I am poor. I am the kind of poor that means buying eggplant just because it’s 99 cents a pound on sale. I am this kind of poor because I just moved to a very exciting big city (hello New York!) and am finagling finances for a bit.
This, too, shall pass, but until it does, my entertainment has to come on the cheap. Frankly, we could all use a bit of budgeting “in this economy,” as older folk like to remind us. So, “in this economy,” I urge you to budget your entertainment in the following ways.
BYOB restaurants are kind of awesome. Even if your town or city only has a handful of these kinds of restaurants, take the time to try them out. Bringing your Two-Buck Chuck wine from Trader Joe’s can make you feel classy– wine with dinner and all– without breaking the bank.
Speaking of wine, go to any gallery opening or art walk in your town. You don’t have to live in a bohemian urban center to explore art. Even if the art is bad by your standards, you usually get some snacks and free wine. Search for local museums in your city that hold free “community” days as well.
Go with friends so that you can joke and say, “How many people are going to paint landscapes of Cape Cod seaside towns before it becomes illegal to do so?” Feel snobby for a brief minute, while eating the last of the gallery’s crackers. If you like the art, it’ll give you and your pals something to think and talk about over your cheap wine and dinner.
Don’t fancy museums or events? Make your own art! Have a spontaneous photoshoot. Grab any old digital camera and you’re good to go (check out some tips and tricks here). Act like a tourist in your own town and explore what sites there are to see. You’d be surprised by what’s in your own backyard.
Window shop. Do not buy anything. Be like Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, staring into the window as she munches on breakfast. I know our culture wants us to buy, buy, buy, but why spend your money before you have taken the time to become deeply inspired? Inspiration can leave us feeling as giddy as a new crush–ergo, head into an antiques store, and look at things you can’t afford.
Imagine how to revamp your apartment/dorm/home bedroom. Go into a boutique and touch the fabrics on dresses or accessories that look pulled straight from the backs of the Olsen twins. Imagine how to create that look on the cheap (hint: thrift store).
Breathe in deep the smell of an expendable income; one day it will happen to you.
Potluck dinners are not just for church socials. If you or a friend has a good pad for a food and party deal, make it happen. It’s not expensive to make one pot of stew, some baked goods, or to just bring some beer. Plus, there are plenty of cheap and easy recipes you can cook up now. Sharing is caring, guys.
In college, I attended an annual vegetarian potluck which quickly became a dancing-off-the-calories party. We’d eat and then dance around to a mix of tunes that probably confused the neighbors (Hanson’s “MMMbop” followed by Dre’s “Forgot About Dre”? Why not?). If the cops come, be polite, turn your music down, and offer them a snack (hint: don’t do anything to warrant the arrival of the po-po in the first place).
Go to free events, even if they seem like something that you would not be interested in–you never know! Go to festivals, art crawls, free film screenings, and free concerts. Search your local community paper for events or go to eventful.com for help. These are the perfect places to make friends with people who can turn you onto what’s new and cheap.
Don’t be afraid to go support a fledgling experimental noise band with a five dollar cover-charge at the bar. You may not like the music, but you may meet amazing folks just like you.
Finally, the most important lesson: be your own best friend.
No matter where you are, how much you spend, how late you stay out, how late you sleep in, you are with the coolest person you know. And that’s worth more than every bar-hopping, fine-dining, concert-going night out you’ve ever had.
Photos by stuartpilbrow, pink sherbert photography, quinn.anya, and liquenne.
What a fun summer article! I love how this ranges from BYOB restaurants to pretending you’re Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. This is creative and fun, and I can totally see myself doing these things this summer. Loves it.