How much have you saved?
uʍop ǝpısdn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: California
Posts: 422
Bumping an old thread cause I'm saving again.
I was throwing away big dollars every day at the liquor store, all the while telling my wife she spends too much money, when it was me.
This time I was really getting carried away with the expensive stuff and big dollars on lotto/lottery.
Now the money stays in my wallet.
I was throwing away big dollars every day at the liquor store, all the while telling my wife she spends too much money, when it was me.
This time I was really getting carried away with the expensive stuff and big dollars on lotto/lottery.
Now the money stays in my wallet.
12-Step Recovered Alkie
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Posts: 5,797
One day, early in sobriety I started working on a full list.... I don't know where it is at the moment but it's impressive (to me anyway) what my last year of drinking cost me financially (and the financial cost wasn't the worst either.....the mental and spiritual damage was way more expensive......)
here are some rough estimates I remember
$8600 at Champps Sports Bar
$3400 at various liquor stores
$12000 in attorney fees
$1800 in house arrest fees
$5700 in alcohol tether fees
$2000 in court costs
$1800 in probation fees
..........there were more but those are the biggies I could put together based upon what I paid for with checks or my atm card. I don't have any idea how many 1000's more I blew in cash.
and like I said, the money lost/wasted was the least of my expenses....
here are some rough estimates I remember
$8600 at Champps Sports Bar
$3400 at various liquor stores
$12000 in attorney fees
$1800 in house arrest fees
$5700 in alcohol tether fees
$2000 in court costs
$1800 in probation fees
..........there were more but those are the biggies I could put together based upon what I paid for with checks or my atm card. I don't have any idea how many 1000's more I blew in cash.
and like I said, the money lost/wasted was the least of my expenses....
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 176
Originally Posted by masseyman 
Ya know, I like this subject too. I'm kind of a tight wad, which is an oxymoron for being an alcoholic. "Gotta save money on this food bill dear..." I would say in my way to the party store to buy some booze.
Me...probably saving an 8$ bottle of popov a day....unless it was a "good" day and didn't finish the whole fifth.
Let's see....hmmmm....that's approx...I'm an engineer so I gotta get my calculator...
224$ a month. whew.
Me...probably saving an 8$ bottle of popov a day....unless it was a "good" day and didn't finish the whole fifth.
Let's see....hmmmm....that's approx...I'm an engineer so I gotta get my calculator...
224$ a month. whew.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,458
Hhhmmm,, well oddly enough I have a budget that I used to track my alcohol spending (however the alcohol entry was always at the very bottom of the budget so hubby would never fully notice it as I'm always the one that pays full attention to all details!)
I know I used to spend anywhere in between $350 to $450 a month on booze.
Now, of course, the past 3 weeks I've spent nada on booze.
I figure multiply $400 a month, that'll come up to $4800 a year! Not bad! I can maybe use that to hurry up and pay off my hubby's truck!
I know I used to spend anywhere in between $350 to $450 a month on booze.
Now, of course, the past 3 weeks I've spent nada on booze.
I figure multiply $400 a month, that'll come up to $4800 a year! Not bad! I can maybe use that to hurry up and pay off my hubby's truck!
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 20,458
after being sober for 3 months i also had more cash/$$ and was paying bills on time.
I decided to begin making double principal payments on my mortgage every month and I had my main bathroom gutted and remodelled. I can see and enjoy what I was drinking away. i also enjoyed the big pat on the back from my accountant when she told me i was taking almost 13 years off of my mortgage.
I decided to begin making double principal payments on my mortgage every month and I had my main bathroom gutted and remodelled. I can see and enjoy what I was drinking away. i also enjoyed the big pat on the back from my accountant when she told me i was taking almost 13 years off of my mortgage.
uʍop ǝpısdn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: California
Posts: 422
Originally Posted by DayTrader
One day, early in sobriety I started working on a full list.... I don't know where it is at the moment but it's impressive (to me anyway) what my last year of drinking cost me financially (and the financial cost wasn't the worst either.....the mental and spiritual damage was way more expensive......)
here are some rough estimates I remember
$8600 at Champps Sports Bar
$3400 at various liquor stores
$12000 in attorney fees
$1800 in house arrest fees
$5700 in alcohol tether fees
$2000 in court costs
$1800 in probation fees
..........there were more but those are the biggies I could put together based upon what I paid for with checks or my atm card. I don't have any idea how many 1000's more I blew in cash.
and like I said, the money lost/wasted was the least of my expenses....
here are some rough estimates I remember
$8600 at Champps Sports Bar
$3400 at various liquor stores
$12000 in attorney fees
$1800 in house arrest fees
$5700 in alcohol tether fees
$2000 in court costs
$1800 in probation fees
..........there were more but those are the biggies I could put together based upon what I paid for with checks or my atm card. I don't have any idea how many 1000's more I blew in cash.
and like I said, the money lost/wasted was the least of my expenses....
Some ppl don't even make that in a year!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 456
Just since February 13, 2011 I have saved the following:
$10.85/day (320 days) - 12 pack Budwiser 3472.00
$9.00/week day - booze at the bar b4 home 1980.00 (220 days)
$70 / week - vodka "for the house" 3080.00
= $8532.00
This also does not include night long drunken escapades I don't remember, full weekend benders I don't remember, bad purchases, gambling at the bar or the extra $1000 in smokes I used or lost because I was drinking.
Even when you figure the 2 years of treatment/legal fees at about $4500 (total) I'm still way ahead and that gap will only increase.
On Christmas Eve I parked my new (to me) boat in my garage - a 19 1/2 FT fishing ski boat. It's been my lifelong dream and will be a great activity for my family.
$10.85/day (320 days) - 12 pack Budwiser 3472.00
$9.00/week day - booze at the bar b4 home 1980.00 (220 days)
$70 / week - vodka "for the house" 3080.00
= $8532.00
This also does not include night long drunken escapades I don't remember, full weekend benders I don't remember, bad purchases, gambling at the bar or the extra $1000 in smokes I used or lost because I was drinking.
Even when you figure the 2 years of treatment/legal fees at about $4500 (total) I'm still way ahead and that gap will only increase.
On Christmas Eve I parked my new (to me) boat in my garage - a 19 1/2 FT fishing ski boat. It's been my lifelong dream and will be a great activity for my family.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Menominee Mi
Posts: 112
Thats awesome,
I counted the checks I wrote at bars and restaurants, $1000. a month I allways wondered why I was broke. Keep up the good work and thanks for reminding me why I sobered up 24 days ago.
Diana
I counted the checks I wrote at bars and restaurants, $1000. a month I allways wondered why I was broke. Keep up the good work and thanks for reminding me why I sobered up 24 days ago.
Diana
Re-Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 7,583
For me about the same as ST Pete except for one item. I also quit 3 packs a day 15 months ago. So add 3X$5=$15.00 a dayX465 days =$6,975.00 more.
$10.85 a day x 465 sober = $5045.00
I didn't go to bars
$70 / week - scotch "for the house" X465/7=66.43 weeks=$4849=$9,695.00
All savings for my 465 days of sobriety thus far.
Hey that was interesting, I never figured it out even close before.
$10.85 a day x 465 sober = $5045.00
I didn't go to bars
$70 / week - scotch "for the house" X465/7=66.43 weeks=$4849=$9,695.00
All savings for my 465 days of sobriety thus far.
Hey that was interesting, I never figured it out even close before.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: In a Good Place
Posts: 484
I quit cigs approx. five weeks ago (smoked about .75 packs per day)=
35 daysx $5.50 x .75=$144
Beer: Hard to say here, I was a binge drinker. Probably drank on average two cases per week (quit beer five weeks ago also).
5 weeks x 18 x 2= $180
Total= $324 in five weeks. This doesnt include drinks out at bars, going to a casino because I was drunk, etc.
35 daysx $5.50 x .75=$144
Beer: Hard to say here, I was a binge drinker. Probably drank on average two cases per week (quit beer five weeks ago also).
5 weeks x 18 x 2= $180
Total= $324 in five weeks. This doesnt include drinks out at bars, going to a casino because I was drunk, etc.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5
Cocaine is a a very expensive drug and I've spent somewhere between $12 - 17K on sniffing over the past 2.5 years (since 6/2009). Could have bought a car. There are other supplemental/incidental costs too: alchohol, cigarettes, gambling, taxi cabs, loose spending in bars - it all adds up and very very quickly. All in all, it comes out to about $20,000 + over a 30 months period
Editor
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Posts: 1,516
I am saving on average 4000 annually drinking beer at home.
2000 liquor.
3000 drinking in restaurants and
4000 a year in senseless spending while drinking.
The greatest "savings" of all is the relationship I have with my Children!
Sobriety Rocks.
Dave
2000 liquor.
3000 drinking in restaurants and
4000 a year in senseless spending while drinking.
The greatest "savings" of all is the relationship I have with my Children!
Sobriety Rocks.
Dave
One Foot in Front of the Other
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 582
My most recent episode of drinking cost me about $350-400 per month. My last period of not drinking, at 95 days, netted me over $1,000.
It may not be the biggest motiviating factor, but it's certainly a motivating factor, especially for a guy with money issues.
It may not be the biggest motiviating factor, but it's certainly a motivating factor, especially for a guy with money issues.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: In a Good Place
Posts: 484
Originally Posted by DarrenW
I quit cigs approx. five weeks ago (smoked about .75 packs per day)=
35 daysx $5.50 x .75=$144
Beer: Hard to say here, I was a binge drinker. Probably drank on average two cases per week (quit beer five weeks ago also).
5 weeks x 18 x 2= $180
Total= $324 in five weeks. This doesnt include drinks out at bars, going to a casino because I was drunk, etc.
35 daysx $5.50 x .75=$144
Beer: Hard to say here, I was a binge drinker. Probably drank on average two cases per week (quit beer five weeks ago also).
5 weeks x 18 x 2= $180
Total= $324 in five weeks. This doesnt include drinks out at bars, going to a casino because I was drunk, etc.
Beer- 12 weeks (approx) x $18 x 2= $432
Cigs- 90 days x 5.50 x .75= $371
Total in three months: $803 (not counting extra pizzas, unplanned trips to casino because I was drunk and determined to get my money back.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 205
Between the "home booze", bars, cabs and drunken spending spree's I figure the average was $400/month. As of now (day 19) I have saved, but to keep me busy I spent that money on a new bookshelf, coffee table, 2 end tables, 2 rugs and other accessories to keep me busy and change the look of my place. Its a good trade-off, but I haven't seen a raise of the bank acct just yet for those reasons.
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