If you’re like me and enjoy going out whenever you can, you know that your weekend escapades can potentially break your bank.  Being frugal means saving as much money as you can while achieving the most “bang for your buck”.  In the most prudent sense, it would be best to have no life and not spend anything.  However, that’s not what this site is about.  We are about balancing our social lives with our money while building a future. I’m a strong believer that a social life is an ingredient to staying healthy: physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  Like Deepak Chopra once argued, “one’s ideal physical health is the balanced integration of body, mind, and spirit”.  So when you want to stay healthy, you need to balance all aspects of your life, including socialization. Here are some drinking tips to inebriated socialization while keeping your fistfuls of cash (Your Miles May Vary):

1.   Pre-Drink! Sets the tone for the night.  Meet up with your friends, assign your rides, designated drivers, and pour some pre-game shots.   You win and the house loses.  It also gives you more time to socialize instead of lingering in the crowd at the bar.

2.   Don’t use call brands for mixed drinks. “Call Brands” (aka Top Shelf Brands) are the more expensive liquors that bars have to offer.  IMO, all mix drinks taste the same regardless of what type of liquor is used.  Get the cheap stuff.

3.    Be a regular. This doesn’t necessarily mean go drinking every week (this will definitely hurt your wallet), but choose a bar and stick to it.  Bartenders often give free drinks or extra liquor to those regulars that have a great attitude and do not give them any issues.

4.    Do not open a tab.  When you open a tab you often lose track of your expenses before it’s too late.  A classic case of “Out of sight, out of mind”.  Pay by rounds.

5.    Buy people pitchers of beer instead of shots. Works in sports bars, Hooters, and dive bars, not so much in clubs.  Each individual shot can add up quickly.

6.    Check out the “Specials”.  Most specials are overpriced “frou-frou” concoctions that lose their novelty quick.   Stick with the classic mixers if you can.

7.    Stay with what’s on draft. More often that not it’s cheaper and you get more in volume due to inconsistencies in pour or glass sizes.

8.   Stay away from the female bartenders and shot girls.  They put magical spells on you that cause you to tip more than you should.

9.    Guestlist it. Be prepared.  If you know you are going to a club or bar that has a cover, minimize your upfront cost by RSVPing in advance.  You skip the line and save time.

10.    Have a food game plan. Instead of paying $9 for an Oscar Meyer Wiener from the late night hot dog vendor outside the club, find a local cheap joint.   It’s Pho or a burrito joint called “La Vic’s” for me.  Jack-in-the-Box or In-and-Out works too.

11.    Bring a flask.  Take a swig when no one is watching.  LOL!

12.    Bring your own bottle of wine.  At some restaurants, you can bring your own wine and pay a simple corking fee.  I suggest you call in advance to see if your locations do this.

13.    Don’t bring your credit/debit card. Just bring these two things: license and cash.  When you have a set amount of cash in your pocket, your budget is already set.  No buying more than you can actually afford.

14.    $1 tip per drink max.  Use this as a rule of thumb.  Just like 15% gratuity for restaurant bills.

15.    Add promoters as friends on social networking sites.  Promoters are annoying (there I said it).  Unfortunately that’s the nature of their job.   On the positive note, they are the first to tell you about specials deals and even drink coupons.  Like the one below:

16.    Move to Europe.  Tips aren’t required over there!

17.    Drink Less. No shit Sherlock.  You don’t have to be drunk to have fun.  Make the most of the situation and become intoxicated by your company, the music, the gorgeous patrons, etc.

18.    Don’t eat before going. Want to feel it fast?  Don’t eat.

19.    Tip as you go. Remember the rule of $1 per drink.  When you tip in the end, you usually are too drunk to make sensible decisions.

20.    Utilize Happy Hour.  Know when it’s your favorite spot’s happy hour.   $1 sake, $2 Pizookie’s, and more.

What are your tips to saving money while going out?  Have a safe and good weekend.

Photo Credit: Mubarak Al-Thani

No related posts.