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Money

If you frequently get that sinking feeling when you check your bank balance on Tuesdays, with little memory of what you’ve spent the cash on, it could be that your party habits are eating away at your finances.

Here are some tips for making sure your partying doesn’t leave you out of pocket.

Set a budget

Limit how much you want to spend each weekend. Take out ‘X’ amount of cash and leave your credit cards at home.

If you’re worried you’ll just go home to get them when you’ve had a few drinks, give them to someone you trust to look after until Monday.

Keeping some emergency cash for a taxi somewhere separate might be a good idea too.

Make it harder to spend

Try to limit your access to drugs or dealers when trashed on a weekend evening. That way you will only be able to get supplies when you’re sober – rather than suddenly deciding to buy more in when you’re at a chillout.

This might mean changing how you get your drugs to someone who isn’t very local or available at short notice.

Keep track of your spending

Work out how much you’re spending each year on drugs.

If you’re spending hundreds or even thousands of pounds a month getting high, think how else you could use that money.

Stay in for a few weekends and save your cash for that tattoo, course or holiday you’ve been promising yourself you were going to do this year. Keep track of your goals and how much you save.

Invest

In yourself! Spend the money you’d normally use on a partying session to treat yourself to a massage, personal training session or anything else that could improve your health or reduce stress and anxiety.

You’ll get more out of them, and won’t be regretting it or feeling rubbish once Monday comes back around.

What to do about debt

For some guys, getting trashed may be a way to deal with worries about finances, which may also have made things worse.

There is a lot of support out there if you want to get your finances back in order. Check out the Step Change charity for help dealing with debts, or your bank might be able to provide a financial adviser to look over your finances.

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Published: 31/08/2018
Next review: 31/08/2021