This is an old trick that you’ll probably hear from most college students, but it can be applicable to adults as well. It’s called pre-gaming. In college, it typically meant having a few drinks at your apartment before you headed out to a party. For our purposes, we’ll say it’s a glass of wine before jumping in a cab to meet some friends for an evening out. That’s sounds more “adult”, right? Either way, it can be a great way to save some money and stay on budget.
Avoid credit card debt with pre-gaming.
Financial Perks of Pre-gaming
For those who aren’t familiar, pre-game is a term used in the sports world for warming up. You’ll typically see an athlete stretching and going through some sort of routine before the game starts. That’s their pre-game warm-up. For our purposes, it’s just another way to save money.
Eating and drinking at home is always less expensive than going out. You could easily add to credit card debt by drinking at a bar or restaurant. Consider this…
6-pack of domestic beer = $6 – $10 VS. 2 beers at a bar = $8 – $12
Pasta with Marinara at home = $6 VS. Pasta at a restaurant = $10 – $18
Prices may vary by location, but the bottom line is that you’ll spend less by eating and drinking at home. So, your warm-up is essentially filling up before you head out. If you have dinner at home, then you won’t need to buy much food at the restaurant. If you have a beer or a glass of wine before hopping in a cab to meet your friends, then that’s one less drink that you’ll need to buy at the bar.
So get your pre-game on, save some money, and enjoy your night out! Please be responsible and do not drive if you are drinking alcohol.
*Bonus tip: Have your friends pick up their favorite 6-pack or bottle of wine and an appetizer, and invite everyone over. That way, everyone saves some cash!
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
