One of my favorite things to do in the summer is sit on our back porch with a nice glass of wine. It's so relaxing, and it gives my husband and I a chance to just sit and talk. Unfortunately, the cost of a bottle of wine can often be a big budget buster. Whether you want a nice glass of wine or beer for grilling out, the prices can really add up. Check out a few of my tips for how to save on beer and wine.
Buy the Box
I love buying boxes of wine. It is much more affordable than buying wine by the bottle. I recommend trying a smaller bottle of the brand first if you can. That way you make sure you like it before you commit to a large box. Our favorite box of wine is usually around $17 at Meijer. With 5 bottles of wine in every box you are only paying $3.50 a bottle. It would be hard to find a bottle of wine for that cheap.
The other bonus of buying a box is that the wine will last for up to 4 weeks. With a bottle, it starts going bad after a couple of days. With the box you have a lot longer time to drink it.
Get a Growler
If you have any local breweries a growler can be an easy way to save money. Most small breweries sell glass jugs that you can have filled with beer. Although the everyday price might be kind of high on a growler, ask about any specials. My husband always refills his growler on Friday because they are $6 for a 64 ounce growler. This is a great way to get a specialty beer for a low price.
Beer Rebates
If you are lucky enough to live in states that have beer rebates you can get all kinds of deals on beer or wine. Often beer manufacturers will offer discounts if you buy beer and other items. You can either find these in you grocery/liqueur store or you can buy them online. I found some on ebay that were spend $75 in groceries and get $25 back. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the forms and you can really save.
Make Your Own
With a little trial and error you can make your own. Pinterest has lots of tutorials for how to make your own wine. I have even seen recipes for how to make moonshine and vodka. Make your own wine would make a fun girls night out, too.
Drink at Home
I am often shocked at how much a glass of wine or beer can cost at a restaurant. I have seen glasses sell for the same price as a whole bottle sells at the store. Skip the alcohol when your dining out and drink at home. Not only will you save the money on liqueur, you won't need a designated driver.
Just because you are on a budget, doesn't mean you can have a glass of wine now and then. What are your favorite ways to save on wine and beer?
Carolyn says
We make beer at home. My guy grows his own hops and cultures the yeast in a bottle in the refrigerator. He has been doing it for over 20 years and kegs it in 5 gallon soda kegs. Cost per pint is around 75 cents as compared to $3.50 for a similar beer at the beverage center or $7 at the restaurant. Saves hundreds a year.
Julie says
That is awesome!! Such a great way to save money, and I bet you can really play around to get some great flavors. Thanks for sharing!
Lynne says
Under your heading of Drink at Home, may I suggest the website: Wines 'Til Sold Out https://www.wtso.com
We LOVE them! They sell one wine at a time, 'til it's sold out. All are rated above 90, all are heavily discounted, and if you buy four bottles, they FedEx to your house for FREE. We get my husband's favorite $80 wine for $25, and my favorite $45 wine for $11. As I said, we love them. Cheers!
Julie says
They look like they have some great prices. I can't wait to give them a try. Thanks!
Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama says
We are fortunate to live in Virginia in a region which has many of the best wineries in the country. We have friends who are members at a local winery. They work there a certain number of hours each year (generally serving wine in the tasting room). Because of this they get free tastings whenever they want and 1/2 price on all bottles of wine. That's a pretty good deal! Plus, they have learned a ton about different types of wine, the wine-making process, etc. Pretty much a win-win!