It's hard to escape alcohol culture here in America. Kitschy sayings about booze are everywhere. You're probably familiar with their Greatest Hits, including:

I have mixed drinks about feelings!

 

Vodka may not be the answer, but it's worth a shot!

 

Beer: Because no great story ever started with someone eating a salad!

Needless to say, Americans love to drink. And there's nothing inherently wrong with that... but it can get a little exhausting.

Certainly, taking a hiatus from booze has a slew of health benefits, including mental clarity and weight loss. But beyond the prospect of a thinner waistline, what's sure to expand is your wallet. Cutting out booze actually puts money back in your pocket, and the amount may shock you.

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Think about how much you spend per drink at a bar or restaurant. $5 on the low end, $15 on the high end. (Welcome to 2024.) That adds up, man.

Obviously no two people's drinking habits are alike, but a survey from 2020 found that the average millennial spent $300 a month on alcohol. That's $3,600 a year! If you had that amount right now in one lump sum, would you spend it all on booze? Probably not.

GET A MASSAGE... ONCE A MONTH?!

I remember one time a friend told me they got a massage every month. That blew my mind. Every month! Imagine the cost!

Then I realized I was easily spending the same amount on beer.

You mean to tell me I could be getting rubbed down instead?!

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Another quick anecdote: I went to see Judas Priest last year. Walked by the merch stand, and was devastated by the prices. $45 for a t-shirt?! You gotta be kidding me!

...I then proceeded to drink four tallboys at $12 apiece. And I didn't have anything to show for the great concert I had been to.

This piece isn't meant to be preachy, just to suggest that abstaining for alcohol for just month opens doors to a lot of different financial opportunities. Scaling back the booze is a proven way to accumulate more money. Because in today's America, the only figures not growing bigger are the salaries.