It’s Saturday, and it’s fight night. Excitement is all around you. You’re aware that Floyd Mayweather is everyone’s pick to win the boxing match, but you’re just not into it this evening. You don’t want to go to the club, but there aren’t too many happy hour spots on a Saturday either. Finally you randomly decide, “I’ll host a girl’s night in” and coincidentally all of your chicas’ schedules are open. So that’s exactly what you do. Host a girls night on a budget.

You send a mass text to your girls to tell them there’s no place better to be than at your house for drinks, food and girl talk. This is your chance to ditch the babies and the boyfriends for a night, and prep for a well needed night to yourself. Certainly if the drinks are strong enough and the music is loud enough a bit of twerking will ensue. So be on time.

However, as excited as you are to round up the gang you’re not trying to “blow a bag” just for a few hours. Here’s your chance to get crafty! With a few trinkets, Pinterest, Ledo’s and previously purchased alcohol, you can definitely have a girls night on a budget.

Having huge celebrations like a graduation party, birthday party or even a going away party, you occasionally have some libations left over for a rainy day. This would be the time to use it. Take what you have (Tiny’s Tequila, vodka, bourbon, etc.) and make a few simple cocktails that won’t take up too much time (Manhattan, Cosmo, Screwdriver, etc).

Alcohol: FREE

(Fish Bowl)

Or you can be creative and have all the ladies make their drink of choice can stop at the dollar store and gather fish bowls (or a few mason jars if fish bowls are unavailable), nerds, Swedish fish, and gummy worms and have each person make their own fishbowl drink. Sometimes you have to face the music that you will not be Tipsy Bartender and you’re gathering will not involve fire ignited shots. That’s totally okay. Make the best out of what you have

Dollar Tree: $9

Everyone can pitch in to buy pizza and wings of choice. You’re not looking to have Ruth Chris-like meals delivered to your home. Food should be easy to put in a central area for everyone to reach, not too messy and it shouldn’t be too much to clean when everyone leaves you alone with the turmoil.

Pro Tip: If you’re feeling nice you can add a toss salad and chocolate drizzled fruit kabobs, I did.

Ledo’s: $36

Misc.: $16

Please make sure you have a playlist that will keep all parties awake and moving. We all have that one friend that loves a playlist full of Mary J., Keyshia Cole, slow jams and love songs, but not tonight. You don’t want to put your name on a snoozefest.

Your playlists should include strictly “turn up” tunes. Think: Beyoncé and “I hardly have any idea what this rapper is saying, but this is my JAM” music. Thank the lord for Spotify and Apple Music. Streaming is the wave.

Music: FREE

I made all my purchases two hours before my gathering started. I made note that I’m not trying to go broke, just to have an impromptu cocktail hour so it doesn’t hurt for everyone to bring a bottle or anything that could help your party move smooth.

Dollar Tree and Pintrest are your best friends. If time permitted, many more Pinterest dessert and appetizer ideas would have made the menu, but alas this was last minute. If you and your friends are anything like me, at the end of the day most 20-something-year-old women are mainly concerned with drinks on the menu rather than anything else.

After three store runs, six hours of laughter, talking, eating and drinking, my impromptu girls night hit $50 right on the head. It’s often the gatherings that aren’t overplanned that you enjoy the most. Furthermore, I was able to enjoy myself more since there were no tears because I put a hole in my pocket this weekend.

The next time you plan a girls night, hold yourself to a strict budget. Clear out one Saturday night and make it happen. Don’t forget to stop by and let me know how it goes.

Fish Bowl Drink Recipe:

• Nerds
• Crushed ice
• Alcohol of choice
• Swedish Fish and Gummy Worms
• Blue Curacao
• Splash of Sprite or Ginger Ale
• Garnish with orange