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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be shocked at how much money people spend on drinks/nights out

71 replies

GrowSomeCress · 16/03/2013 18:37

I'm always so shocked to see the amount people spend on buying rounds on nights out, and how much they spend in one night out, it's a small fortune!

Not really something I'm into myself much, so don't know if I'm just being naive, but AIBU to think that it really is a lot of money?

OP posts:
lottieandmia · 16/03/2013 18:52

I never get to go out anywhere as too busy with the children. Not even for a coffee any more!

MrsKoala · 16/03/2013 18:54

But if it's £30 per round, that means there are about 6 people (even an expensive bar i doubt it's more than £5 per drink) so you will only need to buy one round, maybe 2, but then your would be having 12 drinks which i think most people don't. So you only spend £30 for the whole night out. Which to me seems pretty okay.

BellaVita · 16/03/2013 18:57

We can still do a lot just drinking. Last time DH and I went out for "drinks" he ordered two bottles of Veuve Clicquot at £55 per bottle.

drinkyourmilk · 16/03/2013 18:57

I've just come in from the pub. Only had 2 glasses of wine. 175ml each. Cost nearly £8. Extortionate.

NoelHeadbands · 16/03/2013 18:59

I guess I spend about £70 on average, if you add in taxis.

That's not too bad, once upon a time I'd have had to buy a whole new outfit as well Grin

OnwardBound · 16/03/2013 19:01

£20 - £30 on a night out once a week doesn't sound very much at all to me, and I'm not on an extravagant salary by any means.

Are you in London OP?

Because going out in London is damn expensive, once you've bought drinks, had something to eat and factored in the cost of a taxi home in the wee small hours.

Heck, DH and I took DS1 & 2 [4yo and 2yo] to Nandos for lunch, not exactly the mecca of fancy cuisine and spent about £40! That was for two adult meals [one of which was a chicken pitta and a cob of corn ffs!], one kiddie meal shared between little ones, some chicken wings, a beer, glass of wine and an orange juice. No puddings or coffee. You even have to order your meal at the till and collect your own cutlery, condiments, napkins.

So yes, £20 - £30 for a night out sounds rather cheap at the moment!

SpottyTeacakes · 16/03/2013 19:01

Envy Lovely Bella Smile reminds me of the polo gold cup it's all we used to drink then (pre children!)

OrbisNonSufficit · 16/03/2013 19:07

If they can afford it, great, whatever, go and have fun (just don't vomit on the footpath I have to walk on, or do anything violent). If they can't afford it, then it's dumb tax. Other people can do whatever they feel like doing, I'm pretty comfortable with that.

BellaVita · 16/03/2013 19:10

Spotty, we have just started to enjoy ourselves as the boys are now nearly 14 and 16. It is far easier to go out without having to arrange sitters etc.

Don't get me wrong, we love going out with them too and we do quite often for something to eat but sometimes I think we have worked hard all week so what the hell if we spoil ourselves now and again as there have been many a time we haven't gone out for months when they were little.

DH always knew I would never be a cheap date... Grin

IrrelevantElephant · 16/03/2013 19:12

Currently suffering from a massive hangover - spent £70ish quid last night (and got the bus home, so can't even blame it on an expensive cab!!). Really have no idea how I spent £70- I wouldn't have thought I could drink that much, but there you go!!

ginmakesitallok · 16/03/2013 19:13

£20 on a night out? I wish. £20 easy on taxi, and easily another £30 or £40 drinks, depending on how rounds go, and then don't forget the £5 for a kebab on the way home...

Nagoo · 16/03/2013 19:13

I don't know about people but I'm shocked how much I can spend on a night out, taxi, club entry, drinks kebab Grin

SpottyTeacakes · 16/03/2013 19:13

Well I definitely think you should enjoy yourself now you can again! Right now I would rather be in bed than out Grin

Nagoo · 16/03/2013 19:14

what time shall I book the taxi for gin Grin

BellaVita · 16/03/2013 19:15

Well Spotty, right at this min I do have my Pj's on Grin and the freshly laundered sheets on the bed are very appealing!

ihearsounds · 16/03/2013 19:18

My nights out cost more than £20-£30, and there's usually at least 8 of us.. We start with a meal and go from there, and the meal alone costs that especially when you add alcohol.
Even a drink after work costs more, but then they are £6 a time, which gets you a bottle of beer and the cheapest thing they serve.

fuzzpig · 16/03/2013 19:22

YANBU but each to their own indeed.

I'm not into alcohol or clubbing or even pubs anymore, but going out anywhere costs loads these days. I recently started taking DD and my DSDs to the cinema and it adds up so quickly even with saving a bit by booking online etc.

PinkFairyDust · 16/03/2013 19:23

Depends where I go but:

London night out is about £50
Back at home, Essex is about £25/35

With a friend abroad is about Blush ?400ish

Normally buy new clothes/heels/bag ESP if with friend

But I have no one else to buy things for

LadyWoo · 16/03/2013 19:49

YANBU

I'm often shocked at the amount people spend on 'stuff' in general, mainly people that say they are skint and generally moan about lack of money.

Someone I know is always moaning about having no money yet in the past fortnight she has had £500 hair extensions done, 4 nights out, ie meal, drinks, nightclub afterwards and no doubt new outfits to wear to go out, and various other things too. She can't pay her gas bill though!

BrianButterfield · 16/03/2013 20:52

I'm always amazed that people will spend money on petrol to get to places within walking distance - I'd much prefer to spend it on Wine ! But that's their choice.

mrsjay · 16/03/2013 20:53

last time I was out i spent nearly 80 quid I thought feck that never going out again is take away and wine at home from now on Grin

VelvetSpoon · 16/03/2013 21:00

I went out last night and spent just under £20, but tbh that was quite a cheap night, normally it's £30-40 on average BUT I don't go out every week and economise in other ways, ie I cut and dye my own hair and buy most of my clothes at Primark!

I do have friends who spend a lot more than me - one particular group who are all quite well off would think nothing of dropping £100+ on a night out (that's just taxi fares and alcohol....) hence I only go out with them a couple of times a year!

Ashoething · 16/03/2013 21:04

i had a weekend in the city with friends last week and spent 200 quid.that included hotel-premier inn-2 lovely meals out,2 breakfasts out,cocktails and some shopping-primark and cath kidston! going by this thread i done very well-admittedly we did drink a couple of bottles of prosecco in room!

LilMissSunshine9 · 16/03/2013 21:05

A guy at my work place went out for drinks and happily paid for several rounds at £80 a round (buying some type of cocktail), I wasn't there but he was telling us this the next day. Then again he happily admits to having at least 4 gym memberships and his reason is because they are either on the way to work or home he can choose which to go to depending on where he is - of course when I asked he admits he hasn't even been to 3 of them not even once. I personally wouldn't spend my money in that way but hey ho its his money but annoying to have to hear him wonder why he can't afford to buy a house....

RatPants · 16/03/2013 21:06

We usually spend at most £100 between us as a couple when out but we tend to buy a few drinks for other people here and there and go to comedy nights and restaurants rather than just down to the local (in fact we don't even have a local pub anymore) when we do make a night of it, perhaps once a month.

Alone I usually have change from £30, which is the same as when I was a teenager/student. I drink before I go out, pay entry, buy perhaps two or three drinks and get a taxi home.

Some men I know drink insane amounts of money away every weekend. I spend more on my outfit than the night itself.