Thursday, May 22, 2008
Save Money by Taking Cash to a Bar
Posted by Josh in Bars, Cash, Personal Finance, Saving Money
I have gone back and forth as to whether carrying cash is more conducive to saving money. Some people argue that carrying cash makes them more likely to buy little things (lattes, magazines, etc) that make your savings vanish so quickly. Others say that having cash on hand lets them tangibly see how much they are spending and budget accordingly.
However, one incident last weekend made me institute a new rule for myself designed to save money. Always bring cash to a bar. I was out for drinks with some coworkers when I went up and ordered a pair of beers for myself and a friend. I was handed my beers and I gave the bartender my debit card. “Oh, there’s a $30 minimum,” she said, looking significantly at the two beers I already had in my hands. I kept the tab open and ended up buying a round for my coworkers. They enjoyed it, but I would rather had not spent $40 on quick after-work drinks.
Since then, I have always made sure I have had cash when I go to bars (at least I try to). I am finding that it makes my time at the bar quicker, makes bartenders like me more (tipping $1 a drink rather than 15% at the end) and is cutting down on drink creep (ordering more and more as the night goes on).