Page 5 | AIBU to wonder how people afford this??

Eurghhhhhhh · 2021-08-26T22:24:00+00:00

I've been out tonight with some friends to the nearest major city. We went for some food and a few drinks, very relaxed, just spending time catching up. I've got home and realised that I've spent almost £50! I'm not skint my any means (although not near the Mumsnet 6 figures) but this feels a lot. How do people afford to do this multiple times a week?!

Canigooutyet · 27/08/2021 08:31

when I go out a couple of times a week I'm not spending £50 each time. For starters I'm not doing the whole split the bill crap and I never eat more than one course.

Tangled123 · 27/08/2021 08:33

I couldn’t afford a £50 night out 3 times a week, maybe once a month. It would have to be a proper night out though, and not just a meal in a restaurant for me to justify spending that much.

AuntieMarys · 27/08/2021 08:36

We spend about £400 a month " going out". Meals, drinks.

MyOtherProfile · 27/08/2021 08:40

[quote Eralos]@MyOtherProfile you’ve never shared a bottle of wine or two?[/quote]
That's a non sequitur.

I would share a bottle if we wanted the same. I prefer red and most friends seem to prefer white so I would just order a glass separately. I wouldn't often drink two glasses of wine even at home with a bottle. I just drink alcohol slowly I think.

dottydodah · 27/08/2021 08:41

I think £50 is a reasonable amount to spend although not 2 or 3 times a week! People have different levels of income .Some may prioritise evenings out,some home improvements ,some have more disposable incomes!

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 27/08/2021 08:46

Most people don't do that several times a week. They do it once in a while, maybe once a month. Or they go out lots, but do cheaper option than you describe. And lots of people don't do it at all.

The exception is probably young people who don't have any commitments yet, and may be living at home etc - that group has more disposable income and prioritises going out because of their stage of life.

ManifestDestinee · 27/08/2021 08:49

Who has 5 drinks in an evening?

Most people?

5329871e · 27/08/2021 08:50

@Eurghhhhhhh

I do go out fairly regularly, but generally to the local pub with friends instead of into the major city. I obviously get its about prioritising things I just sometimes feel that I miss out on things I'm invited to as I just can't afford to do it all and still get by. I think a large part of it is were the first of our 'group' to buy a house so that is taking a lot of money. As a poster above says if both of us go out and spend £100+ sometimes I think wow this could have replaced the carpet / gone towards decorating. Maybe I'm just old before my time

I think that’s a good choice to make! The last time I properly went out was university freshers week (and that was really cheap). I like meals out, but would hardly ever have more than one drink. I think drinks out are a waste of money. At the age of 35 I’m in my forever home with a small mortgage and decent amount in pensions and ISAs.

It’s all about choices, and I’m happy with my choice to not drink away £££££ but others would find me boring.

JaceLancs · 27/08/2021 08:51

Different priorities, income and outgoings
I prefer expensive clothes jewellery and holidays over nights down the pub
I have friends who prefer primark and nights out clubbing
Other friends put it all into savings pensions and buying ever bigger houses and cars

sqirrelfriends · 27/08/2021 08:57

I just don't do it multiple times a week, or even every week.

I'm not short of cash, I just don't want to spend every penny of it.

Sisisimone · 27/08/2021 09:03

Who has 5 drinks in an evening? You could have one then water and save yourself £20 right there. If I'm out for dinner I either do that or have a couple of soft drinks. I'm not sure I could physically manage 5 drinks in an evening

Brilliant . Im used to competitive under eating threads on MN but here come the competitive under drinkers. Who could possibly have 5 drinks in a whole night you ask. Answer: pretty much everyone in the whole fucking world. Not many people sit nursing a glass of tepid tap water so they can save a few pennies though.

idontlikealdi · 27/08/2021 09:03

A big standard pub meal and 5 drinks would cost you around £50 here. I'm going out with a friend tonight and will probably spend around £100 possibly more with Uber.

I earn enough to be able to afford it.

LimeRedBanana · 27/08/2021 09:03

@ManifestDestinee

Who has 5 drinks in an evening?

Most people?

Exactly, the competitive hand-breaks are out in force, though.

idontlikealdi · 27/08/2021 09:04

@Sisisimone

Who has 5 drinks in an evening? You could have one then water and save yourself £20 right there. If I'm out for dinner I either do that or have a couple of soft drinks. I'm not sure I could physically manage 5 drinks in an evening

Brilliant . Im used to competitive under eating threads on MN but here come the competitive under drinkers. Who could possibly have 5 drinks in a whole night you ask. Answer: pretty much everyone in the whole fucking world. Not many people sit nursing a glass of tepid tap water so they can save a few pennies though.

Neverrains · 27/08/2021 09:04

If I’m going for an evening out I’m not going to sit with a glass of tap water.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 27/08/2021 09:05

We went out for dinner last night. £80 for two adult meals, two children's meals and a drink each. Definitely a special treat! That was just main course by the way, we had ice cream when we got home. Luckily only a mile away, so no transport costs (and we could both enjoy a drink with dinner).

I'm sure there are lots who do that weekly without blinking. But lots who can't afford to do it even once a year.

LimeRedBanana · 27/08/2021 09:05

Going out and nursing a glass of tap water - as if there aren’t enough disappointments in life!

79andnotout · 27/08/2021 09:09

Where can you get carpet for £100?

crimsonlake · 27/08/2021 09:09

When I was a young teacher some years ago I used to go out mid week clubbing, then the same on a Friday and Saturday night. When I think back to how much I must have spent and never a thought given to do any saving.

Lightisnotwhite · 27/08/2021 09:09

I always think that too. It’s amazing how money runs away

Going out whether that be drinks food or coffee just seems so expensive in relation to how cheap it is to do it at home. But if you go to someone’s house it’s flowers/chics and wine and that’s £10 before you start

Birthday presents are another anathema to me. Obviously I stick up cheaply where possible but invariably someone slips through. Cards, gift bags ( yes I reuse where possible ) tissue paper plus the gift. Then maybe a night out/party with flowers and wine etc. It’s all so much,

Original poster

Eurghhhhhhh · 27/08/2021 09:09

@LimeRedBanana

Going out and nursing a glass of tap water - as if there aren’t enough disappointments in life!

😂😂😂 if I agreed to go on a night out then sat with tap water, my friends would think I've gone completely mad

OP posts:

LimeRedBanana · 27/08/2021 09:11

Christ, mine too @Eurghhhhhhh!

itssquidstella · 27/08/2021 09:19

People have different amounts of money.

Threearm · 27/08/2021 09:21

As a youngster the aim was to spend £8 on two foul bottles of wine to down before going. Somehow blag being sober to get in and then topping up with a few jaegerbombs (2 for £5). Made for cheap nights out

SofiaMichelle · 27/08/2021 09:24

It's an interesting one, OP, but as others have said some people have more money than others.

There's sometimes a misconception that the average salary is roughly what most people earn, but the median (most common salary) is often a long way from that.

For example in London the median salary at 40-49yo is around £43k.

Across the UK as a whole it's around £33k at that age.

So a 2 person household of 2 average earners in an average area is earning £65-70k between them, so £4,200 per month after tax.

That's quite a bit compared to the odd £50 here and there.

occaminvesting.co.uk/average-uk-salary-by-age/