725bygrace

I am amazed at how much easier it is to stay on budget when I'm not spending $10-15 each day for a bottle of wine.
Plus I'm not eating out 3-4 times a week - where I buy an additional 2-4 glasses of wine @ the bar for $7-10 EACH.

Thats alot of money!!!

I find myself enjoying good food more and justifying "treats" at the grocery store - like rainer cherries and 5 year cheddar. I used to deny myself these items because they were "too expensive". DUH !!!

Tuesday24

Amazing isn't it?

MycoolFitz

Yea, and that's even assuming you have it together enough to have a budget. Enjoy.

withdrawing

I've started to notice this too. My wallet is usually empty of cash. But, in the last 2-3 weeks there's money in my wallet. I almost don't know what to do with it because I was so used to spending it on beer.

725bygrace

I used to think I had to change my life to change my habit.

Now I realize by changing my habit - I've changed my life.

Yes, it is amazing! I am thinking clearly for the first time in a very long time. I actually feel like I could set some long-term goals.

sugarbear1

I'm living on practically nothing, but my bills are paid, food here, and I have a new 8 piece bed ensemble, tv stand, bath space saver, new drawer pulls for the furniture I'm refinishing, spray paint for a cabinet (now looks like stone), saving for an hdtv and laptop and a car......

Wow! I guess I drank a nice car's worth!!

MycoolFitz

Dang sugarbear, a bed ensemble, I don't even own a bed yet, but I have a dream.

wheresthefun

My wife is STILL drinking considerable more than her luxury car payment, which will be done in less than two years. Let's hope she comes around to getting sober before the car's paid off. Imagine all the extra cash we'd have!

Tuesday24

I have roughly calculated that I spent 6300 dollars a year on alcohol. I drank like this for nearly 10 years. Wow.

sugarbear1

Try craigslist! I'm hoping I get this white couch! I have 2 semi-comfy chairs...I want sober people to come by and sit comfortably today! (Only needed 2 cause then the 2 of us could smoke more we...nevermind, that was when)

MycoolFitz

Well, I mostly used my bed to pass out on anyway. I made my air cushion and now I sleep on it. As for $ wasted--not only on booze but $360,000 I still owe on a house I no longer have title to. But hey, as long as I have myself back everything else will fall into place, or not. It's only life, we all get over it.

wellwisher

What a great, positive thread.

Thanks all.

Fitz - man, you crack me up!

MycoolFitz

I inherited my alcoholism and Irish senseless humor from my dad. At his wake I cracked everybody up and all I did was relate true stories about him. An alcoholics life is much stranger than fiction.

EmeraldRose

My situation is different where as when my husband and I were still together I didn't have to worry about money. We always had enough and my boozing was not noticed since I took care of the all the finances.
BUT NOW!!! That I'm alone, working 40 hours and having to pay my own rent I wouldn't have any extra money to drink. I squeak by each month and just have enough...if I drank I would definately be in big trouble. Yikes!