How to Drink on a Budget like a Boss
Let’s face it, drinking is expensive.
If you live in a major metropolitan city, it’s even worse…
In a small/college town in the U.S. you can expect to pay about the following versus big cities:
Beer: $1 to $5 vs. $4 to $10
Rail Liquor & Wine: $4 to $8 vs. $6 to $15
Mixed Drinks: $5 to $10 vs. $8 to $20
Non-domestic beers are even more expensive.
What’s the solution? You have a few options.
Option #1: Buy whole bottles of liquor/wine and cases of beer for pre-gaming at home.
You’d be surprised how much money you can save by boozing up before you go out. Whether it’s before a date, a weekend outing, or a sporting event, pre-gaming is the smart thing to do.
Math Time
Consider the average bottle of liquor is about 750ml (25oz). A typical shot glass measures 1oz. So, let’s assume every mixed drink, rail, or shot you get at the bar costs you $5. That same bottle of liquor that costs around $25 at the liquor store (often cheaper).
That equates to just under $1 per shot/drink… or 20% of the cost.
Let’s assume you spend $100 a week going out drinking.
That’s about $5,000 a year.
Now, even if you were only to drink half of that at home, you would save $2,000/yr.
$2500 + ($2500*0.20) = $3,000/yr or $60/wk vs. $5000/yr or 100/wk
Not only do you end up spending less on shots to get that buzz, you’re also able to control the amount you warm up with and can drink at a slower pace while out to maintain that level.
As a side note, you can purchase budget brands like Evan Williams instead of Jack Daniel’s for yourself while keeping a bottle of the good stuff for when you bring over girls. If you go to a chain like Total Wine & More or Corridor Wine you can get great deals on cheap wine. My favorite: Double Dog Dare which retails for $3.99 a bottle. On top of that, you get a 10% discount when you buy a case. That’s about $43 pre-tax for 12 bottles, and it’s not bad wine.
The upfront cost for maintaining a modest sized bar at home is about $250-$300 and lasts about 2-4 months depending on your drinking habits.
This includes:
- Whiskey
- Rum
- Vodka
- Gin
- Tequila
- Sweet/Sours, Sodas, & other Mixers
- Wine
- Beer
- Garnishes (optional) such as lemons, limes, cherries, etc.
- Mixing tools
The bigger the bottle, the better the deal usually is. You should be sure to check the price per liter to make sure you’re getting the best bargain. I like to keep one to two types of each liquor in stock just in case.
Learn to mix drinks, it’s a valuable skill you’ll be able to use the rest of your life.
Option #2: Bring a liquor flask while you’re out hitting the town.
Here are plenty of reasons for and against why you should rock a flask.
Pros:
- Save cash by not buying overpriced drinks
- Can be a “bad boy” DHV to women if used properly
- Ability to get conveniently inebriated anywhere
- Airplane bottles are expensive
- Flasks are cheap and cool
- You pick the liquor of your choice
Cons:
- Perceived as cheap bastard or an alcoholic
- Could get you thrown out of a bar/club/event
- Could get you arrested or fined
- Can embarrass yourself in public
Steps for pulling off a successful swig at a bar or venue:
- Flask concealment (coat or pants pocket, boot, etc.)
- Buy a cheap mixer like coke at the bar (for straight up skip to #3)
- Find an isolated spot (i.e. bathroom, corner, etc.)
- Pour for 2-3 seconds (or take a shot straight out of the flask) and tuck it away
- Mix and stir with your finger, stirrer, or straw
- Return to the party with your new drink and enjoy
As an alternative while traveling (i.e. walking, metro, or passenger in a car), you can spike a bottle of soda or fill an empty bottle up with the mixed drink of your choice. Just be sure the color matches the bottle brand.
Some examples:
- Rum/Whiskey & Coke in a Coke or Pepsi Bottle
- Gin & Tonic in a Sprite or Water Bottle
- Vanilla Stoli & Ginger in a Gingerale or Sprite Bottle
Option #3: Hit the Happy Hour spots around town
Most bars have a happy hour (or daily specials) sometime between 4pm and 10pm. Sometimes it’s only an hour, other times it lasts a few.
Take advantage of these discounts. It will save you a lot of money in the long run.
It will take some research on your part to locate the best bars to suit your needs based on location, timing, price, atmosphere, etc.
For example, if you’re planning a date for 6 o’clock; it doesn’t make much sense to take a girl to a bar with a happy hour that ends at 5pm.
*Note – Many bars have events/venues starting later in the night, so if you can get a girl inside before they start charging a cover you will save some more cash.
Yelp is probably the best tool out there because it’s updated often and maintained by its users; making it one of the most comprehensive restaurant and bar guides available.
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