People enjoy drinking every once and a while. I have a drink or two on most weekends. Even though I'm in the process of paying off my debt, I still try to link up with my friends at least once or twice a month. We are typically going to bars or eating out. My tab could easily be $50 or more if I'm not careful. The good thing is that I pay attention to how much I spend. My tab is usually under that amount. If you see yourself spending hundreds on alcohol, you may wonder, how can I save money? In today's post, I want to share with you how to save money on alcohol.
Happy Hours are great. These days there are a lot of places that offer happy hour specials. Some spots have $2 beer specials on Tuesdays. There could be another place with $3 drinks on certain days of the week. I've also seen 2 for one-drink specials and $5 premium deals. If I'm going to a new bar for the first time, I ask the bartender or the waitress what the specials are. By doing that, you can stay within your budget.
When you're going out to a spot for happy hour, you have to make sure that you check the times as well. Some places have a happy hour from 6 pm - 8 pm, while others may start their deals at 7 pm. I've also seen restaurants have a late-night happy too. It started at 10 pm. Make sure that you do your research before you go dining out for a happy hour. The worst thing you can do is get to a spot where the happy hour is over. That would suck.
Pregaming is something that I've been doing ever since I was in college. It's one of the most frugal ways to save money on this list. Pregaming means drinking before you go out. I have saved a lot of money over the years by doing that. Instead of spending $60 or $70 in a bar, you may only pay $20 if you pregame right. You should already be feeling nice once you step into the bar. Uber and Lyft allow you to pregame more now than ever. Since you don't have to worry about driving, you can have a couple of shots or drinks before you go out.
The next way to save money on alcohol is by shopping around. If your neighborhood liquor store is expensive, try another one in the next neighborhood. You may find that some of the brands are cheaper there. I've seen this scenario play out several times. Depending on where the liquor store is located, that could be the difference between paying $20 or $25 for your favorite liquor bottle.
I've also found that getting your liquor off the strip in certain cities like Las Vegas is better. You may be tempted to buy the liquor on the strip, but think about it for a minute. Since the strip is a major tourist destination, the prices will be higher. So pay attention to where you buy your liquor. It could save you some major money. If you are on vacation, it may even be better to bring your alcohol with you. If you don't want to do that, you can research what liquor stores will be near your hotel.
This option may be for you if you are on a tight budget. Another way to save money on alcohol is by drinking house liquor or beer. At one of my go-to spots, the house brew is pretty damn good. It does that job perfectly for me. Every bar may not have a house brew or liquor, so you should always check with the bartender. The price difference of the house brand could be by 3 or 4 bucks. That adds up if you plan on drinking a lot.
I noticed with some house brands that you may get a buzz quicker. To be honest, that's the point of drinking. You are trying to get a buzz to relax or feel better at the moment. The house beer or liquor can help you get there quicker.
Instead of buying four or more beers, you should consider buying a pitcher of beer at your favorite spot. A pitcher can be much cheaper than buying 4-6 beers individually. If you are at a happy hour, the price of the pitcher may be even more affordable.
Some bars have a special metal compartment in the pitcher that puts ice in to keep your beer cold. That's awesome because you don't have to worry about your beer getting warm.
You can also split the cost of a pitcher with a friend. I've done that before to save even more money.
Money can be saved when you buy in bulk. Buying alcohol in bulk can mean buying a 30-pack of beer or a case of wine. This could be great for throwing a party or having friends over. It's much cheaper than buying individual bottles. When I was in college, we would buy a 30-pack of Natty Ice for around $15. That was pretty cheap since it was only 50 cents per beer. If we went to the bar, we would be paying $1.50 per beer. As you can see, buying in bulk is one of the best ways of saving.
You can also buy mini liquor bottles if you don't want to commit to a full-size bottle. This is a great option if you go to a party where you don't know what everyone drinks. You can buy a variety of mini bottles and have something for everyone.
You can also buy big-gallon jugs of vodka, rum, or whiskey. This is an excellent option if you plan on making mixed drinks for a party. It's much cheaper than buying smaller bottles.
Keep an eye out for store specials. Most grocery stores have weekly beer specials. If you pay attention, you can find some decent deals while shopping for groceries. The specials aren't limited to only beer. I've seen stores have specials on mixed drinks and wine as well.
Another thing to keep in mind is holidays. Stores will run specials on alcohol leading up to St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. If you plan on drinking for those holidays, it's worth checking the store ads to see the deals.
It doesn't hurt to check your favorite supermarket's website to see what specials they are running. You might find some deals that way as well. It's all about spending less.
Bars and restaurants charge an arm and a leg for mixed drinks. If you want to save money, mix your cocktails at home. It's not as hard as it sounds. All you need is some liquor, mixers, and ice.
You can find recipes for just about any cocktail online. Once you have the ingredients, all you need to do is follow the instructions. It's that simple.
Fuzzy Navels and Bloody Mary are two really easy cocktails you can make at home. All you need is orange juice and peach schnapps for a Fuzzy Navel. For a Bloody Mary, all you need is tomato juice, vodka, and some spices.
If you want to get a little more adventurous, you can make Long Island Iced Teas, Margaritas, or Pina Coladas. Long Island Iced Tea mixes vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and triple sec. A Margarita mixes tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. A Pina Colada mixes rum, pineapple juice, and coconut milk.
You've probably heard of Trader Joe's. They are a grocery store that specializes in selling cheap food. You might not know that they also sell cheap beer and wine.
Trader Joe's Two-Buck Chuck is a really popular wine that's inexpensive. It used to be two bucks, but who knows what the price will be when you read this. Yes, inflation has a way of staggering into our booze as well. Trader Joe's also has an impressive selection of beer. They have everything from craft beer to domestic beer.
You can also find some decent deals on alcohol at Aldi. They are another grocery store that specializes in selling cheap food. Aldi has a pretty decent selection of beer and wine. None of it is name-brand, but it's all pretty good.
The last way to save money on alcohol is to purchase the cheapest bottom-shelf bottle of liquor that the store has. I haven't done this in a while because most bottom-shelf liquor sucks. You can taste the difference. This is something that a lot of college students do to save money. Don't hesitate to grab the bottom-shelf liquor if you don't care much about taste or are just trying to get a buzz.
Most liquor stores have different kinds of cheap or bottom-shelf liquor that you can choose from. Since they are cheap, you can test out different kinds and see which one you and your friends like the best.
As you just read, there are a few simple ways for you to save money on alcohol. If you're paying down debt like me or just on a budget, these tips will help you out. One day I'll be out of debt, but I have no problem cutting back right now. Drinking on a budget is something that anyone can do. You don't have to spend much money to get your buzz. You have to plan it right.
Below are a couple of articles that have more information on saving money. We all need to save more, so make sure you check out each of those posts as well. Feel free to share them with a friend if you like them.
How to Save Money on Travel
18 Awesome Ways to Save Money Every Month