Mental Accounting

Why Sobriety Is the Highest ROI Decision You’ll Ever Make

Alcohol isn't just draining your energy—it’s an invisible $200,000 tax on your family’s future wealth. Thanks to a cognitive bias known as "mental accounting" (coined by Nobel laureate Richard Thaler), we agonize over a $5 subscription increase while dropping $140 on a round of drinks without blinking. Beyond the bar tab, the true damage lies in the friction costs (rideshares, late-night takeout) and massive opportunity costs: side businesses unlaunched, promotions missed at 70% capacity, and lost compounding investments. Redirecting just $350 a month into an index fund at an 8% return builds over $60,000 in 10 years and more than $200,000 in 20 years. Sobriety immediately stops the financial bleed so you can build enduring value instead of funding temporary sedation. Drop a comment: How much money or mental bandwidth do you estimate alcohol cost you each month?