When it comes to drinking, there’s one thing we can probably all agree on–it’s not cheap. Just a few drinks at the bar can cost you around $30 at most places in the city. So if money is seeming extra tight, it may be good to pay close attention to your drinking habits. In many cases, you may think you’re having money problems, but really you’re having drinking money problems.

Drinking Money Problems: Why Is It Costing So Much

You Become Drunk and Generous

One reason you may be having drinking money problems is because after a few drinks, you become way too generous. Just like we lose social inhibitions when drinking, we lose those financial ones as well. While buying a few drinks for friends may not break you, those extras to random strangers just might.

You Just Want One More Drink 

While some people become generous with buying other’s drinking, some of us just buy more for ourselves. As we lose those inhibitions, we stop caring about how much we’ve spent. So you see no problem in buying just one more–until you can’t keep track of just how many you’ve had. Not sticking to a certain number of drinks can blow the budget and leave you with drinking money problems.

You’re Buying for Two

Yes, going out with your significant other can be tons of fun. But it can also be quite expensive and lead to some drinking money problems. When going out with your partner, you may feel the need to purchase their drinks too. Especially if you invited them out or if your still in the early stages of dating. But drinking for two all night can really start to add up. So try to discuss buying drinks with your partner before you go out. Settle on an easy and fair way to split the bill. That way you can both have fun and your wallet won’t have to suffer.

Opening a Tab

Opening a tab can also be a quick way to end up having drinking money problems. Sure, it seems less convenient to have to get your card out for every purchase. But when you have to pull your card out each time, it can help make you more aware of how many drinks you’ve had. For instance, if you know you’ve been reaching for your card a lot, you may realize it’s time to settle down. Whereas, if it’s on a tab, you have no way of checking yourself.

In short, there’s some habits that lead to excessive spending at the bar. So try to take preventative measures when going out so you can avoid drinking money problems.