Americans Spent Over $39 Billion While Drunk Shopping Last Year
A few glasses of wine could be bad for your wallet.
JGI/Jamie Grill
We all know that having a few too many drinks can lead to bad decisions—including putting a real strain on your wallet if you are drinking and shopping at the same time. If you’ve ever woken up the day after indulging in some wine and found a few extra Amazon boxes sitting on your porch, you aren’t alone.
According to a study by the personal finance website Finder.com, Americans spent $39.4 billion on spontaneous drunken purchases last year. These boozing and shopping sprees are up from the previous year, when Americans spent a whopping $30.4 billion while drunk shopping.
Of those surveyed, 26 percent admit to shopping under the influence, totaling some 53.4 million people who are sipping and clicking. According to the site, while the number of drunk shoppers is down from previous years, the amount of money being spent has gone up significantly. In 2017, the average amount spent per person was just $206, but last year that number climbed to $448 per person.
So, who is doing all this drunk shopping? Turns out, men are drinking while adding to their cart more than women, averaging $870 per year. Millennials are partaking the most, averaging $1,047 per year as opposed to the $466 for baby boomers and $469 for Generation Xers.
What we really want to know is this: What is everyone buying? Food seems to top the list, with 52 percent of drunk shoppers ordering some grub. Shoes and clothing make up 43 percent of expenditures and cigarettes claim another 30 percent of purchases.
A few other hot shopping items: Vacations, pets, and even cars and motorcycles! While food being delivered after a night of drinking seems reasonable, can you imagine booking a dream vacay or having a brand-new car sitting in your driveway? It might be time to hide the credit cards when the wine comes out.
We want to hear from you! What are some of the things you’ve purchased while tipsy?
