parties

8 Creative Ways to Make Money on Super Bowl Sunday

Mikey Rox — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 16:01:11 +0000

I don't watch football, I don't like football — heck, I don't even know how to play football. And I won't apologize for it. So what will I do when the Big Game takes over the first Sunday of February? The best thing I know how — make money!

Join me in exploring these options for lining my pockets with cash this Super Bowl Sunday. You can be all counterculture, too.

1. Provide a Party Setup Service

While most people plan their own Super Bowl parties, there are some folks out there who'd rather hand over the reins to someone else. I know when I host parties, I'm beat by the time the festivities begin after cleaning and cooking all day. If you've got the skills to set up a memorable get together, advertise those skills locally on social media, the Nextdoor app, or Craigslist. Keep your rates affordable ($20 an hour or less; it's not like you're discovering a cancer vaccine) and factor in the cost of goods if the host doesn't already have things to decorate and set up.

2. Drive for Lyft or Uber

I've been driving for Uber and Lyft sporadically for about six months, but I always make sure to get on the road during holidays and big events. You might not realize it, but days like Black Friday and Super Bowl Sunday are great opportunities to make more cash than usual because more people are out and about. And since Super Bowl Sunday goes hand-in-hand with drinking too much beer, you can expect that many revelers will need rides to and from their destinations that evening.

3. Tap Into Influencer Marketing Programs

In addition to blogging about personal finance, I also run a media company wherein I provide PR services to some of my clients. Recently, this has included hiring social media influencers, mainly on Instagram, to wear my clients' products and post about them. The influencers get paid for their posts, and the brand reaches targeted demographics who may have never heard of their products before. For the Super Bowl, these kinds of opportunities exist as well (but not through me; please don't contact me). Kamiu Lee, vice president of business development and strategy at Bloglovin', a leading lifestyle and social discovery platform, explains.

"If you have a successful blog or a strong social media following, the Super Bowl is a perfect time to get involved with influencer marketing," she says. "Brands that don't have that multimillion dollar ad budget still want to be a part of the biggest advertising event of the year, and in order to do so, they're looking to work with influencers who will help them reach their niche target audiences."

Of course, you should have a decent-sized following of at least several thousand to be considered for these kinds of marketing programs.

4. Become a Freelance Delivery Person for a Day

It should come as no surprise that Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest pizza delivery days of the year, along with Halloween, the day before Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. While you won't get any work delivering pies for the likes of the big guys, there are still opportunities available — especially if you live in cities where third-party delivery services, like DoorDash, are popular.

According to a DoorDash representative, Super Bowl Sunday is one of the busier days for delivery on the app.

"With orders for buffalo wings increasing by 500% and pizza deliveries by 300%, likely due to all the parties happening at people's homes, anyone can make several deliveries via DoorDash and still be home in time to catch the game," the company says.

5. Offer Child and Pet Sitting Services

There are several ways to get in on the lucrative baby and pet sitting game.

If you prefer child care, sites like UrbanSitter, Care.com, and Sittercity can help connect you with parents who'd like to be child-free while they whoop it up for their favorite team. Services like DogVacay and Rover.com, on the other hand, will match you with pet owners who need a helping hand during the game. Personally, I enjoy participating in the latter — I watch dogs from DogVacay frequently — and there's really nothing better than getting paid to play with puppies. Completely relaxing and satisfying.

6. Sell Your Winning Team Memorabilia After the Game

Have special or signed memorabilia from members of the winning team lying around the house? Maximize your earnings by timing the sale of these items for the team's big win. List the memorabilia on eBay and see what you get. If it's a particularly amazing game, you might make out better than you anticipated.

7. Advertise Small-Scale Catering

Like party planning, many party hosts don't want to deal with cooking all the gameday junk food if they don't have to. One alternative is to order everything in, which can get pricey — and the quality isn't always top-notch considering that takeout joints are pushing food out the door at warp speed that day.

Another alternative, however, is to order food from a small-scale caterer — and that's where you come in. If you've got skills in the kitchen, offer to prepare a spread for a friend, coworker, or family member's party. Create a menu, prepare the food, deliver and set it up, and take care of cleanup afterward. This scenario lets you enjoy the game (at least a little bit) while making money doing something you love. Again, keep your rates reasonable and research the cost of all ingredients and materials (aluminum trays, etc.) before providing a quote; the idea is to make money, not spend money you don't even have.

8. Clean Homes Before or After the Festivities

Since Super Bowl Sunday is not a national holiday — despite what many people might think — somebody's got to do that evening's or the next day's dirty work. If your schedule accommodates cleaning up after a Super Bowl party, post an ad on Craigslist or Nextdoor offering your services. If you live in a particularly festive area, you're likely to get a bite or two if you keep your prices affordable — say, no more than $20 an hour.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Be the Host With the Most and Spend the Least

Mikey Rox — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 09:30:23 +0000

Are you the designated party planner and all-the-time host in your group of family and friends? Perhaps you just have the gift of hospitality, or maybe everybody just enjoys being in your home. Whatever the reason you find yourself inviting folks over on a regular basis, you can be the host with the most while staying on budget. Here are a few ways to cut back so you can kick back and have a great time.

1. Plan a Seasonal Menu Using What's on Sale

Every get-together must have food — because that's really what people are coming over for — and you'll do your wallet a favor by planning a seasonal menu based on what's on sale at the supermarket. Once you identify your cost-savings ingredients, enter them into a recipe-by-ingredient search engine to find easy-to-make dishes using what you have on hand.

2. Skip Traditional Invitations in Favor of Evites

I haven't sent out formal invitations in years. Even my wedding invitations were evites. And you'll save a bundle by inviting your guests via Evite or Facebook. The benefit of using these services is threefold: You'll save on materials and postage (a real budget killer), the RSVP process is just one click, and you can add descriptive details that paper invitations prohibit due to lack of space. The money you'll save is better spent elsewhere, like on desserts or adult drinks — the two things everybody enjoys the most at a party.

3. Host the Party Outside of Your Home for Easier Cleanup

The biggest downside to hosting a party is the cleanup. Dirty dishes all over the place, plus overflowing trash from all the throwaway plates and utensils can really put a damper on an otherwise special day. You'll save yourself a lot of after-party hassle by planning an event outside of your home — like in a park or public pavilion — so at the end of the event, you can just gather everything in the disposable tablecloth, throw it in the trash, and get on with your day.

4. Plan the Party for a Time of Day That Requires Less Food and Alcohol

It's basic logic — plan a party at nighttime and you'll have to buy much more food than you would at, say, lunchtime, or during a time where people are between meals. For instance, you can get away with crudite and fruit trays, a cheese plate, crackers, and a dessert at a party from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., but you'll need more substantial options, like meatballs, wings, and sandwiches (which are expensive, by the way!) for a party hosted anytime from 5 p.m. on. Plan wisely to catch people full from a regular meal to save.

5. Turn Your Event Into a Potluck

Reduce all those hours in the kitchen preparing food for your guests by turning your party into a potluck. Great guests always want to bring the host a gift anyway, so this helps alleviate that pressure. To pull this off without a whole lot of stress, create a list of dishes and allow your guests to claim which one they'll make. This allows people to choose their specialties, or if they have none, the choice to buy a decent store-bought version.

6. Get More Mileage Out of Your Alcohol With Club Soda

Unless all your friends are sober, they'll expect some sort of alcohol at your gathering. It's helps people relax, too, so the party will be livelier when you serve booze. To make your alcohol go the extra mile, prepare a signature cocktail in a pitcher beforehand so you can monitor how much alcohol is going in. You also can take money-saving blogger Karen Hoxmeier's advice by serving wine spritzer with one cup of wine, a half cup of club soda, Sprite, or 7-Up.

7. Make Your Event BYOB

Another way to cut back on the cost of the alcohol you're supplying is to make the shindig BYOB. So you don't come off as being a cheapskate, apply some logic to this decision.

Drizly.com's chief cocktail officer Trisha Antonsen advises to share the menu in advance and ask people to bring a wine or beer pairing of their choice. "Alcohol can be one of the most expensive aspects of the meal," she says. "Asking people to find a pairing saves you money on the host end."

L.A.-based event planner Jenn Infanto adds, "When hosting a themed event, like Oktoberfest, I love to have my guests BYOBeer from local breweries to create a 'bottle share.'"

Additionally, this is a great way to get people involved in the party and create conversations once they've arrived. Plus, everyone will have something to drink that they like while sharing their favorites with others.

8. Stay on Top of Climate Control

It's important to make sure most guests are comfortable, temperature-wise, during your event. While you can't please everybody — somebody is always too hot or too cold no matter how temperate the room is — you can do a few things to ensure an even temperature throughout the party by opening windows, turning off heat-making appliances like the oven, or adjusting the thermostat as you go along. Or, if you're tech savvy, install a self-adjusting thermostat such as the Lyric WiFi Thermostat from Honeywell. It uses geofencing technology to adjust your heating and cooling system to the ideal temperature when you're home, turning off when you're gone, and powering back up when it senses you're coming back.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: How Do You Host Budget-Friendly Parties?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:00:08 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Lisa, Gina, and Matt for winning this week's contest!

Spring and summer are popular times for partying, especially the outdoor kind! But parties can be a lot of work if you're hosting. Food and drinks, supplies, decorations and entertainment -- you'll need to take care of all these things (or delegate the work to someone else and make sure they take care of it). It can also cost you a pretty penny if you need to buy things for your party.

How do you host budget-friendly parties? What aspects of a party do you usually make yourself (food? decorations?) and what do you usually end up buying from a store? Do you ask your guests to contribute in any way?

Tell us how you host budget-friendly parties and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

For Extra Entries:

You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, May 2nd at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after May 2nd on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Tell us how you host budget-friendly parties and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Cheap and Delicious Punch Recipes for Holiday Parties

Amanda Meadows — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 17:12:04 +0000

It's almost time to get started on the holiday festivities! Not only are these delicious drinks crowd-pleasers, but the majority of them require very easy-to-acquire and affordable ingredients. Check out these 15 super-tasty and cheap punch recipes for every winter occasion.

Non-Alcoholic Punches

While these mixes lack a boozy punch, they still deliver welcome holiday flavors.

1. Ginger Hibiscus Tea

This delicious ginger hibiscus tea is perfect for daytime parties (winter brunch, anyone?). It may be too early for booze, but a slight caffeine boost is always welcome.

2. Sparkling Ginger Apple Cider Punch

A sparkling ginger apple cider punch is perfect for multi-generational gatherings like Thanksgiving. Kids will love this as-is, and adults can spike their own cups to make a really great drink.

3. Slow-Cooker Peppermint Hot Cocoa

Who doesn't love a hot cocoa during the holidays? This slow-cooker version makes for simple set-up and serving. You probably already have most of the ingredients!

4. Low-Cal Eggnog

Eggnog is delicious, but admittedly, it's not the healthiest drink. This low-calorie version cuts down on the cholesterol but not the taste.

5. Sparkling Apple Tea

This delicious tea-infused punch brings the apple flavor to the forefront and would be a great transition drink after all the Christmas morning cocoa and coffee.

Boozy Punches

Alright, for the adults in the room: punches that do feature a dose of winter cheer.

6. Sparkling Bourbon Pear Cider

Everyone likes this mildly sweet and wintery bourbon pear cider. Pour your bourbon as light or heavy as you'd like.

7. Mulled Wine

Mulled wine will not only make any wine-lover happy, but its wonderful Christmas-y smell will linger throughout the home. Use the cheaper wines at Trader Joe's ($5 or under) for this.

8. Blood Orange Punch

Blood oranges are coming into season, so get ready to find bags of them at reasonable prices. This tart, refreshing blood orange punch will make you wish they were available year-round.

9. Tequila Horchata Punch

This Southwestern punch is perfect for folks who love the sweet, velvety taste and texture of horchata and the smoothness of good Tequila. Surprise your guests with this one.

10. Christmas Sangria

Classic sangria is great year-round, but this one adds a few cheap ingredients for a more Christmas-y flavor. Remember to use your less expensive Spanish red blends.

11. Poor Girl's Champagne Punch

Want a sparkly, fun punch that impresses a crowd enough for them to ask what's in it? This punch featuring cheap beer and frozen raspberries comes together deliciously.

12. Sparkling Pomegranate Punch

This playful and flavorful pomegranate punch uses both still and sparkling wine, and winter favorite fruit, pomegranates. Head to a local bodega for your pomegranates instead of the big chains who will charge you more for the convenience.

13. Virgin Island Punch

Can't "winter" in the Caribbean this season? Fake it with this sweet and simple punch using a very cheap ingredient; aloe juice. Sub in more affordable frozen berries if you are not in an area with fresh available.

14. Cranberry Christmas Punch

This cranberry and pomegranate punch is full of lip-smackingly tart holiday flavor. It's also very easy to mix — make the simple syrup at home in a few minutes.

15. Charles Dickens Punch

What's more Christmas-y than a punch named for the author we talk about most during the holidays? The simple to mix ingredients are set on fire before serving!

What's your favorite holiday punch recipe? Share a ladleful in comments?

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This article is from Amanda Meadows of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

16 Ways to Host an Oktoberfest Party on the Cheap

Nick Wharton — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 11:00:34 +0000

Oktoberfest is well-loved by Germans and beer-drinkers everywhere, and for good reason. The long-held festival celebrating Bavarian culture is a riotous good time with special brews, food, games, and music.

If you didn't get your plane ticket to Munich this year, you can still have a great time at home by hosting your very own Oktoberfest. Read on for some tips on how to throw a fun party — on a budget — that your guests will be talking about until next September.

1. Make It BYOB

One sure-fired way to save money on any party is to make it a BYOB affair, and that's never more true than during Oktoberfest. It's a festival centered around beer, so if you want to save some serious cash, have your guests bring their favorite brews. Bonus points if it's a German or Oktoberfest variety.

2. Or BYOS (BYO Stein)

It feels just plain wrong to drink a crisp beer out of anything but a stein during Oktoberfest, but buying each guest their own mug can really add up. Make your party truly unique by having everyone bring their own stein and filling it up for them when they arrive. This is an especially fun idea if you plan to make it a yearly gathering.

3. Or BYOS! (BYO Sausage)

Rather than have your guests bring along beer, ask everyone to bring their own sausage to throw on the grill. You'll save money on meat, and will get a fun assortment of sausages to share, too.

4. Bake Homemade Soft Pretzels

Nothing goes much better with beer than pretzels, and soft pretzels are the traditional accompaniment during Oktoberfest. If you have the time and enjoy baking, homemade soft pretzels are cheap and taste way better than the store-bought version.

5. Serve Hard Pretzels

Although soft pretzels are more traditional, hard pretzels will do in a pinch, and are about as cheap as snacks get. Scatter bowls all around so that guests have something salty to munch on.

6. Sew Your Own Dirndls and Lederhosen

If you have a knack for sewing, why not make your own Oktoberfest costumes? Dirndls can cost a boat load, but with a little know-how, you can look authentic on the cheap. Just do an Internet search to find free or cheap patterns for dirndls and DIY lederhosen. Many patterns allow you to use existing clothing or leftover fabric, saving even more.

7. Put Together Makeshift Dirndls and Lederhosen

If you're not a sewer or don't want to throw down a wad of cash on something you'll wear once or twice a year, then make an easy facsimile. For the men, don khaki shorts, a button down shirt, suspenders, and tall socks. For the ladies, a full skirt, puffy blouse, frilly apron, and an optional corset will do it. It's nothing a trip to the thrift store shouldn't fix.

8. Order T-Shirt Costumes

For the least amount of effort but real campy fun, don a dirndl or lederhosen t-shirt for the occasion. A quick online search will turn up dozens of cheap options, and are sure to be a conversation starter.

9. Make Your Own Edelweiss Hats

Create your own traditional edelweiss hats out of construction paper and few other craft supplies, and decorate the tables with them. They'll make everything festive, and guests can wear them for photos.

10. Use a Free Playlist

When planning your Oktoberfest fest, don't forget music. Luckily, free services like Spotify and Pandora have you covered with German-themed playlists and stations. Put one of these on and do your best to sing along.

11. Buy Your Beer in Bulk

When stocking up on beer for your party, buy bigger lots of one or two great beers rather than buying smaller amounts of different kinds. For example, 12 and 24-packs are typically cheaper per beer, and sometimes you can find good deals on kegs. No matter what beer you choose to serve, be sure to shop around. Costco has terrific deals on beer — and you don't need to be a member to buy it.

12. Throw an Afternoon Party

The official Oktoberfest takes place over 16 days and nights, and the daytime festivities are decidedly less rowdy (but still festive). To save money on beer and food, host your party in the afternoon. Typically, your guests won't drink or eat as much if the celebration isn't at night or during a mealtime.

13. Serve Homemade Apple Strudel

To finish your shindig on a sweet note, whip up a batch of apple strudel. Thanks to frozen puff pastry, the classic dessert is easy to make and more cost effective than visiting a bakery.

14. Host a Sing-Along

For cheap entertainment, lead everyone in a classic sing-along or two. Provide lyrics to a popular German drinking song so that everyone can follow along, be sure to toast with a hearty "Prōst!" afterwards.

15. Use Printable Decorations

Yet again, your party savior is the trusty Internet. Seek out printable decorations and put your printer to work creating blue and white banners, table decorations, and more.

16. Mix Up Flavored Mustards

An assortment of mustards is the perfect accompaniment for all of the sausages and pretzels at Oktoberfest. Instead of buying different kinds of gourmet mustards, buy one big container of brown mustard and flavor it yourself. Add honey for a honey mustard and horseradish for spicy. Get creative and make your own custom flavors!

Are you hosting Oktoberfest this year?

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This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Barbecue Hacks to Master This Summer

Mikey Rox — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 21:00:18 +0000

Chill out while you grill out with these flame-broiled hacks designed to make barbecuing faster, easier, and more delicious.

1. Clean the Grill Without Leaving Harmful Residue

Before you start grillin' up a storm, the grates should be cleaned. Doesn't matter if you used it last night or last year, you owe it to yourself and those you're feeding to cook on a sanitary surface. I know what you're thinking — doesn't the open flame kill any potential bacteria? Yep, but that's not the issue; the problem lies in the leftover carcinogens. Probably didn't know that was a thing, did you?

To clean the grill grates, it's best to use steel wool pads instead of the very popular metal-bristled grill brush you're probably using. Of course that means that you'll need actually wash the grates opposed to dry scrubbing them. Why? The steel-wool heads at Brillo explain.

"The CDC sent out an announcement regarding the dangers of swallowing grill brush bristles, which have the potential to get caught in food and can be consumed," says Eric Phillips, Brillo's resident cleaning expert. "Use a Brillo pad and a little water to scrub grill grates clean. This prevents the hazard of potentially swallowing grill bristles."

2. Marinate Your Meat for a Healthier Meal

Marinating your meat not only kicks the flavor up another notch, but it's one more way to reduce the amount of carcinogens you're consuming as a byproduct of the grilling process.

First, a bit of science from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR): "The combination of meat with intense heat is what prompts scientists to caution against traditional grilling," according to an article on the AICR website. "The substances in the muscle proteins of red meat, poultry, and seafood react under high heat to form carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs). HCAs can damage the DNA of our genes and contribute to the process of cancer development. Consumption of HCAs is most clearly linked to cancers of the colon and stomach."

Marinating meat helps reduce carcinogens by up to 96% compared to meat that was grilled without marinating.

Other ways to cut down on health hazards when grilling meat include:

Limiting portion sizes and cutting smaller pieces to shorten cook time;
Buying leaner cuts that prevent dripping fat from causing flare-ups, which can deposit carcinogens on the meat;
Flipping meat frequently to reduce carcinogens that may arise;
Reducing the heat; cooking at slightly lower temperatures is enough to substantially reduce HCA formation.

3. Let Your Meat Come to Room Temperature Before Grilling

I'm an avid viewer of cooking shows, and I learned this trick many years ago. Bringing your meat to room temperature prior to cooking allows it to cook faster and more evenly since the meat will be the same temperature throughout, opposed to straight from the fridge where it will rise in temperature from the outside in.

4. Grill Your Favorite Fish on Citrus Slices

Forgot to marinate your fish? No problem. Infuse your cut with citrus that you've arranged directly on the grill. "Before you grill your next salmon fillet, carefully arrange several slices of Meyer lemon on your grill and cook them salmon directly over the slices," say the grill spice makers at Spiceologist. "Cut your citrus in quarter-inch slices, and feel free to experiment with other flavors like blood orange, lime, grapefruit."

5. Steam Corn in Its Husk on the Grill

Instead of fully husking your corn before it hits the grates, undress it only half way and dip it in a quick bath to get the best of both worlds — that fresh-from-the-grill flavor and the tenderness of steaming. The Deck Chef Kent Whitaker, winner of an Emeril Live barbecue contest, shares his tips:

"When you want to grill corn, remove most of the husk except the very last layer or two, keeping the corn silk in, then submerge your corn in water for 30 seconds to a minute before putting on the grill," he says. "The corn will do a better job of steaming within the husk during cooking and will allow for grill marks in the later stages of grilling. Likewise, the silk is very easy to remove after the fact."

6. Turn up the Heat on the Juiciest Burgers EVER

I can picture it now: That perfectly cooked burger on a toasted bun with all the fixins', juice dripping down my chin upon first bite. It's the stuff foodie dreams are made of, and Tony Roma's Executive Chef Bob Gallagher has tips and tricks to help achieve perfection all summer long.

Use all areas of the grill and rotate burgers 90 degrees around the grill. Move burgers from the front of the grill to the back of the grill and vice versa, which will ensure even cooking. Burgers will cook faster in the back of the grill.

Pre-heat the grill to at least 500 degrees before placing meat on the grill. This helps create a sear flavor to complement the meat.
The grill lid is your friend. Use it, and resist the urge to constantly lift the lid to check or flip burgers. You only need to flip once! Less flipping keeps the juices intact for mouthwatering flavor.

7. Speed up the Low-and-Slow Process

We've all heard it before: If you want authentic BBQ — pulled pork, spare ribs, brisket, the works — you have to cook it "low and slow." But who has time to start the cooking process a day in advance? Luckily, the same results can be achieved in half the time, says BBQ expert Scott Thomas, owner of the website GrillinFools and writer for Char-Broil and Smithfield Pork.

To reduce your cooking time, "Up the heat to 350 and smoke for two-three hours and then foil," he says. "The meat is only taking on the smoke for a couple hours so once the smoke is infused, wrap it in foil with a little liquid to hyper-accelerate the breakdown of connective tissues. That 15-hour brisket is now done in six to seven hours. Pork butts, even less."

8. Let the Meat Rest and Relax Before Serving

You should always let you meat rest after grilling. It's very tempting to cut right in, of course, but — as the old saying goes — good things come to those who wait. Culinary and BBQ expert Chef Michael Vignola of the Strip House steakhouse in New York City explains why.

"Once you have achieved the desired temperature, remove the steak from the heat and allow it to rest for at least five minutes on a grate over a pan before cutting it," he says. "You want to make sure there is air all around the steak to stop the cooking process. The internal juices will redistribute throughout the steak and the steak will relax and become tender. Cutting too soon will allow the juices to spill out, turning a medium rare steak into a medium plus steak."

9. Use a Muffin Tin to Cut Down on Condiment Containers

I thought this hack was quite brilliant. By putting all your condiments in a muffin tin, you can cut down on all those bottles and jars that never stay in one place. This video on how to use a plain muffin tin to transform the way you BBQ shows you just how many fixins' you can fit in a standard tin. You'll find mustard, mayo, and ketchup, of course, but there's plenty of room for relish, onions, jalapenos, and more. Best of all, it's easy to transport, whether you're cooking out in your backyard or on the beach.

10. Charbroil a Fast-But-Fancy Dessert

What's for dessert? Skip the cookies and cake and serve up a juicy and delicious dish of grilled fruit. Peaches, for instance, grill particularly well. Sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon-sugar that will caramelize on the grill as they cook, then serve with creamy vanilla ice cream. Or, if you want to get a little funkier, try rubbing Spiceologist's Smoky Honey Habanero on fresh pineapple halves. That'll wake up your taste buds in a jif.

Do you have more BBQ hacks to recommend? I'd love to hear 'em. Let me know in the comments below.

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Unexpected Costs That Could Ruin Your Wedding Budget

Shannah Game — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 15:00:09 +0000

Walking down the aisle is quite possibly the most expensive party you will ever throw in your life. In fact, the national average cost for a wedding in 2014 was a staggering $31,000, according to a survey conducted by wedding guru site, TheKnot. That's enough money for a respectable down payment on a house in many parts of America.

Just where is all the money going? Here are seven costs that are sure to ruin your wedding budget if you aren't careful, and a few tips to avoid that from happening.

1. Location, Location, Location

This term is often used in real estate, but also applies when it comes to planning a wedding. Locations can be fancy, like grand hotel ballrooms, or simple like casual backyard affairs. Just where you decide to have your wedding can take up a sizable portion of your wedding budget. According to TheKnot, wedding venues take up over $14,000 of that $31,000 average.

Saving the Dough

If you are looking to save money, ask around and find someone who is willing to rent you their nice backyard for a small fee, or negotiate a discount with a more traditional wedding venue for an off night, like say a Monday or Wednesday. Another option is to try for an alternate time of year, say winter when weddings aren't as common. (See also: This One Wedding Trick Will Save You Thousands)

2. Peek-a-Boo Costs

Many people forget to budget for expenses that seem to come out of nowhere. For example, it's customary to tip the staff at the venue 10%–20% at the end of the night. That's on top of the fee you've already paid them. Or what about alterations to make that wedding dress perfect? Those can run into the hundreds. Another peek-a-boo cost is parking fees. Your guests are going to need a place to park, and if you're having a VIP moment and want to pay for all the parking, be sure to add $250+ to your already exploding budget.

Saving the Dough

Cut out the extra expenses that guests don't expect you to pay for like parking, call on your Aunt Nancy who's a great seamstress for alterations to the dress, and use friends as servers if possible.

3. Roses Are Red

There is no doubt that flowers are magical. Not only do they smell amazing, but they also add a certain polished quality that every wedding longs for. Roses, the most favored wedding flower, also happen to be the most expensive wedding flower. A dozen roses can cost upwards of $20. Don't forget bouquets and boutonnieres.

Saving the Dough

Find a local flower mart where you can purchase flowers the day before your wedding for a significant discount. Many florist shops will also have last minute deals on the flowers that are left over, which would make equally amazing tabletop decorations at a fraction of the cost.

4. Say Cheese

Spending $5,000 on wedding pictures is so 2014. It's a given that you will probably spend the first year looking back over your thousands of pictures and reminiscing. However as time goes on, the urge to recount every last detail captured in pictures is somewhere near the bottom of the to-do list. With social media sharing, and every wedding guest essentially being a private wedding photographer, it's easy to still capture every moment, without the hefty expense.

Saving the Dough

Use a wedding app like WedPics, where you can create a free app that will let your guests upload unlimited wedding pics and videos to your own personal site. This way you can still capture Uncle Bobby's long-winded wedding speech, but do it on a budget.

5. Cheers

The endless debate rolls on whether a wedding requires an open bar, or a cash bar. It's obvious that the open bar can be a silent budget killer. Inevitably, there are one or two guests that have waited until this moment to see how many martinis they can drink in a five-hour span. The most expensive drinks at a wedding are anything that is classified as a mixed, or specialty drink, that requires hard alcohol.

Saving the Dough

If you don't have the stomach for a cash bar, think about drinks that aren't expensive like beer and wine. If possible, cater in your own alcohol that you can purchase from a discount merchant like Costco or Sam's Club. Better yet, have an open bar for a few hours, and then switch to a cash bar.

6. Plus One

If there was ever a time to RSVP, it is for a wedding. Unfortunately, many people fail to understand the importance, and instead show up without RSVPing or, worse yet, they RSVP for one, and bring a guest or two. Wedding budgets everywhere just throw their hands in the air. At $50–$100 a head, if 10 extra people showed up, that's an extra $500–$1000 in costs that weren't accounted for.

Saving the Dough

Make RSVPing easy for guests by offering online options like RSVPify. Another idea is to add a healthy pad into the wedding budget of 15%–20% so you are prepared for any plus one catastrophes.

7. Where's the Beef?

Right behind location costs, food costs are the second highest expense. Why do we feel the need to always serve guests a gourmet five-course meal at $100 a head? Just because it's common, doesn't mean it's good for your budget. Guests are also used to having choices at weddings. Would you like the chicken, fish, or beef? It doesn't take a genius to figure out that beef is the highest priced entrée on the menu. On average, beef costs $8–$10 more than its chicken or fish counterparts, and yet beef happens to be the most requested dish on any wedding menu.

Saving the Dough

The easiest solution is to obviously avoid serving beef. However, there are many options to incorporate beef that will still offer the luxury feel, without the luxury price. Try serving a beef appetizer, where one steak will serve many.

Do you have any wedding saving tips? Tell us about them.

This article is from Shannah Game of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

14 Crock-Pot Dishes to Serve at Your Next Party

Ashley Marcin — Wed, 27 May 2015 13:00:59 +0000

Throwing a party can be serious business, so it's good to find shortcuts whenever possible. I love using my slow cooker to simmer up dips, side dishes, desserts, and more. The recipes I follow require very little attention and always end up tasting great, so consider adding one of these Crock-Pot dishes to your next party menu!

1. Spinach Artichoke Dip

Making spinach artichoke dip is a breeze in the pot. Toss together artichoke hearts, spinach, sour cream, onion, garlic, parmesan cheese, milk, feta, mayo, cream cheese, and seasonings. Cook on low for two hours and stir.

2. Queso Dip

Here's a copycat recipe of Chili's queso dip that all your guests will enjoy. And it takes just five minutes of prep. Combine Velveeta cheese with milk, cayenne pepper, paprika, canned chili, and a few more spices for just one to two hours.

3. Cheese Fondue

You can use white grape juice or white wine for this irresistible cheese fondue recipe. The rest is a mixture of shredded Swiss, Emmental, and Gruyere cheeses, flour, nutmeg, and garlic. Don't forget to warm your pot before adding the cheese — it'll melt faster that way.

4. Chocolate Fondue

Surprise your guests with s'mores fondue in the pot. You'll need milk chocolate chips, marshmallows, whipping cream, and graham crackers or fresh fruit for dipping. Combine all ingredients and cook for around two hours on low.

5. Chex Mix

Or cook up a crispy Chex mix snack. You'll need a mix of corn, rice, and wheat Chex with pretzels, oat cereal, peanuts, butter, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Cook for three hours, stirring occasionally, then let cool on baking sheets before serving.

6. Hot Dogs

Did you know you can fit 60 hot dogs in a six quart slow cooker? Stack them vertically, cook on low for four hours (or high for two hours), and you'll have enough hot dogs to feed a hungry crowd.

7. Meatballs

These three-ingredient Crock-Pot meatballs come together in a flash. You'll need frozen meatballs, grape jelly, and BBQ sauce. Stir the sauces together before adding the meat and cook for three hours.

8. Seven Layer Dip

You can even make seven layer dip in your pot. Pile refried beans, diced green chilis, ground beef, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, olives, and more in your cooker and heat on low for two hours. Vegetarians could experiment with meat substitute — like TVP or tempeh — in place of the meat.

9. Corn on the Cob

If your grill space is limited, try cooking your corn on the cob indoors. You'll wrap the corn in foil packets with whatever seasonings you like best. From experience, I love adding basil, salt, and pepper to mine, so the pesto variety looks amazing.

10. Baked Beans

These vegetarian bourbon maple Baked beans take some extra time, but the taste is well worth the effort. You'll soak a pound of dried white or navy beans overnight, then combine them with bourbon, maple syrup, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and some other sauces and spices. Cook for around 12 hours for the best results.

11. Garlic Bread

Many guests like a good side of carbs with their meals. Serve them this garlic Parmesan pull-apart bread. You can even make it easy by using store-bought biscuit dough. You'll cut each biscuit into six pieces before coating in a butter and garlic mixture. Bake in your Crock-Pot for two to three hours on low.

12. Pulled Pork

You can use this pulled pork in sandwiches, soft tacos, or whatever else you like. Just take pork shoulder and combine it with spices, sauces, and other seasonings in your slow cooker. Set the temperature to low for eight hours. Pork is done when it shreds easily using a fork.

13. Upside Down Cake

Satisfy your friends' sugar cravings with this pineapple upside down cake. You'll layer the bottom of your crock pot with canned pineapple and maraschino cherries. Then top with some yellow cake mix batter and bake for three hours on high.

14. Buffalo Wings

Or jazz up game night with these Crock-Pot Buffalo wings. Coat frozen wings in a delicious sauce before cooking for four hours. You'll then take the wings out of the pot and brown them in your oven for 20 minutes. Serve with a peppery hot sauce.

What's your favorite party-friendly slow cooker recipe?

This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 of the Most Costly New Year's Eve Parties Ever

Paul Michael — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 18:00:08 +0000

Well, it's 2015. And for many of us, looking at the credit card receipts is a nasty reminder of how much the holiday season actually cost us. In particular, New Year's Eve is often a very pricey affair. Many clubs and bars know they can charge a small fortune — and people will pay it. From the cover, to bottle service and appetizers, you can ring in the New Year with an empty wallet and an IOU.

But if you feel bad about what you spent on New Year's Eve, you should see what some people have spent in the past. With that in mind, here are eight of the most expensive New Year's Eve parties ever held.

1. Roman Abramovich's Bash — $7.6 Million

In 2010, the Russian oligarch decided to throw quite the party at his $90 million estate. He booked the Red Hot Chili Peppers to provide the music for the evening. Most guests stayed on board his 536 foot super-yacht Eclipse, while others got the 377 foot yacht Luna. Supposedly, guests included George Lucas, Marc Jacobs, Jon Bon Jovi, and Jimmy Choo. There was plenty of caviar and sushi to go around. And it was all washed down with Cristal and Ruinart champagne. Of course, you and I had about as much chance of being on that guest list as we do of winning the lottery.

2. Hakkasan Las Vegas Bottle Service — $500,000

Touted as 2014's "Most Expensive Bottle Service in the World" (and yes, to some that is a selling point), the Hakkasan asked for half a million dollars for bottle service. But of course, this aptly named "Dynastie Package" was no ordinary service. A staff of 40 was there to wait on you and your friends hand and foot. You were served the finest champagne, including the 30-liter Midas by Armand de Brignac. You also received diamond jewelry, a gold disc signed by DJ Calvin Harris, and a custom made UFC belt. That's value for money right there!

3. New Year's Eve Twice in One Night — $210,000

Most people think one New Year's Eve party is enough. But a company called Private Fly thought they could go one better, and offer the New Year twice. For $210,000, or $14,000 per person, you start your New Year at 8 p.m. — in Sydney, Australia. Once you've seen in the New Year in style, at the Sydney Opera House, you and the crew board a private jet and fly back across the time zones to Los Angeles. Then, you do it all over again! This is not a party for those without stamina… or a massive amount of money. Of course, you could always take out a loan, and have a story to impress people for years to come.

4. Dr. Stephen Greenberg's Plastic Surgery Event — $100,000

You really can't make this stuff up. In 2009, a plastic surgeon by the name of Dr. Stephen Greenberg decided to announce the "Nation's Most Expensive New Year's Eve Package." For $100k, you got three tables for concerts by Lady Gaga, John Legend, and Brody Jenner (umm, yay?). You received first class round trip tickets from New York to Miami, with a choice of penthouses at five-star hotels in South Beach… for a month! And to top it all, the ladies got free boobs! That's right, breast augmentation was included in the package, with a 24-hour nurse, unlimited spa treatments, and a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce. Talk about bang for your buck.

5. Cameo Nightclub, Miami 2013 — $100,000

This one doesn't seem anywhere near the bargain of Dr. Greenberg's bash. No free plastic surgery or month-long stays in five-star hotels. What you got for your $100k was a VIP package that included a night at a recording studio with rap superstar Lil Wayne and four of your friends, 50 bottles of Rose Champagne, 10 bottles of GT Vodka, 10 bottles of Patron, and five bottles of Hennessy VS. Of course, the price of the liquor retail is a fraction of the price of admission, so this was really more about status; and Lil Wayne, of course. Oh, and the price did not include the $6,000 service fee!

6. Gansevoort Turks & Caicos — $100,000

A hundred-thousand seems to be a popular price point for the rich on New Year's Eve. This event in 2011, however, was not for a crowd; it was for just two people, coming in at $50,000 per head. For that money, you got the royal treatment. The pampering included private jet service, an oceanfront penthouse suite, a personal chef, conch diving, VIP pool service, spa treatments, cashmere blankets, and a whole lot more. For $50k, it should have included a car. Each.

7. The Fountainbleu Hotel, Miami — $25,000

This was back in 2011, and for the money you got a lot. Actually, not really. You got to party poolside with four Magnums of Belvedere Vodka (under $80 a bottle retail), four Magnums of Dom Perignon (about $150 a bottle retail on the low end) and Tiesto was the DJ. Seems a whole lot of money for some cheap booze and a bit of dance music. But the event was extremely successful.

8. R Lounge, Times Square — $17,000

That price was for four people, so two couples were really "only" paying $8,500 each. The price was supposedly so high because you got a fabulous view of the ball dropping. Your ticket included a meet and greet in the Cosmopolitan Room, hors d'oeuvres and dinner, sweets, gift bags, and a butler-passed breakfast. The event also included an open bar, but if you were planning to stagger back to the hotel afterwards, you had to pay even more for a room. That would set you back an additional $1,400, as the lowest priced rooms were $699 with a two-night minimum. Ouch.

How much did your New Year's Eve set you back?

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Host a Great New Year's Eve Party for Cheap

Mikey Rox — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 10:00:15 +0000

Hands down, New Year's Eve is my favorite holiday — and I've thrown some parties, y'all. Some of them have been major blowouts while others have been small gatherings. Personally, I prefer the intimate shindigs — and so does my wallet. If that's your goal this year — and it should be — this post is for you. Out with the old, in with the new, as they say. And here are several ways to shave a few bucks off the bill while you're at it. (See also: Class Without Tons of Cash: Frugal Cocktail Party Ideas)

1. Limit the Guest List to a Friendly Few

Sure, it's fun to invite all your friends and their friends and their friends' friends to your New Year's Eve party, but it requires a massive budget; that's a lot of mouths to feed, after all. In reality, every name on your guest list is a dollar sign, and the tighter you keep it, the less you'll have to spend. So instead of inviting the whole neighborhood and the next town over to your soiree, extend an invitation only to those few friends with whom you enjoy spending time and who are totally okay with a run-of-the-mill, at-least-we're-together, end-of-the-year celebration. You'll have a better time entertaining seven people instead of running around trying to please 70.

2. Repurpose Your Christmas Decorations

You don't have to run out to the party store for New Year's Eve decorations if you already have Christmas swag. You can keep your holiday house like it is — less hassle; still festive — but if you want to give it a different look, get creative and repurpose your existing decorations. Instead of tons of color, concentrate on a simplified palate — think white, silver and gold — and decorate accordingly. Store the Santas for this fete and focus more on the seasonal aspect of the celebration and you're good to go.

3. Shop for Snacks in the Seasonal Section

The day after Christmas everything holiday related goes on sale — and that includes any food items in festive packaging. In the first few days after December 25th, you can expect at least 40% to 50% off, but if you wait until a day or two before New Year's Eve, you can probably score a greater discount. Normally I'd tell you that if you want the pick of the litter, it's ideal to scoop up the deals early (like right away), but that only applies to decorations and other Christmas paraphernalia. Festively packaged food items, on the other hand, tend to stick around until the very end of the post-holiday purge. Time your trip just right and you can feed your friends an incredible array of snacks for anywhere from 50% to 90% off the regular retail price. If that's not winning, I don't what is.

4. Cut Back on the Booze Selections

You and your friends will probably want to drink on New Year's Eve, and it's easy to bust your budget on buying enough alcohol to satiate their thirst. The first thing you need to keep in mind is that you don't have to provide enough booze to get everyone blitzed out of their mind; you're not throwing a party at the Playboy Mansion. Secondly, what you serve is up to you — not them — so whatever you provide is at your discretion.

I've found that a great middle ground is to offer beer and wine (domestic light beer and cheap bottles of wine are fine; I prefer Miller Lite and Barefoot, respectively), but if you want to offer liquor, I recommend creating a signature drink that reduces the number of bottles you'll have to buy while at the same time giving your party a personal touch. You also can give your guests the option of bringing their own booze. I always let my guests know what I'll have on hand and leave it up to them to bring a beverage of their choice if what I'm serving isn't exactly their favorite. (See also: 20 Tasty Two Ingredient Cocktails)

5. Skip the Full Meal and Serve Apps Instead

It's not cheap to feed a crowd these days, which is why you should forget about slaving over a hot stove to make a full-blown feast for your New Year's Eve guests. In addition to the deeply discounted snacks you scored, a selection of hot appetizers will suffice — and you can still totally pull off quantity and quality in this regard. Shop the warehouse clubs for party-size platters and frozen snacks that you can pop in the oven. Pizza also is a filling-but-affordable crowd pleaser. You can really save some dough by picking up premade crusts, sauce, and cheese — you can make about six pizzas for under $20 if you shop smartly — that'll put smiles on everybody's faces.

6. Hack Your Way to Delicious Desserts

Every New Year's Eve party needs some sweet stuff, but you can go over budget very quickly if you're not careful. To throw a party for under $100, you need to avoid premade, store-bought desserts all together. That means alternatively you'll need to put on an apron and get in the kitchen, and even if that's not your strong suit, you can churn out a few crowd-pleasers. Jell-O — both the gelatin and pudding — is cheap in the box, and you can use either one of those treats as a base for all kinds desserts. If you want to get a little fancier (still without spending much), try this recipe for easy-breezy cream puffs.

7. Turn on the TV and Break Out the Board Games

Usually I'd tell you to turn off the TV when hosting a party, but New Year's Eve is an exception to that rule. Whether you're a traditionalist who likes to ring in January 1st with New Year's Rockin' Eve or a glutton for punishment with Anderson and Kathy, you'll find hours of festive entertainment that that'll not only provide a bit of background noise but also start a few conversations. Bring out some of your favorite board games too (you don't want guests occupied solely by the TV) for a few rounds of friendly competition. All this fun is for free.

8. Ask Your Guests to Bring a Bottle of Bubbly

In addition to limiting the booze selection you're offering, you may want to consider asking your guests to bring a bottle of bubbly. Most attendees will bring a host gift anyway, but by asking specifically for champagne you'll have more room in your budget for food, and it'll ensure that there's plenty of variety when it's time to clink glasses. Salud!

Do you have more ideas on how to host a New Year's Eve party for cheap? Let me know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Frugal, Non-Depressing Ways to Spend NYE

Amanda Meadows — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 12:00:11 +0000

New Year's Eve can be a dreaded holiday for both singles and frugal families. We all have friends who are jetting off to Vegas or going to the hottest boutique hotel's $250-a-head bash, but you don't have to!

Here are five frugal, non-depressing ways to spend NYE:

1. Host a Champagne Potluck

This is a fun and less spendy way to host your own NYE party. Simply get those delicious and cheap hors d'oeuvres from Trader Joe's, or make your own cheap-to-make puff pastry treats. Each person you invite brings different a type of bubbly: champagne, cava, prosecco, sparkling rose, anything. Have a tasting party right up until the ball drops! And the best part? Lots of leftover champagne for you!

2. Play a New Year's Eve Movie Marathon

Looking for a more casual way to host? Get all your pals together and marathon some favorite movies that feature New Year's Eve, like Trading Places, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless In Seattle, Bridget Jones' Diary, The Cutting Edge, 200 Cigarettes, About a Boy, and more. Have fun drinking and heckling the movies together. Bonus: time one of the viewings to match up with the actual midnight countdown.

3. Attend Your City's Free Celebration

If you live in or near a major city, find out if your city has a "first night" or another kind of NYE celebration. For example, Los Angeles has a well-known free celebration that attracts thousands. Simply Google "NYE celebration [your city]." Take a lyft or public transit to the event (because parking will be a nightmare) and have fun! Have a family? This is might be your most cost effective option. Single? Bring a wingman/woman with you for maximum fun.

4. Hit the Ice Skating Rink

This is a great way to have fun with other people without dealing with public drunkenness. Bring your family or invite some friends to a fun winter tradition like ice skating, another great winter staycation trick. If you don't live near an ice rink, try a classic roller skating rink instead! The per-person cost is similar to bowling, which is also very frugal.

5. See the Stars

Tired of the crowds, stress, and faux-glitz of New Year's Eve? Take a friend and hit the road to the nearest place away from the city, where you can see the stars. There's even a meteor shower happening during NYE. Bring your own treats, refreshments, blankets, and camp out. Reflect on the past year and discuss your goals for next year. Have your own countdown to midnight with sparklers and a thermos toast. It will be a special, quiet NYE you won't forget.

How will you be spending NYE?

This article is from Amanda Meadows of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Fun, Cheap Party Games You Didn't Know About

Amanda Meadows — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 16:00:07 +0000

Every holiday or dinner party in need of a boost leans on the same party games: Pictionary, Charades, 20 questions, blah blah blah... In need of a new conceit to spur on some social interaction? Try one of these fun and affordable party games you didn't know about:

Mafia

Mafia is a group game designed in Russia during end of the Cold War, and it shows. I first heard of the game earlier this spring, when a friend hosted a party specifically to play Mafia. It's free to play, like Charades. We were confused at first but it quickly got weird and fun!

Players: At least 3

Basic Rules

There are two teams, the "Mafia" (who know each other in the group) and the "Innocents" (everyone else who have no idea who the "Mafia" are). One moderator leads the game.

The game occurs in two phases: Night and Day. During the "night" phase, the mafia members elect someone to "kill," while everyone's eyes are closed. During the "Day" phase, everyone opens their eyes, and the moderator declares who was "killed." Everyone discusses, and someone must accuse a player of being in the "Mafia". The most fun part is arguing over whether someone is in the "Mafia" and whether to kill them. The moderator will reveal whether or not the accused player was in fact a Mafioso. On it goes until everyone is figured out.

Why It's Fun

The game involves a lot of social strategy which is really funny in a group of close friends. Similar to other games like Werewolf, you get a lot of hilarious arguments about whether someone is guilty or innocent. The surprise of each player's role reveal is also really fun.

1,000 Blank White Cards

If you haven't played 1,000 Blank White Cards, you're missing out on not only a great party game, but a really fun game for passing the time. I first learned about this game while in line for a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, known for crazy long waits.

Players: At least 2

Basic Rules

Gather as many blank cards as you can find. These can be index cards or chopped pieces of paper. The game is defined by the cards everyone creates. A card usually consists of a drawing and a short description of its meaning and the action required upon pulling the card. For example, you can have a card with a picture of a cactus that reads, "You just got picked by a cactus! Lose 4,000 points," then if you pull it that's what happens! Destroying cards is discouraged; if a card is not good, you can nominate it to "The Suck Box."

Why It's Fun

It's limited only by your imagination! Creating the deck is arguably one of the best parts of the game, trying to come up with the silliest rules funniest drawings you can imagine. The gameplay is one surprise after another.

Cards Against Humanity

A game that is rapidly becoming mainstream, Cards Against Humanity first formed a rabid following online. It's free to print the cards at home, and costs around $20 for a deck. If you have not heard of it, chances are the next party you go to will break out in a game.

Players: At least 2

Basic Rules

It's similar to Apples to Apples (actually, it's exactly like Apples to Apples) with a crazy twist. Each player pulls 10 white "answer" cards with a hilarious nonsequitur on it. One player starts as the "Card Czar," pulling a black "question" card. Each player takes a moment to best answer the "Card Czar" with one of their randomly drawn white cards. The "Card Czar" reads each white card in a funny manner, and chooses their favorite. The player who drew their favorite white card gets one "Awesome Point" and keeps the black card. Whoever has the most "Awesome Points" at the end of the game wins.

Why It's Fun

The cards are really funny, and many are surprising, controversial, or gross, so there is a ton of shock value. It's a really enjoyable game to play casually with friends.

TV Show Drinking Games

Did you know that nearly every single TV show or movie has its own drinking game? When having a night in with friends or roommates, a simple drinking game is a great way to get a party going. The only cost is the booze.

Players: 2 or more (drinking alone is sad)

Basic Rules

Go to drinkingcinema.com or drunktvzone.com to find make your drinking game choice. I recommend 90s show like Family Matters or Ally McBeal or a schlocky horror movie like Halloween 3: Season of the Witch. Simply drink whenever a specific recurring action or visual element occurs as per each game's rules! For bonus points, everyone can dress up as a character from the show or movie of choice.

Why It's Fun

Drinking games are an easy way to get a party started and a fun way to appreciate a silly show or movie ironically, dress up, and drink with buddies.

ClueMates

Ok, full disclosure. While I did not create the game, ClueMates was created by a publishing company I own.

ClueMates: The Passive Aggressive Roommate Detective Game is a parody board game that comes inside of a book, based on the mystery engine of Clue. The game satirizes life with roommates and has a cult following among board game and humor nerds. The game and book cost only $10.

Players: 3-6

Basic Rules

The rules are just like Clue. Each person plays as a character who is a credible suspect. Only, instead of a murder mystery, it is much funnier — your least favorite roommate has locked himself in the bathroom.

The Archetypes are different from classic Clue as well, with a couch-surfing stoner, a 4chan troll, a yoga instructor, a type-A bossypants, and one normal person, Rachel Feinstein. You must figure out which roommate ruined his day, what they did, and in which room of the terrible apartment you share, because everyone needs to use the bathroom! One new element to gameplay is that each character has one "superpower" causing others to lose a turn and making the game move faster.

Why It's Fun

For board game lovers, this is a fun, simplified party game full of adult jokes and it plays as a really funny, high-speed version of Clue for adults.

What party games do you enjoy? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Amanda Meadows of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Host Thanksgiving in a Tiny Apartment

Mikey Rox — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:00:11 +0000

You've decided to accept the challenge of being the host with the most this Thanksgiving, but there's just one tiny problem — your smaller-than-small apartment. Time to panic? Nah. Before you cancel the fete, feast on these ways to work with what you've got — and still deliver an incredible dinner. (See also: Simple Recipes for a Frugal Vegetarian Thanksgiving)

Clear the Clutter as Soon as You Decide to Host

All right, hoarders, it's time to get busy; you've let that junk pile up long enough. Take this opportunity to clear out all your clutter so you can have a beautiful, clean apartment with plenty of space for your guests to sit back and relax on the holiday. Do this far enough in advance — and use your money-saving savvy to make a few bucks on items you don't want anymore — and you could possibly pay for the entire dinner with the cash you earned and have a few dollars to spare.

Keep the Guest List Manageable Given Your Space Constraints

You know how many people your home can handle, so don't overdo it. Only invite enough people for whom you have proper seats at a table or wherever you decide to eat. I live in a condo that has a breakfast bar that seats four, and I have a sturdy coffee table that guests can use to eat while sitting on the couch. That setup works for my friends and me, but it may not make everyone in your life comfortable. Let your guests know in advance how the dining situation will be arranged so they can make their own decision on whether or not they want to attend.

Ensure That You Have Enough Diningware to Accommodate Everybody

If you live in a small apartment, you probably have limited cabinet space — which means that you probably have limited diningware. Do a count once the guest list is set to ensure that you have all the plates, utensils, glasses, napkins, serving dishes, and so on that you'll need to host this dinner without a hitch. If you've come up short, you can either choose to buy more legit diningware, or you can opt to go plastic (the high-end stuff for this special occasion, of course), one of the only times I will recommend these otherwise money traps.

Plan a Menu That's Appetizing But Not Overly Complicated

If you like to cook like I do, you'll want to show off your kitchen skills by making fancy dishes to impress your guests at Thanksgiving. Bad. Idea.

I've gone this route before and I've spent hours upon hours standing in the kitchen preparing a meal that has a million-and-one ingredients that turns out amazing but that I'm usually too exhausted to enjoy by the time it's ready to serve. And chances are, your guests would have been just as happy with Stovetop as they are with your from-scratch apple-sausage-sage cornbread stuffing. Trust me.

What this also means in a small apartment is piles and piles of dishes claiming valuable dining real estate. Are you gonna wash all of them before serving dinner? I didn't think so. Thus, today is a day to enjoy your friends and celebrate the things for which you're thankful; embark on a mission of culinary excess and you'll curse the day you ever heard of Bobby Flay.

Prepare What You Can Ahead of Time — Like Earlier in the Week

Some dishes can be prepared ahead of time — like stuffings and mashed potatoes, for instance, and especially desserts — take advantage of the extra time to keep the dirty dishes to a minimum and enjoy more of your company when the big day arrives instead of slaving over a hot stove.

Assign Certain Aspects of the Meal to Your Guests

Another good way to save time, money, and space this Thanksgiving is to host a potluck Thanksgiving. If you plan to make the turkey, you can farm out the sides to a couple guests and ask others to bring bread, dessert, or a bottle of wine. A collaborative effort can definitely be fun, mind you, but it should be planned as the purpose of your Thanksgiving. What I mean by that is when you extend the initial invitation inform your guests that this will be a potluck meal. It's terrible form to spring this on somebody after the fact.

Rearrange Furniture for Optimal and Maximum Seating Potential

You should, without a doubt, have enough seating for your guests at dinner, but they'll also want to sit down in other areas around your apartment before and perhaps after the meal. In my apartment I arrange the four breakfast bar seats to face outward into the living room, I roll in my two office chairs, and put our metal coffee table against a wall, which creates a circle of seating that allows everyone to converse conveniently while also having a good view of the TV. This particular situation probably won't work for you, but with a little creativity you can create your own game plan to optimize your own relaxation station.

Consider a Buffet Table to Free Up the Dining Table

When I serve dinner for more than four in my apartment, I set up a buffet-style table in the foyer. This keeps the actual dining space clear of serving dishes so everyone can spread out and enjoy their meal with a little breathing room. This table has turned out to be a great investment as I've used it as a buffet table for multiple gatherings, but also to display items at a yard sale, an extra dining table in some cases, and a game-night table with the boys.

Designate an Out-of-the-Way Space for Outerwear

Where, oh where, will all those coats go? You don't want to put them on the furniture because that's taking up much-needed seating, and you really shouldn't put them on your bed for sanitary reasons (you can judge me for this, but I don't want people's clothes on the bedding I sleep on; it's just… eww).

If you have a coat rack or hooks around your apartment, utilize those as well as extra closet space if you have it. Another practical solution is to put the outerwear on hangers and place them on your shower curtain if it's a very sturdy one. Your guests will use the restroom while they're there, but nobody should be showering unless y'all are really tight like that. Save time by pulling the hangers in advance of your guests' arrival so you can take their coats and hang them efficiently. It goes without saying that you should clean your bathroom beforehand so your guests will be comfortable with their coats in there — and so they don't call the health department on you after they leave.

Make Do and Have Fun

Don't sweat the small stuff. Literally. Just don't do it. Make the best of what you have using these tips and other suggestions in the comments section and around the Internet and you're good to go. Thanksgiving is special, and it only comes once a year. Enjoy it, my friends. Enjoy it hard because the evil that is January is on its way.

Do you have other tips on how to host Thanksgiving in a tiny apartment? Let me know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Thanksgiving Traditions You Should Skip

Amanda Meadows — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 18:00:05 +0000

Thanksgiving can be a really fun holiday — If nothing gets burned in the oven, or your uncle doesn't get too drunk, or your mom doesn't put you on her charades team... Why add more stress to an already jam-packed day? (See also: Kick-Ass Alternatives to Canned Cranberry)

Here are five Thanksgiving traditions you can skip.

1. Cancel the Black Friday Campout

Black Friday is a huge deal. Everyone wants to get the best price for their holiday gifts, but why at the expense of having a nice Thanksgiving? The deals are amazing, but the crowds are terrifying. Don't put yourself in danger to save a few bucks.

This year, Cyber Monday may actually be better for cameras, toys, travel, shoes, clothing, and beauty products. So wait it out. On Cyber Monday, you don't have to leave the house and risk getting trampled by throngs of door buster zombies.

2. Forget the Turkey

Let's walk through this: You have to go from store to store just to find the right turkey. Then, you have to make room in your fridge to store the turkey. Later you have defrost the turkey. Then, you must brine the turkey and later season and dress the turkey. Then roast it for hours and hours. Plus, it's impossible to get the right temperature in all parts of the bird at the same time. To get the legs fully cooked, you must overbake and dry out the breast. The constant basting is a hassle.

Is it worth your time every single year? There are so many substitutes. Try a beef roast, a fish tagine, or several small chickens instead of one big turkey. Every couple years or so, my family makes a brisket just to change things up and it is always fantastic.

3. Skip the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Unless you are a diehard Al Roker fan, there's not much to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Every year it is the same: the balloons, the marching bands, the lame celebrity spots, the weirdly choreographed music segments. If you're busy cooking it makes for adequate background noise and something for the kids to watch, but you're better off focusing on the oven.

4. Ban the Kids' Table

Let's face it: Conversations with adults can be extremely boring, taxing, or tense. Add family to the mix and it is all of the above. The kids get a great deal being placed at a separate table, because they actually have fun.

Bring some light, jovial energy to your thanksgiving and make the kids and adults sit together. Swap the kids and parents around so everyone sits near a niece or nephew. When your six year old nephew who wants to be an astronaut tells you all about the constellations he's learned, you'll realize what you've been missing.

5. Don't Flock to the Movie Theater

Every year, families rush out to the multiplex to see the latest family blockbuster. It's an ordeal to get everyone piled in the car, to park, to get the tickets, and an even bigger ordeal to agree on a film! Plus, the Thanksgiving movie tradition has gotten crazy expensive: the average ticket in major cities is $14. Multiply that by four or more family members, and you have an expensive end to an already pricey family meal.

Why not relax at home for a lower-stress evening? Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Instant, and Hulu Plus all offer lots of content for a low monthly fee you're already paying, and your cable provider's video on demand service features new releases for a few bucks. Or, try relaxing at home with a classic holiday movie. Of course, if your kids threaten to stage a mutiny if they don't see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt.1, then you're out of luck.

Do you have any non-traditional Thanksgiving traditions? Tell us about them in comments!

This article is from Amanda Meadows of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Attend a Wedding for Cheap (Without Actually Looking Cheap)

Beth Buczynski — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 15:00:05 +0000

Summer is wedding season, and if, like me, you're at that age when all your friends are tying the knot, it can be a nightmare for your pocketbook. Modern weddings seem to be more elaborate than ever, piling on the costly obligations for guests who just want to show the happy couple some love. (See also: How to Shave $5,000 Off Your Wedding Expenses)

If you're tired of whipping out the credit card every time an invitation lands in your mailbox, this list of money-saving tips is for you.

Far Away? Send a Gift Instead of Attending

If you're hundreds (or even thousands) of miles away from the wedding location, realize that it's okay to decline attendance. No invited guest is expected to attend, even if that's not explicitly stated by the couple. Especially if it's a last-minute wedding. Instead, splurge on the gift and send it with a nice handwritten note of congratulations.

Find Your Own Lodging

When a couple knows people will be traveling to attend their nuptials, they often try to help by blocking off rooms at a local hotel. While convenient, never assume that this is the most cost effective option. Explore local hotel rates for yourself as well as options on Airbnb. If you know others who will be attending, think about getting an entire house or apartment, and splitting the bill.

Look for a Gift That's Thoughtful Rather Than Expensive

This is true 100% of the time, but especially if you're an out of town guest. Contrary to popular belief, there is no "minimum price" for a wedding present. Give from the heart. It could be something that's funny, practical, or homemade. (See also: 25 Gifts You Can Make Today)

Use the Registry to Your Advantage

If the couple announces that they've registered at one or more stores, it behooves you to investigate their requests as early as possible. Sign up for sale alerts and customer loyalty programs at those stores if they exist, then be ready to snag a wanted item when the cost is low or you've got a coupon.

Don't Take Gifts on the Plane

Once you've chosen your gift, ship it directly to the recipients rather than taking it on the plane (if traveling long distance). You'll save yourself the extra baggage fee and a huge logistical hassle. If you're traveling by car, obviously the converse is true. Save on shipping fees by bringing it yourself.

Extend Your Stay and Make it a Vacay

If you're going to three or more weddings in a year, there's a good chance your vacation time will go the way of the dodo. When a friend of ours recently got married at the beach over a long holiday weekend, we used the coincidence to our advantage: We arrived a day early and stayed a day late, turning it into a mini vacation.

Skip Pre-Wedding Events

It must be all the wedding shows on TV, but modern weddings have gone from "a ceremony and a reception" to three day long mini festivals. There are bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridal showers, pre-wedding brunches and dinners, and spa dates — and that doesn't even include the main event! Unless you're immediate family or in the wedding, all of these are optional. Save big by skipping pre-wedding money pits.

Don't Be in the Wedding Party

If the bride or groom asks you to be in the wedding, it's a great honor, but not an obligation. Wedding party duties involve throwing showers, planning pre-wedding events, and buying expensive outfits that you'll probably never wear again. Be honest: Tell the couple that your budget doesn't allow you to participate in the wedding party, but you can't wait to attend the ceremony.

Be a Slow Gift Giver

Did you know that you're not required to bring the gift to the actual wedding? According to the Emily Post Institute, you have up to three months from the date of the wedding to give a gift without violating any etiquette rules. So if money will be less tight in a few weeks, just wait.

Recycle Outfits

You don't have to wear something different to every wedding you attend. If some of the same people will be at more than one upcoming ceremony, invest in a classic outfit that can be made to look different by swapping accessories. You can also borrow something from a friend, or rent an expensive dress and return it when done.

How do you trim the cost of attending weddings? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Beth Buczynski of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: