I thought I'd take Bro. Dave's input from the "Favorite Liquors" thread and start a Teetotalers thread.

I am a teetotaler, I have never consumed so much as a drop of alcohol in my life. Living in a dry county for most of my life, and in the middle of the Bible belt, alcohol was not that prevalent, at least out in the open. I have no family members who consume alcohol and even drinking a beer is rare among the circle of family and friends I interact with, so it's just not a thing.

I am a ice tea drinker, though. I can drink it sweet or unsweet, but most folks make sweet tea. There is an art to really good sweet tea and not everyone in the south masters it. My wife has the touch, her mother never did get it. A tall glass of sweet tea after a hard day is soothing.

My drinking vice is Mountain Dew. Not diet or any of those Yankee influenced fruit flavored Dew's, but regular sugar and caffeine infused ice cold Mountain Dew. I try to limit my consumption to one a week.

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Live long and prosper

Another teetotaler here. My two favorites are milk in the cold weather, iced tea in the summer...sweet tea with a big wedge of lemon. My mother was a South Carolina farm girl, so i grew up on sweet tea. But now that i make gallons of maple syrup every year, I use that to sweeten the tea instead of cane sugar.

Been one all my life-I think any taste for alcohol was bred out of me. One bit of family lore I got from my mother, she said her maternal grandmother told her she and her siblings childhoods were ruined by their mother's drinking, her family embraced Christian Science which is a temperance church. Wasn't exposed to it in my youth, got to be of legal age, found out I didn't like it anyway. Had my first and last taste of beer in the Army-YUKKK!!! The only time I taste alcohol today is if I am a church with Open Communion. The wine is always diluted with water and I take it by intiction. Dr. Pepper, cream soda, root beer my preferred sodas, as a bicyclist I drink lots of water. In the cooler weather I am a tea drinker.

Had to quit drinking over 10 yrs ago, and miss whiskey night (thursday). Will admit to using red wine for cooking, and make some plus p Irish creme for x-mas holidays. Beck's makes a really good fake beer, and Labat's makes a decent one.

Really don't go to bars, and drink alot of water, ice tea and lemonade. Special treat is black cherry or birch beer soda pop.

They now have a Dr. Pepper with Cream Soda. I like it, but don't do too many soft drinks, only occasional alcohol. I have a small pot of tea for breakfast. My favorite teas are Cinnamon Stick and Vanilla Carmel, both sweetened with honey instead of sugar.

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protocalldesign.com

Not a teetotaler, but I was an iced tea-aholic for about 30 years. Sweet or unsweet. I gave it up because I was tired of having to pee all the time. I do drink hot tea, but sweeten it with honey since it’s not a diuretic like sugar, and one cup doesn’t fill my bladder.

My main teas are cinnamon mixed with chai, and Earl Grey. Relaxing and seems to lower my blood pressure.

Absolutely love sweet tea. I’m a bourbon drinker through and through and like beer as well. Especially with a burger……… but I’d give up alcohol before I give up COFFEE !!!!!!! Hot strong and black.

Early in life I didn't drink alcohol due mainly to never being around folks who did. When I became independent enough of the "nuclear family" to see the deleterious effects of excessive alcohol consumption, it became my personal decision to abstain.

I have known a VERY few folks who could have a beer or mixed drink from time to time and retain control of their own behavior. My suspicion is that most of the folks here who have mentioned their favorite libation would number among them. My personal experience with certain extended family members is that some of us are, perhaps genetically, unable to recognize the difference between alcohol as an adjunct to the festivities and as the focus of the festivites.

My personal affinity for coffee, my accumulation of firearms, my excessive intake of food, and a few other best undisclosed quirks, leads me to believe that I don't need alcohol in my life. As the famous saying goes, "your mileage may vary." Personally, self discipline is not one of my outstanding qualities.

About the time I finish my coffee in the morning I start drinking de-caffeinated iced tea brewed with Peppermint tea. I keep thinking I need to drink more water, but keep reaching for the tea glass.

My son-in-law told me that alcohol is an acquired taste. My response to that was, “I liked chocolate the first time I tasted it!”. If I have to work at liking it, no thanks. As others have stated, a tall glass of iced tea after a hot day hits the spot. Or a cup of hot tea or coffee to begin the day works. No issue with those who choose to drink responsibly. But as a former LEO, I have seen the negative impact alcohol can have.

When I was about eight or nine years old, my grandmother told me that she never tasted alcohol. The reason? She said, "I was afraid I might like it." I never forgot that.

With me, after two 7ups I'm dancin' on the tables and rippin' my clothes off.

About the strongest stuff I drink nowadays is Barq's root beer.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

When I was too young to drink I did...to excess... till I went to work in the FD. Quit! Not really a teetotaler...I had 1/2 a beer for lunch 3 or 4 yrs ago. Used to drink sweet tea. Had to quit it as it gave me acid reflux which turned into Barrat's and worse. I also use Mountain Dew and Pepsi. But in the last few years I have been drinking Lemonade and of course water. I am allergic to all sugar substitutes. So I use the lemonade with sugar. I also prefer the Mountain Dew with real sugar...when it can be found

Sweet Tea story first: Living in the Mid-West all my life we have a number of soft drinks. My kids had regular access to these, including the "Yankee" variety of Iced Tea.

When my second son was in the Marines, he was stationed at Quantico Va. His roommate was from Richmond, Va. and they often went there for weekends. The roommate's mom was a true master (or is it mistress?) of Sweet Tea. And said son soon developed a "Sweet Tea Monkey on his back!" to the tune of his Class A's were a green skin! He has been in Civilian life and living in Central Ohio since 2003, but has to be careful anytime he ventures into a real Southern BBQ establishment. If he drinks too much Sweet Tea, he starts talking Southern, with the You all's and the occasional Youen's!

Teetotaling: I do occasionally have some beer, mead, or wine with dinner, but I do go years or have easily gone decades between hard drinks! I limit myself to 2 beers for an evening, ONE if I'm driving! (Usually a six-pack lasts me months!) Having self control is extremely important to me. I will be no man's slave, and I'll not be controlled by drugs or alcohol!

In his grief my grandfather damaged his body with alcohol to the point, that they told him in the late 1930's, "If you stop drinking today, you'll live six months!" He stopped that day, and lived another 20 years! The cost was, terrible pain everyday for the rest of his life. The benefit was, He got to see both his sons grow up, marry, and have a total of 3 grandsons! He considered it a bargain! He's looking down on us now and sees his 9 GGandkids and almost 20 GGGrandkids!

Ivan

Hard liquor, including all wine, causes a gag reaction with me, so no hard stuff at all. For several years I was a beer drinker, to the point of being a beeroholic, but never to the point of being drunk. I stopped about ten years ago, for no real reason, and now get my high from water and soft drinks. I miss the cold beer around the hunting camp campfire, not that much. Also lost thirty lbs as a result.

No alcoholic beverages for me. Coffee and water are my main drinks.

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"In God We Trust"

Not a teetotaler, I enjoy wine too much. The key for me is to find wine that enhances my meals, but I confess I enjoy wine while cooking. Wine is liquid flavor and that is my joy.

I truly understand those abstaining, being in law enforcement and emergency medicine I also have seen how devastating the end result of alcohol abuse can be.

I mostly drink water and Gatorade Zero.

To those abstaining I salute you, may your journey be blessed.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Probably drink an average of one alcoholic drink per year, but use at least a dozen bottles of sherry and marsala a year for seasoning food before cooking it.


Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

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Slava Ukraini!

Drinking became a problem 40 years ago, so I quit. Diet Coke or water (carbonated and non-carbonated) are my choices of liquid now. I never did care for coffee or tea, though oddly enough I love the smell of fresh coffee and always had the pots ready in the office before the secretaries arrived. I think it was the only reason they were sorry to see me retire!

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

When I worked for the Trailblazers I was an assistant manager at their retail store. I would come in early and open the store. I would make a pot of coffee. Just plain coffee. Then I would turn off the burner and reheat in the microwave if necessary. After a couple of hours the sales staff would arrive and promptly pour my coffee down the drain to make a pot of Irish cream flavored coffee. Then they would leave the burner on. The back room just reeked of it. I would wait until they had gotten their coffee and went to work. Then I would dump it out so I wouldn't have to smell it while I worked. We'd go back and forth all day.

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The best I can with what I got

I keep a bottle of bourbon on hand for making pecan pies, but I do not drink it. I can't say I've never tried, but nothing I've ever tried tasted halfway palatable to me.

I have been drunk once and only once in my life. On our first anniversary my wife decided we needed to split a bottle of champagne, and she wouldn't take no for an answer. It tasted vile, but I forced down my half (and perhaps a bit more). Not sure which tasted worse; the champagne or the year old wedding cake in the freezer. Haven't had more than a sip of anything since.

My drink of choice is Diet Coke. Other things I will drink include unsweetened tea with no added flavorings and water. That's pretty much the extent of my liquid intake. My wife tells me I should drink more water and less Diet Coke. I tell her it's 99% plus water (and it is).

I'm told true Texans should only drink sweet tea and Dr Pepper. I was born here, and I'll probably die here, but I can't abide either of those vile concoctions.

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Or something like that . . .

Same here, I love the smell of coffee but hate the taste and won't drink it.


Next to Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper is my preferred soft drink. I don't think I've had a Coca-Cola or Pepsi Cola in 30 years.

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Live long and prosper

Not a teatotaler, but more often than not I avoided alcohol on most occasions until I was married.
Now, I home brew.
Pizza and beer are part of us going back to our first date.
Both have only evolved since.
The pizza spans multiple variations of hand crafted goodness. The beer has evolved into a seasonal rotation of mostly European styles.

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it just needs more voltage

When younger, my grandfather had a home bar in his basement and would make us shirley temples so we fit in with the grown ups. After awhile he would put a little whiskey in them to settle me down for the ride home. If memory serves, was about 10 yrs old the time. Later in life was not drinking because it tasted good, and was not "a little wild".

For the last 12 years I have been alcohol free, the day the doc said I
was type 2 diabetic. Now before that I had indulged in beer, wine, bonded whiskey and some not bonded. Mostly beer in the warm months and Seagram's Crown Royal or V.O. in the winter. The doctor told me that he knew I drank, but with diabetes I should not, is that going to be a
problem? I said no problem. I was stocked up at the time on wine,
hard stuff and two 30 packs of beer in the back frig. The wife preferred
Jose's cactus juice so we also had a good supply of that. Took about 6
months to get rid of the beer to friends who visited. Wife stopped 7 years
ago when our youngest daughter moved back home with her 3 month
old baby girl.
You could put all the soda pop I have had since I was 15 in one case. I
can't stand sweet drinks. So that rules out sweet tea, makes me want
to up chuck.
So water, nonsweet tea and black coffee are my beverages.
Oh yeah, I am here to testify that alcohol does help white people dance.

Tea totaler now. Some years ago I liked the hard stuff too much and decided to quit. I come from a long line of alcoholics. Tea with artificial sweeteners for me.

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Support Israel!

I grew up.

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Sure you did

Thanks to the grace of God and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous I have been a tea totaler since August 15, 1988. Today I drink far too much diet Pepsi.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I used to have to entertain customers quite a bit, so I was obliged to have a drink with dinner. But even during that time, I almost never had any alcohol away from the job. Since retiring 10 years ago, I'll have an occasional beer (maybe 6-10 per year) or perhaps a margarita at a Mexican restaurant.

I mostly drink water or clear soft drinks (Sprite, ginger ale, Mtn. Dew, etc). I love Coke, black cherry cola, and Cheerwine, but since having the last few kidney stones, my doctor advised me not to drink tea or any dark-colored soft drinks. I have to admit, I do miss a good glass of sweet tea.

Long story short, I'm an alcoholic. I haven't had a drop of alcohol since Dec 14, 1982. There's a glitch in my brain, I can't imagine why someone would consume alcohol unless they had the specific intent to get hammered. I have never taken a drink in my life without getting absolutely puking on my shoes drunk. As long as I think like that I'm probably better off staying away from it

All that said, I drink about a gallon of water every day. I usually drink a cup of tea in the morning and glass of Kool-Aid with dinner. Once or twice a month I drink a Vernor's Ginger Soda

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Retired Career Security Guard

Vernor's came from a Detroit pharmacist a l-o-n-g time ago and I had no idea it was available as far away as Colorado. It's different from other ginger ale's and has a cult like following. Another local beverage is Squirt, a lemon-lime product that I occasionally enjoy. Years back, I was in Charlotte, NC for wire EDM training and a couple of guys decided to go out for drinks after class. Since I wasn't drinking, when the waitress asked what I'd like, I said I'd have a Squirt. She asked "A squirt of what?" I had no idea it wasn't available or known about in that part of the country. I ended up with a Mellow Yellow instead.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I just can't understand why people will drink alcoholic beverages when they taste so awful. I thought the drink which was being consumed should taste good , not be something which burns and gags all the way down. Milk, Dr. Pepper and ice tea are my beverages of choice.

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Bill

My dad (born in 1910) had of cirrhosis of the liver,,, died at age 52.
I was 12 years old when he passed, and the last of 4 children.

My dad had a core group of close friends, about 10-12 REAL close friends.
The ENTIRE group was BIG-TIME drinkers,
a group of4 to 6 of them would get together on Saturday afternoon and play cards (poker).
In 2 hours, they would each drink a quart (YES, it came in quarts, back then) of some sort of whiskey.

Anyways, before I was 17 years old, a total of six of those guys had died of cirrhosis of the liver.

Only one of the 12 made it to age 80,,, they all died of some alcohol related problem,, (diabetes,, etc,,)

I also got to watch what alcohol did to my brother (14 years older than me).

He lost his drivers license,, I was about 20 at the time.
That was a major impact on me. Nothing, especially alcohol was worth loosing my ability to drive.

So, I did drink a little when I was in the US Navy,, (no car at the time),,
luckily, the Navy did not pay us enough to do much drinking.

I got married at age 26, and my wife and I both felt we had other "NEEDS" for our money besides alcohol.

So, in 46 years, I may have consumed 20 cans of beer, most before age 40.

I am not afraid of alcohol, I feel that my youth educated me as to what alcohol can do to your body.
Also, I am more a person that would prefer to buy other things.
Luckily, my wife feels the same way.

Other than alcohol, there are MANY foods and drinks that I feel the same way about.

Cabbage,, WHO would eat that stuff?
MAYO,, WHY was it EVER invented?? (I want to taste my burger, NOT that white stuff)
SHRIMP,, NOT for me, at ALL.
and
WHO was the first person to eat a lobster?? It looks like a bug,,

People call me a picky eater,, but, the same is true about alcohol,,

Some people like the taste of alcohol.

I didn’t drink enough to float a battleship but probably a medium sized destroyer. When I fell into our fire pit, I decided that I better stop this practice before I really hurt myself, or someone else. Haven’t had a drop since then, 7 years ago. Don’t miss it a bit.

Been a Teetotaler for about 15 years. Was only a beer drinker and had never acquired a taste for alcohol. Stopped because if I'd drink a beer I'd have another or three and maybe four plus consume a bag of pretzels. The way my mind works I needed to stop altogether. Kinda like quitting smoking cold turkey 30 years before.

Diet soda is my poison of choice now. In the fridge right now: Coke Zero, Dr. Pepper Zero, Pennsylvania Dutch Diet Birch Beer and A-Treat Diet Orange.

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Life Member SAF, CCRKBA, FOAC

The date is a little different but my story is the same, August 8, 1974. And today I drink far too much Coke Zero.

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NRA Range Safety Officer

My date is May 16, 1998 and I don’t miss it one bit.
I drink lots of black coffee, unsweetened iced tea, and milk.

I was raised in a tee-total home with a drunken grandfather as a bad example. Started the occasional beer as a young cop. Never could stand wine and didn't see the point of the hard stuff unless you were trying to get blotto, which I wasn't. Then during the autopsy of an alcoholic (who, ironically, had been beaten to death with a whisky bottle) the ME held up the deceased's cyrhotic liver, the ugliest most foul smelling thing I ever saw exit a human being. "The liver regenerates, the brain doesn't" he said solemnly. I'll admit to a beer with pizza or around a fire from once a year to once every few years, but black coffee or ice water for me.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

It’s like MK said. Different strokes for different folks. I love the taste of a fine bourbon. I rarely have more than 2. Even during a 4 hr event (football party for ex). I drink it because I like it. Not to get drunk. Same with cigars. I’ve cut back to maybe 10 a yr but I still love them. Some people gag just thinking about them. My wife put it best when she asked how I can eat a squirrel but not even try calamari.

Not a teetotaler, but not much of a drinker NOW!

My drinking today and for about the last 20 or so years is under 10 drinks a year, many years under five a year. Events like birthdays, anniversary's stuff like that I might have one. As a diabetic and on many meds I stay away from things like that.

Now for full disclosure when younger I drank plenty. Drinking age in my state then was 18 and as a big older looking kid I had no problem getting served at 16 or buying bottles at a liquor store or cases of beer at supermarkets. Had a few close calls but DWI was not that big of a thing back then and most times the LEOs if all was peaceful (no tickets issued) would follow you home or have you park it and get home by taxi, call a friend or walking ETC.

Truthfully at this point in time I realy do not miss it. Go to a restaurant today and most times I get a diet soda, on the rocks of course!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Unfortunately honey is a significant diuretic.

I grew up around a bunch of social drinkers. So it was pretty normal to consume alcohol. I started drinking at age 14. By 17 I had found a couple of bars that weren't too picky. By my early 20s, I was a out right drunk. I'm surprised I managed to survive it. I did some really stupid things.
It was the realities of fatherhood that finally made me see the light. Been sober now for 40+ years and have never regretted it one bit.

Never was a big coffee drinker. One, maybe two cups in the morning. But I grew up on sweet tea and drank the stuff by the gallons. But after a heart attack in 2000, doc said I had to cut down on the caffeine. So the coffee and tea had to go.

Now days all I drink are Dr. Pepper, water and an occasional A&W Root beer to add a little variety. I try to limit myself to no more than two soft drinks per day.

My number of drinks before 21 could be counted one hand. Peaked out in the 22-23 age range (way too much). Met wife at 24 and started tapering down. Married at 26 and first kid at 30. Continued tapering down. Now at 46, average maybe one drink per month, usually a margarita or a wheat beer. The amount of $$$ I see people, many of whom can't afford it, blow on alcohol is rather amazing.

I've hesitated to post in this one due to my strong feelings about the subject, but here goes.

I've been a teetotaler since I was very young, and a near tee totaler at that time also. I have some background which has made it easy to be one.

First, one of my great grandfathers was a drunkard, who terribly mistreated his large family, especially my grandfather, largely because of his chronic drunkenness. My grandfather hated him so much that he didn't attend his funeral. Every account I've ever heard about the man indicated that he was an evil beast, especially so when he had been drinking. I won't go into detail.

Second, I'm a pastor, and ministered to felons at an area rehab facility for 20 years. Most of the men were in the facility from illegal drug use, but a number also from alcohol abuse & crimes resulting from it. I listened to their stories. Every one of them incurred huge losses due to their drinking, especially job & family-related losses.

Third, I live in an ethnically German-dominated county whose chief claim to fame(or rather infamy) is it's heavy, pervasive use of alcohol. I'm probably around 80% German, so I fit right in in that respect, but I have no use for the drinking. I've observed the behavioral results of it, and you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to detect them. There's a restaurant in the county seat which has a banquet room in back reserved by various groups, and the entrance is right next to the soup and salad bar. I like their chili and so I get to hear what is going on in there when I dish some up for myself. I don't even have to look to know they've been drinking; I hear them cackling and guffawing over things that sober folks would never find humorous, and their loud, brash speech, and what have you. For some reason I don't fully understand, apparently a lot of folks can't enjoy themselves and each other without consuming the stuff.

What upsets me about the above is that I have to share the roadways with these people. And in this county you can bet they don't often have designated drivers. It's not uncommon here to encounter cars on the road having special license plates painted yellow with red lettering. This is a special plate issued by the state to those whose driving privileges have been restricted after a DUI suspension. Were it up to me, those privileges wouldn't be restricted, but eliminated.

I understand that there are a lot of people, including a number here, who are able to use the stuff in moderation and not have it get them in trouble. But I will never understand the appeal of it.

That's enough.

Regards,
Andy

After my dad died of cancer when I was 14, my mom became a constant drinker and alcoholic.

Got my "wake up call" about alcohol consumption while I was in college. Thank the Lord.....haven't been a drinker since. (the past 50+ years)

I assure you, I have many other vices tho: raw honey, Hoppe's #9, number drills (jobber length), high quality gunsmithing hand tools, and an always growing collection of Smith & Wesson internal parts.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

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Sure you did

Nancy Astor, Churchill's sometimes opponent, was a Christian Scientist. When asked why she didn't drink, she replied:
"I like to know when I'm having a good time."
One time working as a limo driver, I was directed to an NJ State Police sobriety check point. I had several "well lubricated" passengers. I told the trooper, "Nothing for me thanks, I'm driving. See what the boys in the
back room will have." He laughed, made sure I was wearing my seatbelt, waved me on. Several times in the Army I earned good money as the Dedicated Driver.

I have NEVER done the above....I don't use straws...well not when I drank beer.I was at a hillbilly bar when they had a couple of big names playing. I did some lead in music with some other young fellers. After getting off the stage leading into the 2nd half of the night I was sitting at a table getting ready to enjoy an adult beverage(even if I wasn't one) Conway Twitty came walking by and said...what are you drinking? Being you could only get beer in the establishment I took my own Crown Royal and got free cokes. I told him and he sat down took my drink ...gone. Before he went back on the stage he drank a lot of that whiskey...and he went up and sang. Good lord...if I drank that much I probably couldn't even talk...much less sing. I think some of those CW crooners went through a lot of alcohol. But they didn't have to drive...they came in a bus

I was introduced to Vernor's in the late 70's in North Hollywood.

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Retired Career Security Guard

To get drunk.

These don't go together

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Retired Career Security Guard

My Mom used to make Vernor's floats - one or two scoops of vanilla ice cream in a glass with Vernor's added.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!