The holiday budget doesn’t leave much wiggle room. There are gifts to buy, then fancy paper to wrap them, and that’s all before you purchase the ingredients for a dazzling buche de noel.

Still, strained pocketbook or not, December is no time to be a holiday hermit. Skip Starbucks for a few days and rack up enough funds to chill out at these hot new Austin happy hours.

40 North
Seven is the magic number at this tiny pizzeria located near Clarksville and downtown. Seven days a week between 3-6 pm, the eatery offers a variety of $7 specials like a classic margherita pizza and a fired chicken sandwich with red cabbage slaw, buttermilk dressing, Fresno chilis, and house pickles. Enjoy either with a $2 Coors Banquet beer or a glass or bottle of bubbles for half off.

Cookbook Bar & Cafe
How’s this for a first edition? On December 12, this sunny cafe in the Austin Central Library launched a brand-new weekday happy hour between 4-7 pm. The smart specials include $3 local canned brews, $4 house wine, $5 Tito’s vodka cocktails, and $4 snacks that come with a complimentary fried chickpeas. The eatery also announced a new Friday residency with musician Aubrey Hayes starting at 5 pm — one more reason to check out this new spot.

Dean’s One Trick Pony
This new Line Austin restaurant is a tribute to the property’s history as a hotspot during the ‘60s, so it’s only fitting that the happy hour would offer some retro prices. On Monday-Friday from 4-6 pm, enjoy an early bird special of $4 veggie pitas and pimento press sandwiches. Linger between 5-6 pm on Sunday through Friday, and happy hour proper starts with discounted drinks and a curated selection of $5 snacks.

Old Thousand
Deja vu! This East Austin Chinese joint is owned by the same group as 40 North and also offers a happy hour menu chock full of $7 deals. Each weekday from 5-6:30 pm, the price applies to dishes like kung pao shisito peppers, trout rangoons with pineapple sweet chili, and dan dan noodles; a Gruner Vetliner and a Californian red blend wine; and three cocktails including the popular Bad Hombre with Aperol and mezcal. Bubbles are, you guessed it, half off.

Stella Public House
The happy hour at this Mueller hangout isn’t hot off the press, but the food menu changes so frequently that there’s always something new to try. Monday through Friday from 4-6 pm, bargains include $2 off select draft beers, $5 draft wines, $ 2 off beer flights, and $ 2 off small plates like seasonal specials brie risotto, warmed beets and goat cheese, and sweet potato gnocchi in a creamy pancetta sauce.