I Used Sobriety Tips To Take Charge Of My Finances - Here’s How
I used to be a wine producer. Not just any wine—I co-founded a Pinot Noir label that made it onto The French Laundry’s list. For years, wine was my career, my culture, even my identity. Until it wasn’t.
At age 50, I started really questioning alcohol’s role in my life—and what happened next didn’t just change my relationship with drinking. It reshaped the way I think about money, too.
The best time is now
When is the best time to plant a shade tree? Twenty years ago. The second-best time? You guessed it, today! Whether taking a break from drinking or getting your financial house in order, there simply is never the perfect time. There will always seem to be something in the way, so let go of perfection and just start now. It’s fine to start small. Just start.
There is freedom in the boundary
Our human brains are funny, aren’t they? We think that the ultimate freedom is having unlimited options, right? But having no plan or too many options is exhausting. Having a budget, knowing where the spending ceiling is, or making one firm decision to not drink tonight or this weekend opens up so much possibility.
When we say no to a drink or expenditure, we’re saying yes to something else
We don’t like “no.” But the firm decision to not drink this weekend enables you to focus on all the things you WILL be able to do….like waking up hangover-free and doing something fun while others are still in bed. And the budget is not telling you what you can’t spend. It’s telling you what you CAN spend.
Feed the brain a better question
Our brains are problem-solving machines and they will work on what we feed them. How do we feel when we are chewing on, “what will I do when I can’t afford this,” “how will I survive with so little?” Not exactly motivational! And that’s important, because our thoughts create our emotions which drive our actions. But what happens when we feed the brain a better question like, “How can I make this weekend alcohol-free feel juicy and alive?” or “What can I do now to be able to enjoy a retirement that feels abundant, or what are five actions I can take to boost my income this year?”
Curiosity is the key
Alcohol and money are both “loaded” topics (double-score for the double-pun!). We create “stories” about our relationship to them and can feel shame or that we did something wrong. The problem is, when we’re stuck in shame, we can’t learn and thus we can’t explore new thoughts. Curiosity on the other hand stimulates dopamine and primes the brain for learning and neuroplasticity. Curiosity makes it easier to focus outside of ourselves and stop making something feel so personal, allowing us to explore new options.
Whether you're rethinking your drinking or your spending, the key isn’t white-knuckling—it’s rewiring. If we can shift how we think about alcohol, we can shift how we think about money. Both journeys start not with shame, but with curiosity and the courage to ask better questions.
If this resonates and you're curious about how coaching can support your own financial or alcohol-related goals, let’s talk.
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Martha Wright is a wine industry veteran turned sobriety and mindful drinking coach. After co-founding a boutique Pinot Noir winery in California and working as a project manager for Food Network chefs, she now helps high-achieving clients change their relationship with alcohol—without deprivation or shame. Through her private practice, Clear Power Coaching, and as a Senior Coach with This Naked Mind, she combines neuroscience, mindset work, and a focus on joy to support clients in creating vibrant alcohol-free lives. Martha splits her time between Paris, Portland, and New Orleans, where she’s often exploring street food markets, non-alcoholic venues, or organizing sober meetups.