard times, had nowhere to live and found it impossible to go to university or get work without an address. I gave her £150 for a deposit on a rented house. She is now excelling at university and has already secured a good job when she graduates.
...I used to spend £150 on gear and crack in a day without even thinking.
I donated a lump sum to charity and to the charity record and book shop where I was given a voluntary job when I first got clean. I love that place.
Being clean, this will be the first year I’ve been included in family Christmas plans. I sent letters explaining that I didn’t want any gifts (what I want still isn’t material) and that I wouldn’t be buying gifts, but donating the money to a charity. To my surprise, all of the relatives who got in touch thought this was a great idea and are now donating to chosen charities instead of buying each other gifts.
That is thousands of pounds given to charity simply because one junkie got clean and realised a few things.
I spent over 30 thousand pounds on drugs and drink in the last two years of my active use, and I am only twenty years old. It’s going to take me a life time to repay that debt, but at least now I have a life in which to try and do that.
Even when I put some in savings, I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t want an ipod or fifteen pairs of shoes etc.
Then a friend fell on hard times, had nowhere to live and found it impossible to go to university or get work without an address. I gave her £150 for a deposit on a rented house. She is now excelling at university and has already secured a good job when she graduates.
...I used to spend £150 on gear and crack in a day without even thinking.
I donated a lump sum to charity and to the charity record and book shop where I was given a voluntary job when I first got clean. I love that place.
Being clean, this will be the first year I’ve been included in family Christmas plans. I sent letters explaining that I didn’t want any gifts (what I want still isn’t material) and that I wouldn’t be buying gifts, but donating the money to a charity. To my surprise, all of the relatives who got in touch thought this was a great idea and are now donating to chosen charities instead of buying each other gifts.
That is thousands of pounds given to charity simply because one junkie got clean and realised a few things.
I spent over 30 thousand pounds on drugs and drink in the last two years of my active use, and I am only twenty years old. It’s going to take me a life time to repay that debt, but at least now I have a life in which to try and do that.
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