5 Years, Zero Alcohol, 20 Grand
How much money teetotaling has saved me so far.
I stopped drinking alcohol 5 years, 3 months and 2 days ago. That’s 1920 days ago.
I tracked my early sobriety — which eventually turned into just regular sobriety.
Because I’d done a few dry and sober-curious weeks and months and tracked those prior to actually quit-quitting — I already had a sobriety tracking app on my phone. The one I used and still use, is called ‘I am sober’.
These apps, they track time — obviously. Right.
They also track how many drinks you’ve not had, how much alcohol you’ve not purchased, and how much money you’ve not spent. These are helpful analytics!
I don’t look at them often, mostly because I rarely check the app anymore because not drinking is as natural as drinking once was.
When I do look, it’s usually to get a specific number — like — how long has it been, in days? weeks, hours? How much money have I saved?
Saved is a tricky word
Money not spent on alcohol doesn’t actually equate to money saved though, it’s more like: money spent on other bullshit.
But I wish I had saved it.
Being alcohol free is a priceless gift, for sure, but gifting myself 20k in one fell swoop would also have been pretty sweet.
Estimates of Alcohol and Money
How I broke the money part down:
I guesstimated that I spent an average of $10/day on alcohol.
Is that accurate? I have no idea.
Ten dollars doesn’t get you much alcohol. When I drank, I drank a lot. A lot a lot.
A six pack is more than ten dollars. A microbrew fancy draught beer in a bar is close to ten dollars. Maybe 5, if you get a crappy beer.
Ten dollars doesn’t get you a very nice bottle of wine. Ten dollars often doesn’t even get you a glass of the “good wine”.
When I drank, I always drank more than ten dollars worth. On the days (nights) I worked, I did not drink any alcohol — so I think it’s a reasonable guesstimate for my alcohol expenditure. Say I worked 4 shifts/week, this left $70 spread out over 3 days of drinking — that seemed more accurate in terms of actual money spent.
Even still, if and when I include going out that math only gives me ($70/3 nights = ) $23 per day.
23$ to go out? In the Bay Area? This was in SF and the East Bay, pre pandemic living, and before I had four children, ok?! I went out and did things!
I would EASILY spend way more than $23 out at a bar or restaurant, and usually multiple nights a week.
Sigh, life pre-children sounds exhausting and expensive — kind of just like life with kids. Ha.
Funny how that works.
Conclusion
Tracking the amount of money spent or not spent on alcohol (or whatever your vice is/was ) is a fascinating way to reflect on progress and the passage of ‘time’.
It’s not too late for you to quit drinking and save or not save 20k too!
XO
