Let’s say that you were by yourself and had only $100 to spend for the night. Imagine that it’s Friday or Saturday night. Your friends and family are all busy. Your significant other is away. What would you do for fun for just one night? Remember, you can’t spend more than $100 (If you’re not in the US, please perform the currency conversion and use the equivalent).
I guess mine is pretty boring.
Nice Rodizio dinner- $25
Pack of cigarettes- $5
3-4 Drinks at local bar - $25
5 games of pool at bar - $5
That’s it. Only $60.
But the reason I asked the question is because my friend’s answer was so different.
His answer (and he wasn’t joking):
Cocaine for the night- $20
Pack of cigarettes- $5
5-6 Drinks at cheap strip club- $30
Tips for strippers- $25
B/J from street hooker- $20
Total: $100 (ding-ding-ding)
I think I’m pretty easy to please. A couple of nights ago I went to the casino to celebrate my cousin’s 18th, was entertained for about 5 hours and only spent $10 (FWIW I doubled my money in roulette but lost everything backing my cousin in Pontoon). However, going to the casino alone doesn’t sound like a particularly entertaining night. I hate going out by myself, so I’d probably spend it at home:
$15 - pizza, garlic bread, drinks
$15 - some new releases from the local Blockbuster
$10 - nibblies for the movie
Hmm. Assuming I had to spend it all at once, I’d go to the bank on Friday afternoon and buy a $100 US Savings bond. I mean, dude. Most of the time I’m home on Friday nights anyhow, and I don’t think I’d go out just to spend the money.
I look at it this way: blowing a C-note wouldn’t buy me enough of an experience to be memorable without making me fat, hungover, or possibly exposing me to an STD. Better to invest the dough, see?
OK…so I’m walking down my driveway about 4:00. Nowhere to go and nothing to do when I get there, when allofasudden a $100 bill drifts past me on the wind. I quickly tackle it, and consider:
…too late to hit the bank
…Karen is out with her friends
…I wouldn’t be spending any of MY hard-earned loot
…what the heck!!
a quick stop by my favorite cholesterol cafe…$7
a movie…$9 (where the HELL are YOU living, breaknrun?
Hmmm… do I have to go out? In other words, can I internet shop?
Ironically, if I DO have to go out, I wouldn’t shop–I hate the mall. But it’d be nice to have something to SHOW for it (besides, as Creaky mentioned, love handles and a hangover).
And if I do have to go out, can I leave town? If I can leave town, I’d go to Kansas City (Topeka’s got nuttin’ for good eats) and buy myself a schmancy dinner and cocktails.
If I have to stay here, I’d rent a room at a decent hotel, order room service, and watch cable, all the while pretending I’m in Fiji.
suburban georgia,usa. I noticed your pool hall rate was much better than mine, heck, I’d stay all night in that case (unless it’s one of them pool hall, bowling places)
The avg pool hall rate around here is about $8.50 and ranges from $6 - $12/hr depending on where you go and sometimes how many people are playing.
Anyway, for the purpose of this discussion, I was assuming you had to go out and spend the money and not just do your normal “stay at home thing and order out”. My normal home alone amusement is to play on my PS2 and shoot some pool on my home table.
Cab fare to my favorite uptown neighborhood - $7
New hardcover novel to eat during dinner - $20
Prix-fixe dinner at my favorite restaurant, with tip - $35
Bottle of Ginger Ale - $1.50
Subway fare from favorite neighborhood to favorite midtown movie theatre - $1.50
Double Feature Movie Ticket - $16
Popcorn - $6
Ice Cream Cone After the Movie - $3
Cab fare back home - $8
A night of fun, good food, a book which will last for years to come, and $2 left to spare!
I’d go to the Olympus Spa and have a body scrub and moisturizing treatment, and soak in the hot pools for hours, and have Korean beef in the cafeteria, and then stretch out in the hot rooms for awhile. Oh God, I really need to make an appointment there SOON.
(FYI, all of the above comes to about $105.00, but I figure that’s close enough. I can always bum five bucks from the mister.)