Alcohol Savings Calculator
Estimate how much you spend on alcohol each year and see how investing that money could grow over time.
Drinking at Home
Number of days per week you drink at home.
Average number of drinks per day when drinking at home.
Average cost per drink when drinking at home (in USD).
Drinking When Going Out
Number of days per week you go out drinking.
Average number of drinks per day when going out.
Average cost per drink when going out (in USD).
Percentage of going out days where you pay for a ride (Uber, Lyft, taxi, etc.).
Average cost per ride when you pay for transportation (in USD).
Opportunity Cost
Expected annual return rate if you invested the money instead (e.g., stock market average is 7-10%).
Number of years to project into the future.
Summary
You spend $2,288 per year on alcohol.
That's $190.67 per month.
If you invested that money instead and earned a 7.0% annual return, it could grow to $31,612 in 10 years.
Investment Growth Over Time
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
About this calculator
This Alcohol Savings Calculator estimates how much you spend on alcohol each year, including drinking at home, going out, and related transportation costs.
It also shows the opportunity cost of investing that money instead, helping you visualize how small recurring expenses can compound into meaningful long-term savings.
What each input means
- Days per week – How often you drink during a typical week.
- Drinks per day – The average number of drinks per drinking day.
- Average cost per drink – What you typically pay per drink at home or when going out.
- Rideshare usage (%) – The percentage of outings where you pay for transportation.
- Average cost per ride – Typical cost of a rideshare, taxi, or similar service.
- Annual return rate (%) – Expected investment return if you invested the money instead.
- Projection years – How far into the future to project potential investment growth.
How this calculator works
The calculator estimates weekly alcohol spending by combining drinking frequency, drinks per day, drink costs, and transportation expenses.
Annual spending is calculated by multiplying weekly totals across the year. Investment growth is calculated by treating annual alcohol spending as recurring contributions and applying compound growth over the selected time horizon.
Factors that affect Results
- Drinking frequency – More drinking days increase total spending.
- Cost per drink – Small differences add up significantly over time.
- Transportation costs – Rideshares and taxis can meaningfully increase spending.
- Investment return rate – Higher returns increase opportunity cost over long periods.
- Time horizon – Longer timelines magnify compound growth.
Key assumptions & limitations
- Spending patterns are consistent – Assumes habits remain stable over time.
- Returns are hypothetical – Investment growth is estimated, not guaranteed.
- Alcohol costs only – Does not account for health, productivity, or social impacts.
- Estimates only – Results are for informational purposes, not financial advice.