What I Save in a Week: 'I save $150 a week by not drinking'

Linda, 38* from Sydney has never been a big drinker, and as a result she's been a big saver.

"That has always been a difference between me and my friends, as we got older especially," the mum of three tells 9Honey.

"I always found it strange that they would drink rather than eat. I always wanted to eat, and alcohol was expensive, even during happy hour and all of that."

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Before she had children and was working full-time, Linda noticed she would easily pocket an extra $150 a week as a teetotaller, between avoiding the bar bill and being able to drive on nights out.

Now she's a mother, Linda's social schedule has been limited to one outing a week with her friends, who she says will have an average of three drinks each at $15 a pop.

When she goes out, she still saves up to $50 by not drinking with them, as well as cutting down her grocery bill.

"I don't drink at home either," Linda says.

Noting a good bottle of wine averages out at $20, she adds: "That's at least another $80 a week, backing up my saving $100 to $150 in total."

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Sharing her budget, the single mum says she typically reserves $400 a fortnight for groceries for her family, which she easily saves up every month by avoiding drinking.

Her saving habit stems back to her twenties when she simply "just didn't enjoy the taste or the sensation of being tipsy or drunk."

"When I stopped I felt much more relaxed when I went out, less pressured to force myself. I would get challenged, but most people don't question me anymore because I am older and know what I like," she adds.

Like many of us, Linda is devoted to her taste buds, and alcohol doesn't level up as one of her preferred indulgences.

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"I would much rather eat dessert and drink coffee and tea than drink alcohol."

According to the government's Money Smart platform, it's estimated Australians spend $14.9 billion per year on alcohol, versus $1.6 billion on tea and coffee.

Breaking down that figure, couples with more than one child typically spend $47 on alcohol a week.

As a single mother, Linda notes, "Every dollar counts, so I can't imagine ever being able to afford to drink."

"I am a strict budgeter so if I am saving $100 a week by not drinking and $400 a month that's $4,800 a year. That's a holiday and Christmas and so many things!"