tip-happyhour-dive---Have happy hour at home

While many of these suggestions will save money, they are VERY boring options. I don't want to be cooped up in a coworker's apartment after work staring at the same old faces. We don't go to happy hour just to drink, a bar offers all kinds of things besides alcohol. We meet interesting people, check out sexy people from across the room, try new foods, listen to new music, participate in team trivia games or karaoke and share in the human experience. That *ain't* gonna happen at my house or yours.

My advice is find a fun, popular place for happy hour, go only when you really feel like you want to, and have a ball! Ask about drink specials like $5 pitchers or $2 Margaritas. Not much of a drinker? Have a soft drink instead of booze, club soda and lime or cranberry and club soda look like "real" drinks.

Oh, by the way... if you drink too much, take a cab. To be a designated driver sucks, to ask someone to be a DD sucks. Have you ever been a designated driver? It's agony. Truly a miserable experience. Drink, but take a cab, or call someone for a ride that hasn't been drinking with you. That $26 cab fare may seem steep, but it is saving money because what does a DUI cost these days, $6,000-10,000 after you hire that fancy lawyer?