Booze! How much do you spend a month?

[caninelover]

So, I was having a dinner conversation with a friend and we got on the topic of food spending. I mentioned that I spend about $200/mo on groceries, but another $100/mo on wine and beer. She nearly fell out of her chair and was ready to drive me to an AA meeting.

But when I broke down the math for her, it made a little more sense (but I still think she had driving to an AA meeting in the back of her mind )

~ 3 bottles of wine/month @ $20/bottle: $60 / mo
~ 2 six-packs of beer/month @$9/pack: $18 / mo
~ 1-2 happy hours/month: $20-$30 / mo

That's roughly $98-$108 / mo or ~ $100 /mo. I usually have a beer after coming home from w*rk during the week while making dinner, and on the weekends when I cook more elaborate meals (& sometimes have friends over for dinner) I have a glass of wine or two. I guess if I had to tighten my belt if I lost my job, booze would probably be one the first things I cut from the budget, but if I don't have to this seems reasonable to me.

The conversation got me wondering...for those of you that indulge in a drink - about how much do you spend a month on booze

 

[LOL!]

About $4 a month. That's one 99 cent Margarita each week when eating out in our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant.

I don't see how you could tighten your belt after all those calories.

 

[walkinwood]

We've been averaging about $115/mo. That's only liquor we buy in the store and does not include drinks in a bar/restaurant. We like entertaining at home, so that drives the liquor bill up too.

 

[caninelover]

LOL, I get up @ 5:30 am and run 5-6 miles, 5 x per week before going to w*rk...that keeps the weight in check...

 

[Dawg52]

I'm sure you meant to post this under the health forum. My med's are broken down below.

Beer 24/pk of Coors Light 8oz $11.29
Wine 1 bottle $10.00
Happy hours, 2-3 a month $25.00
Total $46.29

No copay's for OTC med's.

Oh yes, cost goes up in a declining market.

 

[grumpy]

Zero

 

[REWahoo]

Zero

More evidence of why you chose your user name...

 

[audreyh1]

When we started going crazy buying red wine last year I knew I should have created a new category in Quicken and not just kept it lumped in with the "groceries" category.

It all started in April of 2008 when "running away" from a late winter storm near Portland we moved the motorhome 150 miles to eastern WA and ended up near tri-cities, right in the heart of the Columbia Valley wine production. Waiting for the weather to clear, what was there to do but research red wine and go visit a few area wineries. We'd done a little of this in the area before, but this time we researched the red wine blends and discovered so much inexpensive fantastic tasting wine, that we came out with 2 cases of assorted wines and gathered up another case and half in our subsequent wanderings in the Pacific NW.

So, I have no idea how much we spend on wine (and beer)!

Hmmm - I guess I could compare 2008 "groceries" to 2007 and note the difference.

We spend an ungodly amount per month on groceries anyway. It's one of the areas we really splurge because eating well is important to us, and I enjoy cooking but only with "the best".

Audrey

 

[ziggy29]

Oh yes, cost goes up in a declining market.

Deflation...

 

[W2R]

Zero

Me, too.

$0.00/month and I don't regret it for a minute. Several years ago I finally threw out an ancient bottle of white zinfandel that I never managed to finish up.

Drinking does nothing for me (except to provide empty calories, and I'd rather have those in the form of Tostitos! )

 

[LOL!]

LOL, I get up @ 5:30 am and run 5-6 miles, 5 x per week before going to w*rk...that keeps the weight in check...

If drinking will make me do that, maybe I should be spending more money on booze.

 

[Notmuchlonger]

100 to 200 dollars a month. Then we have a wine club membership thats about 150 a year.

 

[audreyh1]

Drinking does nothing for me (except to provide empty calories, and I'd rather have those in the form of Tostitos! )

For us, it's all about the taste and dining experience. We only drink wine with food - because they complement each other so well. And we don't drink much either - not enough to get a buzz (well, not usually ). A standard glass of wine is 4 to 5 ounces, and DH and I usually split that.

And we drink beer for the same reason. IMO beer pairs well with spicy food (something like an IPA) and seafood (dark beers work well), and some hearty "homestyle" foods. We always split a 12 ounce bottle (which is also considered a single serving).

Of course if everything tastes really good we might have to have seconds.....

Audrey

 

[W2R]

We only drink wine with food - because they complement each other so well.

To me, water complements food SO much better, because it doesn't interfere with the flavor. But if we all agreed on these threads, there wouldn't be much point in discussions.

 

[caninelover]

I'm sure you meant to post this under the health forum. My med's are broken down below.

Beer 24/pk of Coors Light 8oz $11.29
Wine 1 bottle $10.00
Happy hours, 2-3 a month $25.00
Total $46.29

No copay's for OTC med's.

Oh yes, cost goes up in a declining market.

OTC meds...

 

[audreyh1]

Have you guys seen these? Vinturi Wine Aerator (Hoo boy, is that one cheesy commercial video)

We call ours "the guzzler" because of the cool sound effects! They are outrageously expensive, but fortunately ours was given to us as a gift (so no guilt ).

We love it.

Audrey

 

[caninelover]

For us, it's all about the taste and dining experience. We only drink wine with food - because they complement each other so well. And we don't drink much either - not enough to get a buzz (well, not usually ). A standard glass of wine is 4 to 5 ounces, and DH and I usually split that.

And we drink beer for the same reason. IMO beer pairs well with spicy food (something like an IPA) and seafood (dark beers work well), and some hearty "homestyle" foods. We always split a 12 ounce bottle (which is also considered a single serving).

Of course if everything tastes really good we might have to have seconds.....

Audrey

I agree, Audrey, especially w/wine...it can enhance a really good meal. I'm not a fan of mixed drinks or cocktails. If I'm going to have a drink by itself at a happy hour, I usually go for a beer.

 

[Dawg52]

To me, water complements food SO much better, because it doesn't interfere with the flavor

Your joking of course.

 

[IndependentlyPoor]

My SO likes good beer and drinks two a day, one at cocktail hour and usually one at dinner. His current favorite is Anchor Porter, or O'Hara's Irish stout for a special occasion. Say $20/week for him.

Two bottles of inexpensive wine a week for me. I am constantly delighted and amazed at the abundance of good wine available for under $15 a bottle. Make it $20/week for me too.

So together, about $160 a month.

 

[caninelover]

Have you guys seen these? Vinturi Wine Aerator

We call ours "the guzzler" because of the cool sound effects! They are outrageously expensive, but fortunately ours was given to us as a gift (so no guilt ).

We love it.

Audrey

I hadn't seen this...I do have a decantur that I got as a gift several years ago but I'm usually too lazy to use it. I just give the glass a few vigorous swirls before drinking. But this thing looks interesting...I'll have to put it on my wish list...

 

[W2R]

Your joking of course.

Well, I realize that SOME of you poor deprived people don't have our great tap water straight out of the mighty Mississippi River to drink....

 

[crazy connie]

Now and then I pick up some beer for my DD and she will do a chore or two for it. Ought to make a sign that says "will work for beer"! The bar always stays stocked for a hot toddy and a rum & coke. The wine cooler always has some wine in it and some bottles have been there for quite a few years just getting better. Son hit the grocery store with me in June and he bought 2 Crown Royals, 2 Captain Morgans and 2 flavored Vodkas. We will do some frozen blender foo foo drinks for Labor Day.

I doubt current spending averages more than $10 a month from me. The 2 kids may avg another $10 a month for each of them. That would make a total of $30 a month right now. I do use brandies and wine for cooking and when I get into some fine dining cooking we enjoy the appropriate beverage with the meal.

Of course someone does hit a case goods sale at a Bev Mo now and then. But a case is considered a gift!

 

[Notmuchlonger]

Have you guys seen these? Vinturi Wine Aerator



We call ours "the guzzler" because of the cool sound effects! They are outrageously expensive, but fortunately ours was given to us as a gift (so no guilt ).

We love it.

Audrey

Yeah we got one a few weeks ago for 29.99.

 

[audreyh1]

I agree, Audrey, especially w/wine...it can enhance a really good meal. I'm not a fan of mixed drinks or cocktails. If I'm going to have a drink by itself at a happy hour, I usually go for a beer.

And to me food can magically enhance wine. It's amazing how a little cheese and crackers brings out so much additional flavor in the wine.

We don't drink beer by itself either, for the same reason.

Audrey

 

[audreyh1]

Your joking of course.

No, I don't think she is! We will never agree on this point. For me water is for quenching thirst and clearing the palate. It does absolutely nothing to enhance food flavor.

And we drink GOOD water. My husband has a very sensitive palate and is a stickler for clean tasting water which is why we ended up spending >$400 on a really high-tech water filtration system for the motorhome last year. He really had to sell me on the investment, but now that we have it, it's been wonderful!

Audrey