Post: #26

Do you guys have any tips for spending less on alcohol? I am thinking of seeing if I can just get away from inviting girls over for wine and a cooked dinner instead of paying for 2 rounds for us in a bar. Maybe I can even smuggle liquor into bars at night in a flask or something? Any other ways to spend less on booze? Obviously using the will power to just drink less would be great as well for health reasons.

Post: #27

I have some quick tips that I used
- Pregame
- Bring in a flask full of liquor. Mix drinks in the bathroom or smoking area
- Offer to DD (and skip drinking entirely)
- Drink only specials, and of that, preferably whiskey neat. They screw you with ice.
- Drink on an empty stomach (not recommended for a lot of people)
- Insist other people buy your drinks (works well if you're entertaining a large group with your drunk antics)
- Ingratiate yourself to the staff so they get you free drinks
- That or a second job

I think pregaming is your best bet.

Post: #28

$1,000 a month. This is a guess, with an average of $100 a night, twice a week.

Its sad, indeed. It I lived anywhere but Miami Beach and DC the past 5 years however, things would be different.

Buying shots is a real killer. When tipsy I get in a festive shot buying mood. I limit it to two or three people total though... I'm not one of those guys who will by a round for 10 people.

Post: #29

I can easily blow $200+ once or twice a week on drinks. Shit's expensive here. Though, now that I'm back at uni I'm working less hours, so I'll have to control myself more...

This is with copious amounts of pre-drinking, occassional use of hip flasks (I don't know where it is now.. I think I left it in some club :/), drinking on an empty stomach, friends buying me drinks, and staff occassionally deciding to give me free shit (I guess I just look like a cool dude?). Tipping here is rare, so I don't usually do it unless I'm more intimite with the bar staff, or can't be bothered carrying my change. This is only at clubs though.

I still like to relax with a few beers after work, or in between classes at uni, so I also spend a bit there.

All in all, I spend a lot of money on alcohol...

Post: #30

(08-14-2012 01:55 AM)_DC_ Wrote:  $1,000 a month. This is a guess, with an average of $100 a night, twice a week.

Its sad, indeed. It I lived anywhere but Miami Beach and DC the past 5 years however, things would be different.

Buying shots is a real killer. When tipsy I get in a festive shot buying mood. I limit it to two or three people total though... I'm not one of those guys who will by a round for 10 people.

how much money do you make?

i ask because this seems really crazy to me.

$12000 per year after tax is like $18-$24,000 per year in pretax income.

even if you make $100k, 24% of your total income on alcohol?

if you make $200k, 12%?

does that seem wise?

Post: #31

As soon as you clear $150K or so a year. $1000 on partying is nothing.

$7,500 a month in a real city

$1,500-2000 rent
$800 food
$1000 Booze
$1000 Internet miscellaneous etc

Still save 33%. It's doable, generally high paying jobs cause stress and spending.

The trick is to always put that 33% away.

Life is relative, none of my good friends make less than low six figures. If I don't chip in on a $500 tab I'd be a mooch. Also when you're at that level people don't "keep track of rounds" because no one cares anymore. Going out to party at the high end is to get more connected. Not penny pinch. That doesn't help make the right kind of friends.

Post: #32

Probably 10$ a month, I have a few bottles of strong alcohol at home that I use up slowly over half a year. When I go out, which is also not too often I rarely drink, and even then I've had luck with girls buying me drinks.

Post: #33

(08-14-2012 08:24 AM)WestCoast Wrote:  As soon as you clear $150K or so a year. $1000 on partying is nothing.

$7,500 a month in a real city

$1,500-2000 rent
$800 food
$1000 Booze
$1000 Internet miscellaneous etc

Still save 33%. It's doable, generally high paying jobs cause stress and spending.

The trick is to always put that 33% away.

Life is relative, none of my good friends make less than low six figures. If I don't chip in on a $500 tab I'd be a mooch. Also when you're at that level people don't "keep track of rounds" because no one cares anymore. Going out to party at the high end is to get more connected. Not penny pinch. That doesn't help make the right kind of friends.

right, the kind of friends you are making are guys that spend $1000 a month on booze.

how old are you?

spending 13% of your take home income on alcohol is not a sound plan.

in your "miscellaneous" budget there what did you have for the following:

Gym
Doctor
Health Insurance Expenses
Car
Car Insurance
Parking
Vacation Saving
Furniture Expenses
Haircuts
Clothes - Casual
Clothes - Professional
Cable
Cell Phone
Internet
Misc purchases
Student Loans
Life Insurance?



I just wonder if you're a) really spending that little on the "MISC" and b) saving as much as you claim.

either way, I don't think any of the guys on here advocating for getting your financial house in order would suggest spending 13% of your income on booze.

Seems insane.

If its all about expanding your network, why not join a local men's club where the real players hang out and make friends there? Or at professional associations where the booze is free?

Are you in your mid 20's?

Post: #34

(08-14-2012 06:33 AM)reaper23 Wrote:  

(08-14-2012 01:55 AM)_DC_ Wrote:  $1,000 a month. This is a guess, with an average of $100 a night, twice a week.

Its sad, indeed. It I lived anywhere but Miami Beach and DC the past 5 years however, things would be different.

Buying shots is a real killer. When tipsy I get in a festive shot buying mood. I limit it to two or three people total though... I'm not one of those guys who will by a round for 10 people.

how much money do you make?

i ask because this seems really crazy to me.

$12000 per year after tax is like $18-$24,000 per year in pretax income.

even if you make $100k, 24% of your total income on alcohol?

if you make $200k, 12%?

does that seem wise?

I'm 28 and will make $130k this year. My monthly take home is almost exactly $7k. I have lots of disposable income. So this works out to ~14% of my take home. This doesn't sound too bad to me.

Sure, I could be saving 3k-4k a month and living modestly (not an awesome apartment and hardly spending money when going out) but I'd rather have fun now then be rich in my 60s.

This all being said I really am trying to cut down. The drinks in MB are very expensive. The tips above are good and I'm trying to follow them.

Before you pass judgement, maybe you should ask yourself "I'm a making enough money?" I'm saving well over $2k a month when considering my pretax retirement, so please tell me this is not sound.

Post: #35

(08-13-2012 10:36 PM)bacan Wrote:  Do you guys have any tips for spending less on alcohol? I am thinking of seeing if I can just get away from inviting girls over for wine and a cooked dinner instead of paying for 2 rounds for us in a bar. Maybe I can even smuggle liquor into bars at night in a flask or something? Any other ways to spend less on booze? Obviously using the will power to just drink less would be great as well for health reasons.

- Pregame

- Venture into the assorted picks of dirt cheap alcohols.

....I can pretty much drink anything now aside from Canadian Sherry which is no better than motor oil. But a cheap bottle of Rice wine at 4$ each.. two will get me a good buzz and for lightweights will get them drunk. Pick up a dirt cheap bottle at the LB and just close your eyes and pound it back.

- pop a Advil or IB before drinking. I don't do this anymore but back in HS I would do this evrey weekend to double the effect of the alcohol since it thins your blood.

- OneAdvil and a 6$ bottle of whatever is on sale will get you smashed. I can think of any other cheaper way.

- Flasks are cool but for heavyweights they make them too small. If your going to a lounge which is cool with in and outs for smokes then go stash a bottle in a bush down the street or around the corner.

- Try to cut down and lower your tolerence.

....I can slam back shots with the best of them but my tolerence is way lower now (still higher than most tho.. ). This indeed helps becuase once I reach my baseline of that good buzz I don't want/need to drink anymore and I will actually order water or nurse a beer to keep that level going. The days of getting blacked out drunk are behind me.

Trusty tips from one Canadian alcoholic to another

Post: #36

Speaking of getting more bang for your buck, has anybody tried Kava Kava? I did read a post by Kona a loonnng time back, but it doesn't mention mixing the two.

The nice thing about Kava Kava is that its relatively cheap (compared to drinking all night) and virtually zero calories. I've been thinking of loading up on it early and only needing a few drinks later in the night.

I haven't read any scientific evidence that its dangerous as the liver toxicity problems were because some shady companies were processing the entire plant (including the toxic leaves!). The effects of Kava Kava are exacerbated by alcohol (as they have common effects) but I have read that there is no danger of Kava Kava making alcohol more toxic (e.g. reducing the bodies ability to metabolize the alcohol, leading to an easier OD on alcohol).

A little off topic, but this could help save money no doubt.

Post: #37

I average around $100 a weekend in the DR. But it is not all alcohol. It is paying for my taxi, girl's taxi's. pre drinking at a place, and hitting a few clubs. I usually start weds or thrus night and end on monday morning. That is my weekend. Also, when I am hungover, I have to eat good the next day.

Post: #38

Kosko try mixing that shit sherry with some sprite. my friend calls it poor man's champagne. If you take a 2L and dump a bit pout then top it up with the sherry you get bonus points. It's essentially a $6 mickey.

Also look for clearance/on sale booze. My provincial liquor store always has some weird shit or craft brews on sale. O think the best deal is tallboys they're 500mL and on sale are $2 plus they're good beer

There's also the option of homebrew and moonshine my friend does both. $20 for 20L of 40% or something like that

Post: #39

Probably in the 500+ range. Not 100% sure. A good way to cut the bartab down is to 1)pre-game 2)flask it..."thug life"
3) never offer to buy individual drinks for girls...instead buy drinks to share. Sharing drinks is great because you are "sharing something" and that you can touch, tease and flirt with her and she really cant run away. Plus it gives a solid 2-3 mins of nice silent contentment (girl is happy she is drinking for free, you are happy that you have a hottie on your hands).

Post: #40

Oh and at the bar, dont order mixed drinks. Order vodka with ice and a chase-back. Will at least double your alcohol consumption per dollar.

Post: #41

About 200 us dollars a month. I drink good stuff and invite friends, i never get drinks in clubs tough. I keep a flask in my car and one in my jacket, when i go out.

I do get beers after work 1 or 2 nights a week.

Pre drinking and hanging out with bartenders and djs is key when saving money on booze.

Post: #42

Yes somewhere in your age bracket mentioned

If you make $7K after taxes spending $600-1,000 on booze is nothing (spend close to 4K an save $7K). I recently retired from night game thoug so that's down to $300 a month.

Car and car insurance = none because I live in a major city
Student loans = 0 full ride scholarship
Haircuts = $10 because I know the style an just get cheap ones
Cable = none I only have the Internet (tethered on my phone which is...) Phone = free work pays
Doctor = work
Vacation = flights free on points, $1,500-2,500 per 8 day vacation

Bottle service = for guys with no game, I buy a bottle once a year for my birthday that's it, I pay and it's for my friends. Models and bottles are for guys who don't get laid.

I spend money on booze to get connected, a bottle gets you nothing, rubbing elbows at high end venues and getting a business card is priceless.

End of the day the mindset is "spend to make" not "squeeze to save". I'd rather drop $10 shit $100 a drink to have an opportunity to meet a real connection instead of $300 for a bottle of goose with a bunh of guys. That's just me though.

Success is never what you know, it's who. So you spend your time and money... Getting connected.

(08-14-2012 12:54 PM)reaper23 Wrote:  

(08-14-2012 08:24 AM)WestCoast Wrote:  As soon as you clear $150K or so a year. $1000 on partying is nothing.

$7,500 a month in a real city

$1,500-2000 rent
$800 food
$1000 Booze
$1000 Internet miscellaneous etc

Still save 33%. It's doable, generally high paying jobs cause stress and spending.

The trick is to always put that 33% away.

Life is relative, none of my good friends make less than low six figures. If I don't chip in on a $500 tab I'd be a mooch. Also when you're at that level people don't "keep track of rounds" because no one cares anymore. Going out to party at the high end is to get more connected. Not penny pinch. That doesn't help make the right kind of friends.

right, the kind of friends you are making are guys that spend $1000 a month on booze.

how old are you?

spending 13% of your take home income on alcohol is not a sound plan.

in your "miscellaneous" budget there what did you have for the following:

Gym
Doctor
Health Insurance Expenses
Car
Car Insurance
Parking
Vacation Saving
Furniture Expenses
Haircuts
Clothes - Casual
Clothes - Professional
Cable
Cell Phone
Internet
Misc purchases
Student Loans
Life Insurance?



I just wonder if you're a) really spending that little on the "MISC" and b) saving as much as you claim.

either way, I don't think any of the guys on here advocating for getting your financial house in order would suggest spending 13% of your income on booze.

Seems insane.

If its all about expanding your network, why not join a local men's club where the real players hang out and make friends there? Or at professional associations where the booze is free?

Are you in your mid 20's?