How much money will you save when you quit drinking?
Work out what alcohol really costs you per week and per year, with a simple formula, a worked example and ideas for where the savings can go.
Key takeaways
- Weekly spend = drinks per week x average price per drink; multiply by 52 for a year.
- 5 drinks a week at 8 each comes to 2,080 a year before extras.
- Moving the weekly amount into savings on the day you would spend it makes the saving real.
Money is rarely the main reason people stop drinking, but it is one of the most visible rewards. The sum is easy: what you spend in a typical week, multiplied out.
The formula
Drinks per week multiplied by the average price per drink gives your weekly spend. Multiply by 52 for a year. Include bar tabs, round-buying, takeaway food that goes with drinking, taxis and the odd bottle bought on impulse.
A worked example
- 5 drinks a week at 8 each is 40 per week.
- 40 per week multiplied by 52 is 2,080 per year.
- Add 10 a week in drinking-related food and transport and the yearly figure becomes 2,600.
Your numbers will differ, and currency and prices vary, so use your own. The point is that small regular amounts add up faster than we notice.
Make the savings feel real
- Move the weekly amount into a separate savings pot on the day you would normally spend it.
- Name a goal: a trip, a course, a debt payment or an emergency fund.
- Treat yourself with a fixed slice of it to keep motivation up.
In Sober Ally you set your typical spending once, and the counter shows what you have saved as the days add up, so the number is in front of you on your home screen or widget.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much I spend on alcohol?
Multiply drinks per week by the average price per drink, then by 52 for the yearly cost. Include bar tabs, rounds, taxis and food that goes with drinking.
How much money can you save by quitting drinking?
It depends on your habits. For example, 5 drinks a week at 8 each is 40 a week, or 2,080 a year, before drinking-related extras.
Does Sober Ally track money saved?
Yes. You set your typical spending once and the counter shows your savings as the days add up, including on home-screen widgets.
Sources and further reading
General information, not medical advice. If you drink heavily, talk to a doctor before you stop. See our Medical Disclaimer and Crisis Support.