Alcohol is killing me! I drink way to much and I'm starting to to think I might have a bit of a problem. This also relates to DEBT as I'm always charging all my alcohol purchases to my credit card.
It's always been a problem. It started in high school, drinking to fit in and have friends. It continued on in college, everyone was doing it so why not me. It continues in life, every one I know drinks. Family, friends, coworkers, events... seems like everything revolves around drinking.
Last Friday night I charged close to $100 dollars on my Citi card. I met my wife at a bar and while waiting I made some friends, bought them a drink, next it was a shot, next thing I know my bill is $100! I see myself drinking more and more...
How do you handle alcohol? Do you feel like you have a problem?
HS
Hump Day
2 hours ago
16 comments:
Alcohol.. no. Coffee - yes! I am addict for the stuff. I could easily spend a $100 a month a Starbucks. Thankfully, there is not a Starbucks really close by. However, this is It's A Grind that is SUPER close to my house. I manage to resist. Getting out of debt is way more important than a good cup of coffee. I just buy quality coffee and make it at home. Cost less, and easier on the budget.
It's a tough one to handle. If you truly feel you can't control it, you need to stop completely. If it is just over-indulgence, you should try a strict "alcohol" budget.
Maybe set yourself to a 5 drink a week maximum. When and what you drink is up to you (except no cheating and calling doubles or other massive drinks 1 drink). If you want to have them all on Saturday morning... fine. If you'd rather spread them out over the week... also fine.
The numbers are arbitrary, of course, but you can pick ones that seem reasonable to you.
Also, don't hang out in bars and other areas where the main function is drinking. That just encourages you to drink. It's like me hanging out with friends at McDonald's when I am working on losing weight... I know I shouldn't but I will end up getting something.
You can cut back. You can control it. It might not be easy and you might have to take a firm stand at times but you can do it.
Personally, I homebrew... which can be dangerous when it comes to over-consumption. I ofter have 6-10 gallons of 8%+ ABV alcohol sitting around. But I remind myself that it's a lot of extra calories (trying to lose weight right now if it wasn't obvious) and that I don't like drinking more than 10 drinks in a week. So if I am going to have a drink or two, it doesn't turn into 8-9 drinks and then I have to try and work tomorrow.
Some people are different. This doesn't work for them. But I've been ok with that. I lived with a true alcoholic in college. By that, I mean he wasn't the "I need to cut back" kind of drinker. He was the "if I stop drinking I get tremors but if I drink, I will keep coughing up blood" drinker. We'd polish off a few beers for breakfast and a 750ml each during the day... every day. Well, he was every day.. after a couple months of that I realized it was making me miserable and cut way back. And seeing his destructive spiral has kept me from ever wanting to get close to it again.
Coffee! that's another I should probably cut back on :(
HS
Kev- I don't think it's a physical addiction, more like peer pressure... family and friends etc.
HS
This is what killed my marriage. Alcohol, shopping, all of it is an escape method. Figure out what the hell you're running from before it's too late. Maybe it wouldn't have been a problem if we'd never had kids but the fact was when we had a family, he wouldn't/couldn't give it up. I know I've told you this a million times and you're not listening but whatever:
CUT THE DAMN CARDS. Cash only. End of story.
HS,
I agree with Kevin. Cold turkey.
I used to do the same thing. Went out a few nights a week. had a drink or two, bought my friends a drink, bought my friends a shot, bought our new friends we just made at the bar a shot....
I really did think it was becoming an issue. Both for my bank account and for my health.
I started to cut back. only two drinks while I'm out, and no bottles of wine over $10 at home. Then I cut back even more. No need to drink while I'm out. I didn't like the stupid things I'd do while drinking. Then having bottles of wine sit on the counter and collect dust.
Now I only drink one or two drinks on special occasions. (holiday dinners with families, retirement happy hour after work)
At first I kinda missed the social aspect of the drinking, but then I saw that my credit card bill wasn't exponentially climbing and I knew it was worth it. Now I don't ever really think about having a drink. It just isn't at the forefront of my thinking like it used to be.
Some of my friends don't really understand that I rarely drink anymore, but I just offer to be DD for the night and still get to have all the fun but no bar tab at the end of the night to deal with!
Scary, I have two beautiful sisters who are very well paid business executives. They make so much money and they drink way too much. It is very possible to be a very successful alcoholic. Please seek treatment for this immediately. It will take you down, financially, spiritually actually in all areas of your life. The fall out from my sisters drinking is so bad. Do not repeat their mistake. If you cannot set a limit and live with it you have a problem. If you must drink every day you have a problem.
Maybe you should try going a week without and that may tell you if you can or need AA.
I don't drink but have other vices that are no good for me (too much yummy food for one.)
Either way maybe you and your wife can find other ways to spend time together.
Some of us, who read your blog, have long felt like we are watching a financial train wreck.
But as to whether you also have a problem with alcohol? It could be more of a socializing issue rather than an addiction issue--after a drink or two, you turn into the big spender and you don't bother to stop drinking. The easy way to tell is give up alcohol for period of time--if you truly can't do that, you have an alcohol problem. If you can give it up for awhile, you probably won't have to, but since drinking leads to spending, you really do have to find some other ways to hang out with friends. And maybe some counselling to address why you have to be the one buying rounds?
I don't think I have a physical addiction to it, I don't crave it or shake... With me is more of a social thing, everywhere I go drinking is the norm, all frieds do it, family etc
Just because others drink it doesn't mean YOU need to. Order something that LOOKS like a drink but isn't! Better yet, DON'T go to places where alcohol consumption is expected or available!
And the shaking/craving bit of alcoholism wouldn't appear till you've been off the stuff for several days to a week. Give the stuff up. It's killing you and it's killing your wallet!
Okay, so I'm thinking you should give up drinking for the entire month of May.
I don't drink much because I don't like wasting the calories, but I can think of things to give up too. I'll give up something with you for a month.
My friends drink more regularly than I do, but I rarely hear anything about it. They don't typically care what's in my glass.
If you want to give it up for a month, you know where to find me.
You do not have to drink every night, crave or shake when you do not drink to be an alcoholic . There is such a thing as a functional alcoholic . I believe you have an impulse control problem w/ your spending as well as your alcohol and that is a very dangerous thing to have. This again goes back to keeping up w/ the Jones'. Someone else said what ever your running from or trying to fill the void from with the spending you need to find . I agree and what ever it is you need to find it quickly before you fill it w/ alcohol as well and you have nothing !
I gave up drinking very early and never drink. I might taste a beer if it's interesting, but I usually don't like it. My friends always comment and say they have no idea I can be as outgoing and uninhibited as I am without drinking, but for me it's just normal. I love to go out, I love dancing and playing pool and seeing concerts and going to festivals, but I can be surrounded by drunk people and not need to drink. I agree with a few others- maybe just give up drinking for a bit, and see if you're ok. Also, let me just say that once you spend a few sober nights around a bunch of drunk people you will have NO social worries, because you'll see how silly and oblivious most drunk people are, lol :)
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