Game of Thrones

Frugal Fun with Friends: Turning TV into a Social Event

Game of ThronesI’ll admit it: I’m a pretty boring person. By marrying me, my wife now assumes that label and all that goes with it as well. That’s why, for every Friday or Saturday night we spend out at a concert, comedy show, or sporting event, there are at least nine others spent building a puzzle while the television plays in the background. But, as I’ve recently come to realize, watching TV doesn’t have to be an antisocial affair. In fact, with a few additions, it can actually make for some enjoyable frugal fun with friends.

Let me explain. A couple of weeks ago, two of our friends invited us to participate in a Game of Thrones death pool (ours was inspired by AV Club, but plenty of other sites seem to have their own versions). In full disclosure, I’ve never actually watched more than two minutes of this particular show, but my wife is current with it and the betting for bragging rights angle of the game intrigued me. Once we were in, several participants in our little group agreed to meet up on Monday nights and watch the episodes together.

While we missed the first edition due to my traveling, our first GoT night was this Monday and it was a blast! What’s more, it didn’t cost us a dime. This not only got me thinking about how similar gamification techniques could be applied to other programs but also how you could turn these gatherings into full-blown events. To the gamification point, I know my friends also participate in a fantasy Bachelor/Bachelorette league that, while interesting, I can’t see myself getting into. Still, the idea behind it is solid.

As for how to turn it into an event, one tasty addition would be food. While everyone in our group ate at their respective homes before a brief gathering (it was a school night, after all), you could just as easily turn the evening into a potluck. Alternatively, it might be fun to have a different person prepare a meal for the whole group each week. For bonus points, you could even theme the dishes to the show de jour.

Like I’ve mentioned plenty of times before, having a great time doesn’t have to cost you a ton. This relatively recent trend of turning television watching into an interactive social event speaks to that reality in a big way. So, instead of spending a small fortune to take on the town, I prefer to place my (non-monetary) bets, head to a friend’s house, and turn on HBO for a surprisingly entertaining night in.

Author

Kyle Burbank

Kyle is a freelance writer and author whose first book, "The E-Ticket Life" is now available on Amazon. In addition to his weekly "Money at 30" column on Dyer News, he is also the editorial director and a writer for the Disney fan site LaughingPlace.com and the founder of Money@30.com.

Other Articles by Kyle Burbank

Alaska Airlines plane

Travel Tuesday: Alaska Airlines is Offering a Status Match Challenge to Delta Elites

A few weeks back, Delta announced numerous changes impacting their most loyal customers. While I personally focused on the SkyClub entry rules and restrictions that are on the way, the adjustments made to the SkyMiles program were arguably even more disruptive. Not only did the airline move to a model...
Fellow Ode 2 Coffee Grinder

My Quick Review of the Fellow Ode 2 Coffee Grinder

A couple of weeks back, in my column on Fioney, I somewhat lamented a recent splurge purchase — not because I was necessarily upset with what I bought but what the process of doing so said about some of my personal finance failings. The item in question was the Fellow...

Should You Buy, Lease, or Finance Your Next Smartphone?

Remember a few years ago when you thought that friend of yours who always had the latest model iPhone was crazy for spending that much? That’s changed in recent years as carriers and others now allow you to essentially lease your device. Taking a page from the auto industry, you...
The "Email" field is empty, you must enter some text to proceed.The text you entered in the "Email" field appears to be invalid, please edit it and try again
Get Posts in Your Inbox
Featured Articles
Alaska Airlines plane

Travel Tuesday: Alaska Airlines is Offering a Status Match Challenge to Delta Elites

A few weeks back, Delta announced numerous changes impacting their most loyal customers. While I personally focused on the SkyClub entry rules and restrictions that are on the way, the adjustments made to the SkyMiles program were arguably even more disruptive. Not only did the airline move to a model...
Fellow Ode 2 Coffee Grinder

My Quick Review of the Fellow Ode 2 Coffee Grinder

A couple of weeks back, in my column on Fioney, I somewhat lamented a recent splurge purchase — not because I was necessarily upset with what I bought but what the process of doing so said about some of my personal finance failings. The item in question was the Fellow...

Should You Buy, Lease, or Finance Your Next Smartphone?

Remember a few years ago when you thought that friend of yours who always had the latest model iPhone was crazy for spending that much? That’s changed in recent years as carriers and others now allow you to essentially lease your device. Taking a page from the auto industry, you...
Bilt and Curve credit cards

Bilt Has Seemingly Shut Down Rewards on Curve Transactions

Ya know, some weeks I really struggle to find a quick tip post to share. And then there are weeks like this that are so overflowing with news that I don't even know where to start. So, since I trust you've already read about the big news regarding Delta SkyMiles...