How much do you spend on beer, booze, wine?

[Spork]

Nice Spork.

What's your chosen Isley substitute. Black grouse?

I can't say I have spent a lot of time trying Isley's.  (McClellands has an Isley... but I don't think I've tried it.) 

[milesdividendmd]

Wow!   I didn't realize that forum posters are such teetotalers?   So yeah,  along with the keto diet it will have to be a no booze diet as well.   Perhaps this will be a pleasure reserved for just very special occasions in the future or not at all?   

Far be it from me to enable (hah! Shit, who am I kidding? Here, have a homebrew) but distilled alcohol is actually "allowed" on keto. Your body will not burn fat while there is alcohol in your system because the body prioritizes metabolism of the most toxic fuel source first (booze = toxic substance, so everything else has to wait while the liver deals with it), but distilled alcohol and very dry wine will not necessarily throw you out of ketosis. There's even a Keto Drunk subreddit.

How much do I spend on booze....hmmm....
Homebrewing - about $25, makes about 5 gallons beer or cider about once a month or 10 times a year.
Other beer ("research") - about $10.
Hard alcohol - $0 to $400, depending on the month. Average, about $60.
Wine - $0 to $50, depending on the month. Average, maybe $25.

So I'm gonna say about $120 a month, with HUGE swings depending on if we are restocking the bar. If there's an upside to that kinda spending, I gotta say that we've become cocktail snobs. It's almost impossible to go out for drinks, purely on a quality basis. The best drinks in town are at home. :)

I refuse to run those numbers, because I'd then need to drink a bunch of my expensive single malt to help me forget how much I'm spending...

I'll drink to that.

100% agree. Once you have learned to make your own homemade clear ice there is no going back...



(White Negroni)

[Erica/NWEdible]

100% agree. Once you have learned to make your own homemade clear ice there is no going back...



(White Negroni)

Hold up, friend. You can't just drop that "clear ice" thing without specific and detailed instructions. ::squeee!::

[milesdividendmd]

Warning Erica. Highly addicting.

Now when I am on call I won't think twice to carve off a nice cube of ice, a twist  of grapefruit, and a dash of peach bitters for my seltzer.

Here's how I do it...

http://www.milesdividendmd.com/rocking-luxury/

Since I wrote that one I have added a razor sharp deba knife to my arsenal which has really upped my game.

As a bonus the hand shaved ice is perfect for Hemingway daiquiris....

[Erica/NWEdible]

- Now when I am on call I won't think twice to carve off a nice cube of ice, a twist  of grapefruit, and a dash of peach bitters for my seltzer.

- As a bonus the hand shaved ice is perfect for Hemingway daiquiris

- Who said anything about single malt? That was rittenhouse 100 proof rye pictured.

I like the way you think, sir.

[arcangel911]

I make my own and I tend to try new craft beers all the time and sample wines from all over.

[bryan]

Sadly, I spend close to my rent in booze.  It's my huge leak.  That includes beers at home and, the much more costly, going out with friends.  Over a year... probably $4000 goes down my throat.

Yay, someone beat me!

I'm around $260/mo.

[Bob W]

Wow!   I didn't realize that forum posters are such teetotalers?   So yeah,  along with the keto diet it will have to be a no booze diet as well.   Perhaps this will be a pleasure reserved for just very special occasions in the future or not at all?   

Far be it from me to enable (hah! Shit, who am I kidding? Here, have a homebrew) but distilled alcohol is actually "allowed" on keto. Your body will not burn fat while there is alcohol in your system because the body prioritizes metabolism of the most toxic fuel source first (booze = toxic substance, so everything else has to wait while the liver deals with it), but distilled alcohol and very dry wine will not necessarily throw you out of ketosis. There's even a Keto Drunk subreddit.

How much do I spend on booze....hmmm....
Homebrewing - about $25, makes about 5 gallons beer or cider about once a month or 10 times a year.
Other beer ("research") - about $10.
Hard alcohol - $0 to $400, depending on the month. Average, about $60.
Wine - $0 to $50, depending on the month. Average, maybe $25.

So I'm gonna say about $120 a month, with HUGE swings depending on if we are restocking the bar. If there's an upside to that kinda spending, I gotta say that we've become cocktail snobs. It's almost impossible to go out for drinks, purely on a quality basis. The best drinks in town are at home. :)

I refuse to run those numbers, because I'd then need to drink a bunch of my expensive single malt to help me forget how much I'm spending...

I'll drink to that.

oh thanks for ruining my abstinence pledge by telling me booze is fine on keto.   Hell now I Amy as well do tequila shooters with breakfast.

[Erica/NWEdible]

Wow!   I didn't realize that forum posters are such teetotalers?   So yeah,  along with the keto diet it will have to be a no booze diet as well.   Perhaps this will be a pleasure reserved for just very special occasions in the future or not at all?   

Far be it from me to enable (hah! Shit, who am I kidding? Here, have a homebrew) but distilled alcohol is actually "allowed" on keto. Your body will not burn fat while there is alcohol in your system because the body prioritizes metabolism of the most toxic fuel source first (booze = toxic substance, so everything else has to wait while the liver deals with it), but distilled alcohol and very dry wine will not necessarily throw you out of ketosis. There's even a Keto Drunk subreddit.

oh thanks for ruining my abstinence pledge by telling me booze is fine on keto.   Hell now I Amy as well do tequila shooters with breakfast.

Always here to help.

[music lover]

Too much...$100+ a month. But, then again, booze is expensive in Canada due to taxes. A 12 of beer will run $24 - $28 for "regular" beer. A 750ml bottle is $28 - $34.

Consumption goes way up in summer when everyone gets outdoors after being cooped up inside all winter. Golf, deck parties, BBQ's...and drinks.

[totesmahgoats]

$40 every few months (to restock the gin bottle)
+tonic water

Only one of us drinks though and even then it isn't often.

[Bob W]

Too much...$100+ a month. But, then again, booze is expensive in Canada due to taxes. A 12 of beer will run $24 - $28 for "regular" beer. A 750ml bottle is $28 - $34.

Consumption goes way up in summer when everyone gets outdoors after being cooped up inside all winter. Golf, deck parties, BBQ's...and drinks.

yeah,  I used to think Canada was a good idea.  In my state we can buy a 24 pack of standard beer for $16.  So yeah that is a difference of what 300%?   Oh and a 750 ml of standard quadruple filtered vodka is like 7 bucks.   

[Boganvillia]

I just did my weekly grocery shop just now.

Alcohol represented 12%. ($23.97, out of a total of $201.91.)

It's probably typical.

[Mrs.LC]

Average about $20 a month for wine supplies as we make our own. We supply the wine for many of the social activities we participate in and give wine as gifts for weddings, Xmas, etc. It's a great hobby!

[Caoineag]

We don't break $1800 in our most expensive years and that includes all sources (vacation/tasting rooms, eating out, actual liquor store runs). For us, its one case of beer per year for cooking, the rest is all wine/port and a set stock of hard liquors. We also partly pay our house/dog sitter in alcohol and that girl can drink...

We also like to try new things which sometimes means pouring it down the sink when its less than desirable. Though stocking up using the local tasting rooms has significantly cut down on the need for that.

[brooklynmoney]

I realistically can't even count. I bought a case of good rose (can't fiind accent I mean the mix of red and white grapes) about $250 at the start of summer for parties. I bought 3 bottles of the new White Girl rose recently. I gave 2 away. Have poured for friends or given away most of the case as well. What can I say it summer and Rose season!

[Roadhog]

We spend about  $125 per month on wine and beer.

[Prepube]

According to Mint, i spent 2089 in the last 12 months on booze, which is an average of about 175/month.  I have recently been buying a cigar or two per week from my local liquor store, so maybe 80 of the 2089 was on good sticks.

This year was a little less than the prior year because i stopped buying Tequila, which I collect.  I spent about 2000 on tequila alone in 2013.  I have about 150 bottles of good (and some not-so-good) tequilas, and I figure I can have a ounces every day of my retirement and still have some to spare.

[milesdividendmd]

According to Mint, i spent 2089 in the last 12 months on booze, which is an average of about 175/month.  I have recently been buying a cigar or two per week from my local liquor store, so maybe 80 of the 2089 was on good sticks.

This year was a little less than the prior year because i stopped buying Tequila, which I collect.  I spent about 2000 on tequila alone in 2013.  I have about 150 bottles of good (and some not-so-good) tequilas, and I figure I can have a ounces every day of my retirement and still have some to spare.

What's your favorite value pick for blanco, repo, anejo?  Best taste to cost ratio.

[Dicey]

Zero for myself but I'll have a bit on hand for visitors.

Same for us. Although usually what we have on hand is something somebody else brought to a previous occasion. Our clown house came equipped with one of those built-in wine fridges. We think it's kinda silly for us, so we often put overflow produce or similar in with the few bottles of wine to keep them company.

[K-ice]

I would say $200/year. But never really for myself.  Usually, as gifts to take to people's homes.

Some of my friends/family are in the $300/month range.

I never order drinks at restaurants & have been mistaken as morman ;)

But my inlaws serve a sweet white wine which I do enjoy a small glass of. I have suspicions they are using it as an is she pregnant-o-meter.

[tomsang]

I may have a problem~  Between the wine closet and the Scotch we spend more in a month than most spend in a year.

[milesdividendmd]

I may have a problem~  Between the wine closet and the Scotch we spend more in a month than most spend in a year.

Where do you live?  I'll be right over. I can bring clear ice.

[N]

Out of Pocket: zero. Maybe 20$ a year.

However, husband has a side gig doing graphic design work for a bar that is owned by his long long time friend. One of the perks is free drinks for husband there, and me. Husband goes once a week (and when his team is in teh playoffs he watches the games there) and I meet him there a couple times a year for a date, and we dont have to pay. (only tip out) This gig has been in place for more than 20 yrs! Before kids, I used to go much more often with him. So thats saved us a bunch.

But we hardly ever drink at home. I have bottles of liquor in my cabinet that are ooooooold.

[chesebert]

Hard to say, I buy in burst with some to drink now and others to hold for later date (need time to mature). I am guessing on average I spend about $1000-1500 per year.

[music lover]

Too much...$100+ a month. But, then again, booze is expensive in Canada due to taxes. A 12 of beer will run $24 - $28 for "regular" beer. A 750ml bottle is $28 - $34.

Consumption goes way up in summer when everyone gets outdoors after being cooped up inside all winter. Golf, deck parties, BBQ's...and drinks.

yeah,  I used to think Canada was a good idea.  In my state we can buy a 24 pack of standard beer for $16.  So yeah that is a difference of what 300%?   Oh and a 750 ml of standard quadruple filtered vodka is like 7 bucks.   

I consider booze tax to be my contribution to funding our health care system, lol.

[Melody]

Varies wildly, but approx $200/month - no I'm not a problem drinker... Booze is expensive here ($40+ a case of beer, $10+ for a pint at the pub) and I go to pubs a lot. I am currently doing dry July and my wallet is loving it. I am considering a permanent ban on drinking at the pub, just drink at friends houses/parties. I actually don't even miss drinking s much as I thought I would.

[Thegoblinchief]

We've been averaging about $50. Mostly beer, some wine. I like a good whiskey but money is tight enough that when I want a bottle I'll use my personal $ to get it. In theory I drink it slower when I use personal $ rather than couple's money. Jealous of a few liquor closets in this thread. *low whistle*

Alcohol is definitely a part of our FIRE plans.

[Shamantha]

I don't drink much when home alone, probably a bottle of wine per two weeks if I am on my own, plus a couple of beers a week and the occasional cocktail (all the fault of my fridge with the crushed ice dispenser). However I do like to socialise and that comes with alcohol, dinner with friends at my home is a bottle per person per evening, going out is easily 10 beers a night, once a week. Plus some work related functions which provide free drinks. Round 200 euro a month in total I think? There is a reason why I hardly drink when home alone: according to all surveys I drink to much as it is.

[GardenFun]

New Glarus Spotted Cow and Door Peninsula Winery are ruining our alcohol budget.  Spend around $80/month on various types of alcohol.  And that includes deducting all the rebates that I find on alcohol purchases. 

[The_path_less_taken]

Wow....hadn't realized how little until this thread! Used to sip some Jack when friends came over....been so busy no in home party stuff so...probably none for 10 months or so?

Like the pretty (porn, really) drink pics above. And do love a craft cocktail and especially love blender drinks on hot summer days: there's a restaurant in the middle of the Truckee River that has a patio overhanging the waterfall (when it's not a drought). Have sat there many a day drinking blueberry or fresh pineapple daiquiris...lounging in a bathing suit after rafting down said river. Like a high octane smoothie with all that fruit.

So I mainly do social drinking but working a lot so not very social lately.

This half hour with you people is it: so pretty MMM.

[2lazy2retire]

I may have a problem~  Between the wine closet and the Scotch we spend more in a month than most spend in a year.

Where do you live?  I'll be right over. I can bring clear ice.

Phew - after reading page 2 of the comments i'm feeling less like I have a problem, a lot of the early comments were like, we spend $50 a year - what you mean a week don't you?.

[Wetz]

This has been one of the biggest budget categories grabbing my attention the last few months.  It's an area of the budget that has been fairly big in the past but is completely "non-essential".  Though, I feel I've treated alcohol as "essential" and necessary to get on with life.  I've always been a big drinker (take after my father).  Yet, I never realized how expensive it was until I started charting my drinking (how many drinks a month) and gave alcohol it's own line in the budget.  It used to get blended with groceries and dining out.

The first month was a shocker.  I put down something like 130 drinks that month.  Spending historically, has probably averaged $200 a month or more.  That  is just for me as my wife drinks only rarely.  However, I'm trying to get that number down to about $50 a month with my overall goal to align with MMM and only drink socially.  It's a hard road but I want to stop drinking a few drinks every night after work (already making significant progress here).  The alcohol intake has been my biggest enemy in my fitness goals, too.

Basically, I've learned that alcohol has minimally two cons and one pro: bad for wallet, bad for fitness, but good for fun/relaxing.

A few months from now, I'll be looking down the barrel of $0 spending for a month on alcohol and I will celebrate with a sparkling water and have a flex in the mirror.

[Matt_D]

I think we're at $50-60 a month? Bit hard to tell as most gets included in food budget. Mix of beer (variety of craft, plus Yuengling in the summer), sub-$10 wines, and reasonably nice whiskey/bourbon, with an occasional cocktail. We don't eat out much and often don't order alcohol when out, so that's mostly home consumption.

[tomsang]

I may have a problem~  Between the wine closet and the Scotch we spend more in a month than most spend in a year.

Where do you live?  I'll be right over. I can bring clear ice.

Sounds like a plan. I live in Edmonds Washington. Come on over and I will pour you a dram or two.

[Spork]

Average about $20 a month for wine supplies as we make our own. We supply the wine for many of the social activities we participate in and give wine as gifts for weddings, Xmas, etc. It's a great hobby!

We've played with that a little...   I don't think we made it down to that low of a cost.  Are you juicing your own fruit?  Or buying traditional wine juices (Zin, Chardonnay, etc).

We have enough extra blackberries and sometimes blueberries that we can make one or two gallons a year... but not enough to give away.

[Spork]

I may have a problem~  Between the wine closet and the Scotch we spend more in a month than most spend in a year.

Where do you live?  I'll be right over. I can bring clear ice.

Sounds like a plan. I live in Edmonds Washington. Come on over and I will pour you a dram or two.

A kitten dies every time you add ice to good scotch.

[tomsang]

I may have a problem~  Between the wine closet and the Scotch we spend more in a month than most spend in a year.

Where do you live?  I'll be right over. I can bring clear ice.

Sounds like a plan. I live in Edmonds Washington. Come on over and I will pour you a dram or two.

A kitten dies every time you add ice to good scotch.

I was thinking the same, but I figured as long as they are enjoying their drink then who am I to argue.   

[spokey doke]

Nice Spork.

What's your chosen Isley substitute. Black grouse?

I can't say I have spent a lot of time trying Isley's.  (McClellands has an Isley... but I don't think I've tried it.)

I have Black Grouse for mixing things like a smokey rusty nail, but it lacks the complexity to get any use straight up.  If/when I can mail order from K&L Wine, I think by far the best muscular Islay for the price has been the Ardbeg Uigeadail. Right now around $50 for an incredible malt, but they have had it in the mid $40 range, which is a steal IMO.  Right next to that would be the Laphroig 10yr - which holds its own against older and more expensive malts.

I have decided to keep it well under $100/bottle, as those that I have tried  over $100 weren't THAT much better according to my palette. 

I'm now working on home-made Amari. See:  https://tickledpalate.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/how-to-make-amaro-a-basic-recipe/#comments

[FLBiker]

Been sober for 9 years, so $0.

The 2 years before that, probably ~$150/month (in US, grocery store specials mostly - 1.75s of whatever clear booze was on sale).

The 5 years before that (living overseas, LOTS of bars w/ ~$4 drinks, single malts, etc.) maybe more like $300/month?  Who knows.

[expectopatronum]

We're coming in somewhere around $50 a month, I think. That's a 6-pack, 2 bottles of wine, and some liquor...

Liquor: We both love Scotch (Speyside and Lowland for me, Islay and Highland for him), and our latest favorite is the Balvenie Doublewood. He loves tequila. Our current bottle is Riazul, an anejo. Quite honestly, the Riazul drinks like a Scotch to me!

Beer: local craft brew at about $8/6pk but go through them pretty slowly.

Wine: generally in the $10-$15 range, lots of merlots, cab sauvignons, malbecs, and the occasional rose, pinot noir, riesling, or sauvignon blanc.

We don't go out for drinks very often, but each time we do, we spend $15-30.

[lightmyfire]

Wow!   I didn't realize that forum posters are such teetotalers?   So yeah,  along with the keto diet it will have to be a no booze diet as well.   Perhaps this will be a pleasure reserved for just very special occasions in the future or not at all?   

Maybe it's more that the teetotalers are just more likely to respond about their good habits, while the rest of us are slightly embarrassed about our levels of consumption? In any case, according to last year's spending averages, I'm at about $65/month.  That includes drinks at home and out with friends.  As I recall, that's about what I spent as a poor grad student, so I don't feel too bad about it.

[milesdividendmd]

I may have a problem~  Between the wine closet and the Scotch we spend more in a month than most spend in a year.

Where do you live?  I'll be right over. I can bring clear ice.

Sounds like a plan. I live in Edmonds Washington. Come on over and I will pour you a dram or two.

A kitten dies every time you add ice to good scotch.

Good point.

But I may like good ice more than good scotch, and I love good scotch.

[milesdividendmd]

Nice Spork.

What's your chosen Isley substitute. Black grouse?

I can't say I have spent a lot of time trying Isley's.  (McClellands has an Isley... but I don't think I've tried it.)

I have Black Grouse for mixing things like a smokey rusty nail, but it lacks the complexity to get any use straight up.  If/when I can mail order from K&L Wine, I think by far the best muscular Islay for the price has been the Ardbeg Uigeadail. Right now around $50 for an incredible malt, but they have had it in the mid $40 range, which is a steal IMO.  Right next to that would be the Laphroig 10yr - which holds its own against older and more expensive malts.

I have decided to keep it well under $100/bottle, as those that I have tried  over $100 weren't THAT much better according to my palette. 

I'm now working on home-made Amari. See:  https://tickledpalate.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/how-to-make-amaro-a-basic-recipe/#comments

Great recs.

Aardbeg has been on my wish list for a while. Just moved it to the top.

[Bob W]

This has been one of the biggest budget categories grabbing my attention the last few months.  It's an area of the budget that has been fairly big in the past but is completely "non-essential".  Though, I feel I've treated alcohol as "essential" and necessary to get on with life.  I've always been a big drinker (take after my father).  Yet, I never realized how expensive it was until I started charting my drinking (how many drinks a month) and gave alcohol it's own line in the budget.  It used to get blended with groceries and dining out.

The first month was a shocker.  I put down something like 130 drinks that month.  Spending historically, has probably averaged $200 a month or more.  That  is just for me as my wife drinks only rarely.  However, I'm trying to get that number down to about $50 a month with my overall goal to align with MMM and only drink socially.  It's a hard road but I want to stop drinking a few drinks every night after work (already making significant progress here).  The alcohol intake has been my biggest enemy in my fitness goals, too.

Basically, I've learned that alcohol has minimally two cons and one pro: bad for wallet, bad for fitness, but good for fun/relaxing.

A few months from now, I'll be looking down the barrel of $0 spending for a month on alcohol and I will celebrate with a sparkling water and have a flex in the mirror.

I hear you and support you!   0$ is way better than $200.   It'll be interesting for be to see how I feel after a few months of no booze.   At $200 a month one could easily see retiring 3 years earlier with the accumulated investments and the need to save $60K less to fund the habit.   

[skunkfunk]

I brew, maybe $60/month between brewing and the occasional craft brew. I brew 10-20 gallons a month, give away about 25% of it. Split the rest with my wife.

I consider this an acceptable level of spending for a hobby I enjoy. Unfortunately I have too many other hobbies as well, so it looks worse in aggregate.

[mrshudson]

All alcohol gets sourced from Trader Joe's, costing me maybe $40-$50 per month tops for me and spouse. I stick to no more than one drink per day rule, even when drinking socially with a bunch of professional alcoholics alcoholic professionals who down 3+ drinks in a span of couple of hours and drive home after that. 

[Guesl982374]

It use to be $200+/mo for my wife and I. Now we've just about given it up so maybe 1 drink socially a month so $0 to 8/mo.

[onehair]

The teaser 1 ounce bottles I use for baking about $5 every 2 months, hard cider $7-9 every 2 months and Bacardi mixed with whatever's on hand about $31 every 3 months.  Yearly that's $121 but averaged monthly $10 plus or minus.  My calculations may be off but I don't drink spirits that often.

[mtn]

 alcoholic professionals who down 3+ drinks in a span of couple of hours and drive home after that.

Obviously a lot of ambiguity in that post (what is the drink, is it 3, 4, or 17, male/female, weight, 2 hours or 3), but this isn't inherently bad.

For example, if my math is correct on this (well, I know the math is correct, but the calculations/rates I'm using may not be) lets take a 175 pound male. Let's say that this guy over 2 hours takes 5 shots of 80 proof liquor--he is right at the limit (.08). Obviously I'd prefer that they didn't drive home, but even then most people probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference in their driving at that point if they are really professionals at drinking.