I have too many vices.
I could free up at least $1k a month in my budget if I eliminated all of these "lifestyle expenses".
Discussion
That seems like a lot, unless you’re in a HCOL area
Monthly expenses:
Beer $300
Nicotine $240
Cannabis $180 (used to be more but getting $15 vape carts lately)
Gambling $200-400
If you want to include eating out in there then that's several hundred more per month.
I spend a lot of money on feeling good.
At least half of that can go immediately. You’re throwing away generational wealth.
Quitting alcohol entirely has immediate and long term benefits too
Negative side effects include having to have fun as your actual self at parties (should you choose to go) and tightening your belt a notch or two
The social part has been the hardest for me.
Almost 100% of my crew booze and booze a lot.
Willingness to still take part and be the non-drinker is tough. I have zero problem being the same as when I boozed (I’m not shy), it’s others that have the problems with it when you say no-thanks.
Yeah but then they get drunk and forget 😂
If alcohol is a necessity for a friendship, then you’re not really friends. Lead by example and inspire them to quit too.
I mostly agree but with the exception of people who are true friends who also all need a wake up call. Such as perhaps one from within the group to man (or woman) up and be the weirdo who doesn’t 😲
It cultivates a higher time preference. Dangerous.
I used to be like that.
Try this..
Get yourself an Apple Watch or Fitbit, Start working out for a few months with a goal of going 3 days a week and tracking your progress. You will get addicted to the feeling of self betterment as you see results and will make those things less important to feeling good. My alcohol budget went from $250 a month in peak Covid to $80 (still enjoy a glass or two of a wine a few nights a week with steak) and my weed bill went much lower. Instead of smoking joints i vape flower through a volcano which gets you much more bang for your buck.. I also completely quit nicotine by on this excerise journey as I noticed I’d be out of breath way too easy and wanted to change that.
Anyways.. everyone has vices, you just need to figure out which ones work best for you and not to over due it
Just popping in on this. Nicotine and alcohol are very tightly related. I would wager that a reduction of alcohol will be met with a reduction in alcohol. Cannabis is the least of your worries. Gambling is something we can work with. But booze and nicotine is gonna take the largest toll on your health in all time frames. Im sure you can manage yourself just fine but I’ve done a lot of work with people that have addictions if you ever want to talk. Not saying you have “addictions” you get my point. Cleaning up your act is fucking hard and the only people who don’t respect that have never tried to quit a vice.
A reduction in alcohol will be met with a reduction in nicotine******
Do it. Don’t let your dreams be dreams.
Switching to ryo smokes saves me ~$500 no joke
Did the math, moving to tubes & packing machine would save another ~$60 but I enjoy hand rolling to much.
~$180 current smoking budget lol
Used to roll my own. Quit smoking and switched to vaping 2 years ago. But I've been using disposable vapes for convenience and being able to switch flavors more often and they're more expensive. Almost as expensive as cigarettes. And I vape a lot. Going through about 2 packs of cigarettes a day worth of nicotine.
I tried vaping & I just can’t do it just not the same for me.
"Convenience is the deadliest sin"