When money is tight do you beer budget?

I absolutely cut back when I need to, I can definitely buy fewer bombers and cut back on the more expensive beers. There is also nothing wrong with macro to stretch the budget, and pbr is a good option.

 

For sure. I usually don't go PBR (not that there's anything wrong with that) but there's some damn fine crafts to be had for a good price if you look. Many times I find that it gets me back to the basics I've forgotten about, and I realize what I've been missing.

 

You could blend your stronger flavor, higher cost beer with the macro Lagers in say a 1/2 ratio. This may require decanting some of the leftover blend but most of us have a few empty bottles around.

Blending is a time honored tradition reaching far back in the annals of beer history.

 

There is plenty of affordable craft

15 pack of All Day IPA $15
12 pack of Oberon $15
12 pack SNPA $15

I'll pick up one of these bargains and mix in some imperials, that's budgeting for me.

 

I don't really cut down on quality, but definitely lower quantity either for budget or health reasons when I see fit.

 

Sadly I'm living this nightmare right now

 

The big bummer is that usually when money is tight, something is going on in my life that makes me want a beer that much more.

That being said, at that point, I usually dive into beers I've had lying around a while, drink down the cellar a bit, drink down my bar a bit and maybe a few cheaper 12 or 24 packs.

 

I keep it to a limit regardless of my financial situation. As OP said, "family comes first". I'd expand that to include general savings, retirement, children's educations, vacations, etc. over beer.

 

When I have to budget is when I start opening those special beers that have been cellared in anticipation of a bad day that needs improving.

 

I'll be cutting back a lot. Starting a graduate program soon, so the hours will be long and the pay minimal. My leftover funds will be going towards the best bottles I can find though, even if that means only a bottle or two once or twice a month.

 

I am very fortunate to have a local store that sells older beer super cheap. When money is tight I load up there. The last time I was there (3 weeks ago) they had - drum roll please - 4 packs of Founders Breakfast Stout for $4.99. It was bottled on 10/31/15 but who cares. I bought 2 cases. They also had 21st Amendment seasonal 4 Packs from last fall which contained 2 Porters and 2 Belgians for $2.99 each, I bought 10. So when the wallet gets thin I have to default to Breakfast Stout and 21st Amendment. Life is tough . . .

I also have a shelf of bombers in my basement I can hit on. It's kinda fun because it makes room for more. I only buy what fits on the shelf. It's my way of self control.

 

I cut back when money is tight and I cant afford good beer so I stop paying my electric bill, my gas bill, my rent.....

 

granted i'm only 23, still live at home and work full time i really don't have a tight budget. i'm lucky enough to have my bills paid for besides personal uses (which include beer). i could pay for my personal uses but my parents pay for it so i can save my own money. it's a good life for now

 

Maybe this will cost me my BA card (again), but beer isnt something I must have. If cash was tight for other reasons, beer would be cut altogether. That said, I dont do it frequently these days, but I do home brew. I would have that as a reasonable option. There are other things that are easily higher priority to me than beer when things get tight.

Normally I budget anyway, even without thinking about it. Sometimes I get one or two bottles of top shelf stuff and sometimes a bunch of less expensive but tasty choices.

 

if money were so tight i couldn't drink beer then i would solely home brew. making ~5 gallons of beer is cheaper than buying ~5 gallons of beer thru bombers/6packs/cases/etc.

or i would drink only bourbon and get a handle of Buffalo Trace for $25. oh wait, i already get a handle of Buffalo every couple months.

 

I never beer budget because I feel that my beer habit is not so expensive to begin with. I average 1.5 beers a day which is quite reasonable for me financially. I also tend to stay away from the super pricey bombers as it is not my style to indulge in extravagance. If money were tight, I would continue with my current beer spending habits and cut back on other things. I definitely would not buy cheap cases of macro just to get by because I do not see beer that way.

 

I always beer budget.

 

When I beer budget I just lay off of the more expensive bombers and whatnot, and stick with cases and 12-packs of more affordable beers that I usually find just as enjoyable . If I felt like I was 'slumming' or missing out, I'd just drink something else instead.

 

Cut back? Nah. Just work OT.