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To keep the stress away, you will need to rest, relax and hang out with friends. But with restaurant food, drinks, and movie tickets getting costlier and costlier each year, almost everyone can’t help but be conscious of their budget. And with the reality of paying off student loans or credit card debt, forget about taking trips and vacations to exotic locations for now.
But have you ever considered that perhaps the most overlooked place to hang out and have fun could be your home? Maybe you’re renting a simple apartment with a roommate, or your first home after college has only a few modest furnishings.
Still, that shouldn’t stop you from providing a comfortable environment where your friends can relax and enjoy themselves. If you’re at a loss for something fun to do, here are five frugal activities:
(1.) Upgrade your parlor games
Newspaper dance? musical chairs? pin the tail on the Donkey? Do those games conjure up images of you and your playmates during your seventh birthday party? Well, it’s time to go through the “upgrade” and come up with creative ways to inject adult-appropriate fun into your party games.
The two most popular “icebreaker-type” games that reveal a lot about individuals are never have I ever___ And Would you rather___ or___? They require very little equipment and can be played by two to four participants.
For never have I ever ___, a pack of 4″ x 6″ unruled index cards, and several felt-tip pens. Ask each participant to receive two cards, and print “Never” on one card and “I HAVE” on the other.
As host, come up with a dozen or more statements, and write them down on a piece of paper. You can make them as interesting or controversial as possible, outrageous or unbelievable, or even downright risky.
And then, read each statement out loud, and if it sounds right to certain players, they should put down their “I HAVE” card. If they have never done this, they must show their “Never” card.
Here are some examples of disclosure statements:
never have I ever ___
… pretended to be sick just to get out of a speeding ticket.
… I saw an R-18 movie when I was a minor.
… embellished your credentials on your resume just to get a job.
…withheld from the first date.
As soon as the last item on your list is read, the game is over. The game is known for causing much laughter, and even mild expressions of surprise, from the players.
Would you rather ___ or ___? It involves choosing between two alternatives, which can be good and better or bad and worse. Examples are:
Do you ___
… stuck on an island with your irritable boss, or your narcissistic ex?
… the tail of a lion or the head of a mouse?
… Give up junk food for a month, or pizza for a year?
…spend $100 at a thrift store, or Michael’s?
As the host, write about a dozen statements with two options on a piece of paper, and read them aloud one by one. It’s a good time to see which friends will choose whom.
(2.) Have a themed movie marathon
You may have friends who are movie enthusiasts, while others may be indifferent to movies and just want to hang out with you and your group. Why not download several movies with a similar theme, and enjoy an enjoyable afternoon with your crew?
Prepare a box of microwavable popcorn, and serve a variety of drinks: cola, lemonade, iced tea, etc. You can also buy big bags of chips or nachos and look for recipes for dips.
Possible topics could be works from acclaimed directors, chick flicks for women, Marvel movies, or some of the best offerings by Disney-Pixar.
(3.) Introduce some card or adult board games
Scrabble, Monopoly, Snakes ‘n’ Ladders, and Pictionary have been popular with children throughout the ages. But for adults who want to stay together, playing some of the latest card or board games can be a great alternative to going out for food and drinks.
Buying a deck of cards or a set of board games can be expensive, but there are now a variety of games that can suit any budget. And according to the website BoardGameGeek[dot]Com, countless games are now marketed to specific regions and interests of the players.
You and your friends don’t have to limit yourself cards against Humanity And the inhabitants of catan, For starters, millennials and today’s young professionals may want to try #socialstarWhile pop music and trivia enthusiasts will be delighted with games like 300 Pop Questions, 70’s Music Trivia, And Game of the 80s.
(4.) Swap it
Some of your friends may want to clear out the clutter, get rid of their old stuff, and may be open to the possibility of getting old stuff that is still in good condition. If you have several bookworms in your group, you can exchange books, magazines, and even paperback editions of comic books or graphic novels.
If they lean toward the sporty side, they might want to trade tennis or squash rackets for a basketball or volleyball, or golf clubs for a pair of resistance bands and dumbbells.
(5.) Make it an art-centered activity
For this activity you may have to ask your friends to borrow some money to increase your budget for art materials. Buy several sets of artist-grade acrylics or watercolors (get only a basic set of 12 colors to keep costs down), acrylic canvas, or a few packs of watercolor paper.
Beforehand, watch painting tutorials on YouTube. Don’t worry too much about making something look great, but make sure everyone puts in a little effort. When everyone is done with their masterpieces, pull out your smartphone and take pictures.
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