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Most people think of “Dry January” as a health move, but if you’re one of the many Americans joining the no-alcohol challenge, don’t forget another big motivator: the cost savings.
Forgoing two $8 pints of beer twice a week would save you $138 this month. Skipping six $15 glasses of wine a week (if you go out twice a weekend, for example) would put $390 back in your pocket. Even if you only drink occasionally, or mostly at home, you might save a good $50. (This Alcohol Spending Calculator from the National Institutes of Health can help you do the math.)
The savings can multiply if skipping alcohol this month changes your habits longer-term. And according to a new review by researchers at Brown University, observing Dry January — even if you don’t ditch drinking completely — tends to help people cut back for good. (Some say it’s actually more sustainable not to swear it off entirely.)
“Most participants continue to drink less alcohol,” Megan Strowger, the lead author of the review, wrote last month. “Participating in Dry January allows people to pause, reflect and rethink their relationship with alcohol, including how it affects their social life, mental health and physical health.”
So what?
Whether or not you go completely dry, if you’re part of this year’s Dry January movement, make your savings count. Don’t just let the money melt back into your day-to-day budget or spend it on another vice. Earmark it to support a tangible financial goal — like bolstering your emergency savings, paying off debt, or investing for your retirement.
And in the meantime, here are some stats to keep you motivated:
• If you put $300 a month straight into a high-yield savings account earning a 3% APY, you’d have over $11,000 after three years.
• Drinking is less and less common. The U.S. drinking rate has fallen for three straight years, reaching a record low of 54% of adults in 2025 from 67% in 2022, according to Gallup.
• Forty-five percent of drinkers surveyed by Lending Tree in 2024 said they regretted overspending on alcohol, while 17% said buying it contributed to debt. And research suggests that heavy drinkers are more likely to make impulsive purchases while under the influence.
Related Reading
Doing Dry January? How Much Money It Can Save You in 50 US Cities (GoBankingRates)
Why I’m Skipping Dry January (Stat)