They say that January is a tough month financially. The holidays are over, you’re trying to get back into the swing of things at work, and your wallet is probably looking pretty empty. But let’s not let that stop us from enjoying life, shall we? One of my favorite budgeting sites, The Budget Socialite, has a mission to “live richly on a budget,” which I adore. Live richly – you don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy life to the fullest. There’s so much out there, so who cares what your bank account looks like as long as you’re enjoying yourself? And the best part is, being thrifty can often go hand in hand with living richly! With a little bit of creativity, you can turn a fun night out of the town into an affordable night in.
There are a few problems that can hamper this experience. One of the biggest difficulties with hitting the town is your alcohol consumption probabilities. If you’re drinking, then it’s important to keep the legal blood alcohol limits in Georgia in mind. You don’t want to get arrested or hurt yourself (or someone else)-that will certainly cut into your bank account and make for a night you’ll want to soon forget. So what exactly is the legal blood alcohol level, and why is it such a big deal? This legal blood alcohol level is the blood alcohol content limit-the amount of alcohol you can consume while driving in Georgia without risking a DUI.
The requirement is that, for drivers 21 and older, the BAC must be less than .08% – anything higher and you’re in trouble. There are a few exceptions to this: However, this legal blood alcohol level is a simple law – there are stricter limits depending on the situation you find yourself in. If you’re driving a taxi, the blood alcohol content limit is .02% instead of .08%, and if you’re driving a commercial vehicle, the BAC limit is just .04%. In fact, it’s actually possible to get a DUI with a BAC under .08% when behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle. There are higher blood alcohol content restrictions for people under 21-the limit is .01%. Even drunk driving laws for people aged 18-20 are stricter than for those over 21, and involve additional penalties for underage DUIs. So that’s something to keep in mind whenever you’re in a place where you’re unsure of the BAC rules for your party. If you end up getting a DUI, you’re looking at: Those fines alone are quite expensive, but they also imply the need for a lawyer, and the need to pay for a lawyer is certainly going to cut into your budget. So it’s best to stay aware of those regulations in order to avoid a costly and uncomfortable situation.
So how do you have a good time and avoid blowing through your finances and also getting in legal trouble? One great way to do this is to have a good deal of fun before you even leave the house. Plenty of places and events are now BYOB, which means that you can buy your alcohol ahead of time and only bring what you absolutely need to the party-after all, the excuse of “I brought my friends jacket so they can’t drive” is just as dull and uninspired as “Cinderella can’t leave because she’s too busy cleaning upstairs” was. You’ll save a great deal of money and avoid a lot of hassle by stocking up on some beers before you head out to the bars or clubs – and it shows that you are responsible enough to prevent yourself from doing something you will regret in the morning.
While you’re out and about, you’ll likely need to eat. Luckily, there are a number of affordable places to eat that also practice responsible drinking serving, so you don’t have to worry about the bar you’re at serving your friends too much alcohol. Bacchanalia is one of the most decadent restaurants in the area, serving only the best ingredients. What else could you expect from one of Atlanta’s best restaurants? A meal for two here isn’t going to come any cheaper than $100, but if you’re really looking to go all out you might as well rent a tent outside and pay for the waiter to be your starving servant, because if you think you’re living richly at Bacchanalia, you’re doing it wrong. Whew. Well, Bacchanalia is out of the way. For something with a bit more of a budget-friendly flair and a better reputation for responsible serving, you can always check out more affordable restaurants near you. But Bacchanalia is still a good option, if you can afford it. And if you can’t, you can always cancel a few of those monthly subscriptions and save $10 a month. If you really love those eating out options, then you can get serious about your finances and, with a few tips like the above, start living richly on a budget.
And what about when you’re out? The best way to enjoy your Friday and Saturday nights out are to… … Weave your way in between the cracks of your friend groups and head out without your friends to a location that far exceeds the expectations of your weekend plans. … Skip the expensive, crowded clubs and hit a bar down the road. Enjoy a decent drink and take another sip of your budget-aware, unplanned deadline drink that you picked up from the nearest CVS on your way home from that party where someone drank too much and you noticed that the BAC was getting a little too close to the limit of your friend. If you’re really feeling adventurous and physically fit, you can always bike to the bar in the middle of the day between lunch and the next meal. Obviously, if you’ve got a few too many drinks in your system, then maybe just using Uber or Lyft to get home is a good plan. But if you don’t mind being high-octane, then you definitely want to consider biking to the venue in style. Of course, if you’d rather just drive home from that late-night, affordable outing with your two friends (jerk and driver), then you can just remember your destination and avoid the $0.01 parking penalty or the $10 estate fee for riding the bus all night. Sure, the food is expensive, and the drinks add up quickly, but there’s always a way to live richly on a budget. So let’s just skip the personal bankruptcy and enjoy some peace and prosperity while we’re here. That BAC of .08% is dull and boring, but if you go above that, then you risk not only insane fees that are more expensive than the ten movies you watched, but you also risk the long-term effects that can last throughout the night-or even worse, take away tomorrow’s sunshine.