The Real Cost Of Drinking: How Dry January Could Boost Your Bank Account

With the arrival of the new year and Dry January, there’s no better time to take a step back and think about how cutting alcohol could positively impact your life. When most people think about quitting alcohol, they often focus on the health benefits - the better sleep, the clearer skin, the weight loss. But what really shocked me when I quit drinking wasn’t just how much better I felt physically - it was how much better off I became financially.

At the height of my drinking, I was spending close to $1,000 a month on booze. And it wasn’t just the drinks themselves; it was all the extras that came along with them.

Nights out meant multiple rounds of drinks at bars, buying shots for friends, or even treating strangers to rounds when I got caught up in the moment. Then there were the Ubers to get home, because driving wasn’t an option.

And of course, the late-night food orders - Doordashing greasy takeout to soak up the alcohol. Add to that the impulsive Amazon shopping sprees, when I'd come home buzzed and feeling like everything in my cart was a great idea.

It didn’t feel like much in the moment, just a typical night out, right? But when I sat down and actually did the math, I realized that all those “just one more” drinks, convenience costs, and spontaneous purchases were draining me. On average, I was blowing through nearly $1,000 every month on drinking-related expenses.

It was wild to think about. That’s $12,000 a year - a number that would have been better spent on...literally anything else. The most shocking part?

I didn’t even see the impact at the time. The costs felt invisible, spread out over nights of fun and carelessness, but they were adding up fast. My credit card bills were racking up, I had no savings to speak of, and I was barely keeping up with monthly payments on my debt. I’d always convinced myself that I was “doing fine” financially, but in reality, I was living paycheck to paycheck - and drinking was a big reason why.

When I quit drinking during Dry January in 2017, I wasn’t prepared for how drastically my finances would change. But the numbers don’t lie. In my first year of sobriety, I saved close to $13,000. That’s right—by simply cutting out alcohol, I had an extra thirteen thousand dollars that would’ve gone down the drain otherwise. And what did I do with that money?

For the first time in my adult life, I got serious about my financial future. I paid off my credit card debt entirely. I built up a solid emergency fund, started investing, and even padded my savings account with a cushion that made me feel secure instead of stressed. Sobriety didn’t just clear my head - it cleared my path to financial freedom.

This journey wasn’t just about giving up alcohol; it was about gaining control over my life, in more ways than one. And here’s the kicker: I’m not the only one dealing with the financial consequences of drinking.

A lot of people don’t realize how much it’s costing them because we live in a society where drinking is so normalized, so ingrained in our social fabric, that the expenses slip by unnoticed. But it all adds up.

For me, quitting drinking wasn’t just about getting healthy. It was about reclaiming my financial freedom and taking charge of my future. I used to think that cutting out alcohol meant losing something—like I’d be missing out on fun or connection. But the truth is, I’ve gained so much more. I’ve gained stability, peace of mind, and a sense of control over my money that I never had before.

And it’s not just about the dollars saved; it’s about what that financial freedom has allowed me to do. I’m now debt-free, with a growing investment portfolio and a safety net I never had when I was drinking. I’m living proof that when you stop spending on things that don’t serve you, you open up space for the things that truly matter—whether that’s financial security, meaningful experiences, or just peace of mind.

So, what is drinking costing you? It might be more than you think. If you’re considering participating in a dry month like Dry January this year, think of it as more than just a break from drinking—it’s an opportunity to jumpstart your financial journey.

Ready to get started with your Dry January? Here’s how Hypegirl Healing can help:

1. 21-Day Reset Roadmap: a step-by-step email series to jumpstart your alcohol free goals. 

2. Hypegirl Hangouts: a free weekly online meet-up for sober/curious women to connect and chat with the Hypegirl community

5. Hypegirl Hangouts Chat: the online community chat for Hypegirl Healing, where you can connect anytime, anywhere.

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