How much could you save by going alcohol-free for a month?

Sober October is underway. Could giving up alcohol for a month give your health, and your bank balance, a boost?

Sober October is an annual health and wellness challenge that encourages you to take a month off alcohol. It’s a chance to reset your drinking habits, see how you feel without alcohol and, potentially, save yourself a decent chunk of money too.

The challenge began in the UK in 2014 as a fundraising campaign for Macmillan Cancer Support, encouraging people to go alcohol-free for October while raising money to support people living with cancer.

But just how much could you save?

According to research by AJ Bell, the average household spends £15.60 a week on alcoholic drinks, slightly more than half of which is consumed at home.

That works out at around £67.60 a month, or £811.20 a year.

And if you smoke too, there could be even more to save. Smokers spend an average of £63.91 a week on cigarettes. Give up both and you could save around £79.51 a week, or £344.54 over a month.

AJ Bell also looked at what could happen if you put those savings into a savings account. You might be surprised by how quickly those small weekly savings could start building into an emergency fund.

Not ready to give up completely?

You don’t have to go completely alcohol-free to make a difference.

Cutting back could still give your finances a welcome boost. Swapping a few pints for soft drinks, skipping that midweek bottle of wine or having a few booze-free days each week, can really add up over a month.

How can you make cutting back easier?

Make a plan

If you’re going out, decide how much you’re going to drink before you start. Setting yourself a specific limit can help you pace yourself, and you’ll get that satisfying feeling of sticking to your plan.

Use cash

If you’re heading out for the evening, take a set amount of cash with you. Once it’s gone, your spending stops.

Alternate with water

Try having a glass of water after every alcoholic drink. You’ll stay hydrated and your head might thank you the next morning.

Tell people what you’re doing

Let your friends and family know you’re cutting back. They can help you stay on track, and telling other people about your goal can give you an extra bit of accountability.

Avoid the rounds

You don’t have to join every round when you’re out. If you’re drinking less, tell your friends and buy your own drinks so you’re not tempted to drink at the same pace as everyone else. 

Take it one day at a time

Every alcohol-free day is a win. Celebrate those small successes and use them to keep yourself motivated.

Go small

You don’t always have to go without. Try swapping a large wine for a small, or a pint for a half. You’ll drink less and spend less.

Have booze-free days

If you’re cutting down rather than cutting out, aim for at least three alcohol-free days a week. It could be good for both your health and your bank balance.

Change your routine

If you normally have a drink while watching TV, cooking or winding down after work, try changing what you do at that time. Go for a walk, make a hot drink, read a book or find another way to mark the end of the day.

Put the money you save somewhere else

Make your savings visible. Every time you skip a drink, transfer the money you would have spent into a savings pot. Watching that balance grow could give you an extra reason to keep going.

How much could you save?

The best way to find out is to track what you’re actually spending. Use a budgeting app or keep a note of your spending for a few months, the longer you track it, the more accurate your average will be.

Seeing the number in black and white can be a powerful motivator. You might be surprised by how much you’re spending, and how much you could save by cutting back.

What else could you save on?

Alcohol is just one area where small changes could free up extra cash.

Creating a budget can help you see the bigger picture and spot other areas where you could cut back. Once you know where your money is going, you can decide where you’d like to make changes.

Use our budget planner to see where your money’s going – and where you could make other cutbacks.