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Sunday, June 25, 2017

What Drinking Costs You Over the Course of Your Life

A quick trip to the liquor store on Monday to pick up a bottle of wine for dinner, drinks out during the week, a trip back to the liquor store on Friday (because you must stock up for the weekend)…

Twenty bucks here and 30 bucks there may seem like nothing, but have you ever stopped to add up what you spend on drinking in a week? A month? A year? How about in 10 years? If you did, would you still spend the money?

The costs associated with regular drinking can be significant, so it’s important to be aware of the price you pay for maintaining this expensive habit.


What You Will Spend on Alcohol During Your Lifetime

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spend about 1 percent of their gross annual income on alcohol. For the average household, that’s $565 a year, $5,650 in 10 years, or a whopping $22,600 over a 40-year period.

It’s worth noting that $565 per year breaks down to about $11 a week. In some cities that will barely buy you one cocktail, so it is very probable your spending exceeds that. But this is one area in which you may not want to be above average.

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28 comments:

Anonymous said...

My father was an alcoholic , in the late 50's I added up what he was spending yearly on whiskey , &1,728 each year for many years . There were 7 of us kids and my mom was crippled from polio , maybe that's why he drank so much.

Rebel Without a Clue said...

I think that I will share this with my peeps.

Anonymous said...

Less than Starbucks.

Anonymous said...

it is called a personal choice and none of anyone's business

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the article Joe/staff and I understand the occasional article/message for one to think in different terms and or perspectives. ESPECIALLY in this day/age.

As an avid participant of spirits/fishing, especially in my retirement years, the family budget was very important for over 38 years. Priorities are a must and being a bit light hearted, wanted to share some of my prior budgetary priorities:

(1) heating/air conditioning (in this climate - MANDATORY)
(2) high quality toilet paper (snicker)
(3) alcohol (knew and still know many in the industry so lets just say "wholesale" was better than "retail". Its the "always who you know aspect". Plus its always cheaper to buy in bulk - hint hint Delaware. Never hurts to ASK!!!!
(4) the rest (Bills/food/family/et al)

HAPPY TGIF and the final EXIT of remaining June Bugs!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

A pack of cigarettes a day will run close to $100,000 over a 40 year period (even if you buy them in Virginia.)

Anonymous said...

100,000 people die each year from alcohol related deaths..(promoted by Hollywood)
12000 die in gun related deaths. Several attempts to ban guns
(some guns banned)
9000-15000 opioids overdose a year (banned amount of pain pill for a non abuse patients)

Anonymous said...

Cheap entertainment.

Anonymous said...

14 MILLION people admitted to a drinking problem. 9 MILLION admitted alcoholics. These weak minded people negatively effect the lives of innocent kids and adults.... Take a stand and BAN BOOZE

Anonymous said...

Look at people who drink vs people who don't. Usually the people who don't drink look younger than their age. I've never touched it. People don't believe my age and I have more money than them too. :-)

Anonymous said...

What are you talking About? Weak minded? Man, you must be awesome to hang out with. I mean, Jesus ain't got nothing on you!

wrench said...

1) we are all going to die
2) we can't take it with us
3) moderation
4) eat, drink and be merry ( Wolfgang Puck )

Anonymous said...

It's a temporary escape from reality and worth the cost!
I its in moderation and hurts on one, it's none of their GD business!
This life is tough enough as it is without the oppression from bleeding hearts
trying to take away any enjoyment we might find.

Anonymous said...

I'm totally with you, 8:49!

I Threw Up My Lemonade When I Read Your Stupid Asinine Comment said...

Once again 849 and 940 are a part of the population who was absent during history classes. If you knew about prohibition in the turn of the century, then you would also understand that banning booze in America only did one thing: create the Mafia and and Organized Crime. This was the only accolade of the prohibition era. So to say ban booze you are being small minded and highly uneducated. If you do this again, like drugs, you will only see a rise in illegal activity surround the underground alcohol trade, while your taxes will go up because that will another thing off the tax rolls. People really should learn how to think a thought through to conclusion before speaking. It's an excellent quality to have.

Anonymous said...

Informing someone of the cost is not taking a right away. You can still drink. Get over it.

Anonymous said...

Some people say I have a drinking problem, but I call it a solution.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you just negatively effected someone by cyber bullying. Good example of a person with a drinking problem. Thank you for the example. You can get help and I do not JUDGE you. Take the first step. Have a good day.

Anonymous said...

Freedom to spend our hard earned money on our needs AND desires is an American right. Smokers spend much more for their legal fix, and government is responsible for the exorbitant cost that they pay. The largest part of the cost of alcoholic beverages is imposed by the government, as well. When marijuana is legalized, the government is going to make sure that its citizens are highly taxed on its consumption, so that the politicians can use that revenue to advance their re-elections.

Anonymous said...

I think your a alcoholic BUT their is help don't be ashamed..

Anonymous said...

Money well spent

Anonymous said...

If we all stopped drinking, the society would probably overthrow this worthless government.

Anonymous said...

Ther "personal" choices people make are ok until they infringe on others like AUTO ACCIDENTS by drunk drivers where INNOCENTS are killed every year. So take your personal choice be it alcohol or drugs and stay home where you only harm yourself.

Anonymous said...

Has anybody figured the cost of food that is making us fat?

Anonymous said...

Agree 100 %

Anonymous said...

Food doesn't cause impaired driving, or give liquid courage to people. Food is not a fair comparison.

Anonymous said...

Yes several documentaries on it. Also probably 1000 studies from different institutions and countries....obese nation.. however food is not considered a drug or the most obused drug like alcohol...2006 over consumption of BOOZE profits 249 BILLION... OBama ordered a halt on ANY alcohol studies.

Anonymous said...

If everybody stopped drinking, think of all the fat ugly women that would never have sex again!!! They would be the REAL victims. Alcohol keeps them "in the game".