This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
That’s just ridiculous
Drinking, smoking, and eating out are three pricey habits a person can have.
If you fall prey to these temptations, you’ll definitely need to implement some serious discipline to reduce your spending in these areas, but it’s more than possible.
You simply need to implement restraint.
Eating Out
Do you eat out frequently? If so, how much do you spend on eating out per month? Do you know the number without checking your bank statement or credit card?
Many underestimate how much money they spend on eating out daily, weekly, and monthly. If you consistently eat out instead of buying meal prep, eating in, or cooking your meals, you’re likely spending hundreds of dollars per month (if not more) on eating out.
And it’s easy to do this. If you spend money getting food delivered, you must consider tacking on delivery fees and tips. If you pick up your food, the average meal cost is around $11–$30.
If you’re eating out a few times a week, that’s $100 right there. If you’re eating out daily, well, you know what’s up.
Eating out is an insidious way to drain your cash flow. The best way to counter it is to balance it with eating in, meal prepping, and cooking your own meals.
Not only will your pockets thank you for it, but so will your body since many food options are not the healthiest – unless you’re intentionally looking for healthy options, which tend to be even pricier when eating out.
Alcohol
“How much is drinking actually costing you? If you have three drinks a day, five days a week, at an average of $10 a pop, you’re spending $150 a week, $650 a month, or $7,800 a year just on alcohol ― not including any additional costs, like server tips or taking a taxi instead of driving” (HuffPost, 2023).
Even for people who only drink on the weekends, if you have 3–6 drinks Thursday- Sunday, you’re spending more or relatively the same amount compared to if you had a drink daily.
I’ve never been a drinker, but I love signing up to bring the drinks to a gathering. What kind of intel did I collect? Drinking is serious business, and if you’re not careful, the drinks add up quickly.
Smoking
Cannabis
“When consumers purchased cannabis in the United States in 2020, they most commonly spent between 20 and 49 U.S. dollars” (Statista, 2022).
If you have higher consumption habits, you could easily spend $100 or more per week.
Cigarettes
“Someone smoking a pack a day spends about $266 a week on cigarettes, which is over $13,800 each year” (Smokefree NZ, 2024).
Cigarettes will damn near destroy your budget and your health. Is it worth it?
–
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.