It is finally the end of the workweek, and if your life is anything similar to mine Friday’s arrival is a joyful milestone!  After a week of talking and writing about credit and debt issues, it is time to relax and discuss something less stressful over a nice glass of wine. But for those of us on a limited budget, heading off to meet friends at “Tiffany’s Posh Winebar” is not an option. So what are some inexpensive, yet fun and unique options for Friday’s social hour?

My catalyst for writing this post was browsing through our non-credit section of the forums, specifically our for-fun thread on wine. Since I spent a few years working part-time in a wine-related business, I do have a particular passion for this nectar of the gods. But these past several years I have had to “downsize” my libation and entertainment expenses in light of economic conditions, and I suspect I am not alone.

Here are some ideas for recession-proofing your own social hour this Friday!

Don’t go to a bar or restaurant. The mark-up on wine and liquor at most establishments is outrageous, and often you can have an entire bottle or six-pack for the price you pay for one drink. Plan a casual social hour at the park or even on your own patio and simply BYOB.

Don’t spend more than $10 on a bottle of wine. There are thousands of different options for wines under $10. You don’t need the $50 bottle of wine in order to enjoy a nice glass of red with dinner. I’ve found excellent value wine at Trader Joes, Sprouts, and of course discount chains like Costco or Sam’s Club. Once you’ve found some low-cost varieties you like, buy them by the case and usually you can obtain a discount of 10% or more.

Go to a BYOB Restaurant. Although you may be charged a corkage fee, if you want wine with your food a BYOB establishment is probably a cheaper route to go. One website you can check out for BYOB establishments and compare fees is GoBYO.com, which is a directory for BYOBs in various regions of the country.

Make your own. This may be more challenging with wine, but as far as homebrew it doesn’t take much equipment and it is surprisingly fun to have others try your home brew. I personally have  recipe(s) for Kahlua and Bailey’s Irish Cream that I’ve made often over the years during the holidays, and have always had rave reviews (and saved a significant amount of cash!).

Pay with cash. This tip is somewhat universal; it is human nature to spend less when you actually are handing over the cash directly, as opposed to running a tab. If you have to head out to the local tavern, cash is king!

Go local. If you are a happy hour “regular”, you probably have a favorite hangout. Schmoozing with the local crowd (not to mention the bartenders) can pay off intermittently with a free drink now and then. Repeat customers are usually rewarded, and if you bring friends your loyalty will probably be recognized.

Do your research. Check the community or local college newspaper (if there are any left, that is!) for advertised happy hour specials. Ask your friends on Facebook for good recommendations, or check out phone apps like Happy Hours and Happy Houred, which list specials spotted by other users.

I suppose I could say that the best solution for saving money on happy hour is to simply not drink, but for many individuals that is not really a solution. Thus, find a tip or two from the list that suits your lifestyle and save a buck or two!

Readers, have any other ideas for economy social hours? Share them with us by leaving a comment!

No related posts.