Back In The Day

Tip Of The Day: How to have a good time, without spending a fortune. Take a cue from the past (yours, mine, total strangers) and whoop it up like they did long ago. In other words, party down with your posse for pennies. Yup. Alliteration is awesome.

Tip For Tomorrow: Let’s all give thanks for thankful things. Like fattening foods, fun family and friends, Black Friday, and fabulous free time. Okay, I promise I’ll stop with the alliterating now. No really, I mean it.

Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal: The holiday season has arrived, whether you were prepared for it or not, and with it comes the violent urge to A. Spend a ton of money, B. Fret about the money you’re spending, and C. Party. I say ignore A and B and head straight for C. And C doesn’t have to trigger A or B, if you do D. Plan “cheap fun” parties. I hope you followed all that; there’s a quiz at the end.

So just how do you have a cheap and fun party? I know this may shock you, but everyone, at some point in their lives, threw an inexpensive party. That includes you, bucky. The problem is, we’ve all forgotten how. The late 90’s and early 2000’s were such a bonanza of real or imaginary wealth, lots of folks got in the habit of throwing over-the-top shindigs.

Well, the tide has turned, and it’s pulled all our discretionary wealth out to sea. (Wait, let’s all pause for a moment and marvel at my metaphor. Hey, at least it’s not alliteration.) So now it’s time to reign in our rampant spending, and remember how to get down for less dough.

Tips For Entertaining On A Budget, AKA Party Like It’s October 29th, 1929 (Points if you know the significance of that date):

1. Ask for donations. Most of us already do the potluck dinner party thing – ask friends to pitch in on the food. But what about other party favors? Why not see if your guests have games or other amusements they’d like to bring along?
For example, I’m astounded (and mildly horrified) by the number of fellow Richfield High grads who own Karaoke machines. There’s always one available to borrow for one of our soirees.
I’ve also borrowed extra chairs, card tables, linens and other party accoutrement from my guests. Just make sure to pick them up before the party, and return them in their original condition.
You can also ask guests to bring their favorite board games, DVD games, video games (Oooo! Guitar Hero!), Wii – the options for free fun are endless.

2. Go lowbrow with the food. My buddy, El Jefe, LOVES to cook elaborate, gourmet meals for his legendary dinner parties. The rest of us, though, make due with party food a bit more pedestrian, but every bit as fattening and tasty.
Some of our favorite eats are: Tator Tots with cheese sauce, BBQ meatballs in the crockpot, Take-n-Bake pizza from Papa Murphy’s (cheapest and tastiest deals around), Pork fried rice, potato skins, and chicken nuggets.
If the spirit moves you to make something from scratch, why not do a traditional family favorite? Howsabout homemade mac and cheese, meatloaf, pot roast, or a hotdish (casseroles for those of you outside of MN)? I would attend a party for George W. if it included some of Lou’s Mom’s Ham and Asparagus Bake.
Remember, the point of a party is the fellowship of friends, not the food. Okay, the food is important, but most people will eat anything as long as someone else is preparing it for them.

3. Remember your youth. What kind of parties did you throw in high school or college? If you’re like my friends, high school parties revolved around watching a movie, dancing like idiots, and trying to make out with our boyfriends. In college, it was all kegs/Jello shots/loud music, all the time.
None of these party styles take a ton of money, and both can be updated to suit grownup tastes. For example, some of the Wench Posse got together last week to have dinner and screen Tropic Thunder. The whole night of fun cost less than a dinner out.
Another favorite Posse activity is to gather for margaritas and dance music. We crank up the ITunes and the blender and boogey around Larue’s spacious living room. Cheaper than going to a club, and no kids around to mock our moves.

Now it’s time to share with the group – what are some of your cheap party tips?