If you have just moved into a new apartment only to realize that money is a bit tighter than you would like, there are inventive and even fun ways to reduce your entertainment budget. Here are some of the most popular ideas that are sweeping the nation.

There is nothing better than having a group of friends over, plenty to eat and plenty to drink, but having one person pay for everything can be outrageously expensive. The concept of the travelling dinner club is catching on for exactly that reason. Each Friday night, pick a person amongst your friends to host a dinner party. Everyone brings an entrée and some kind of beverage. Everyone gets together, sits around and talks or watches a movie while eating a variety of tasty food. Costs stay low and spirits stay high.

The same general idea can be used if you are a sports fan. Instead of going out to a game, which can be astronomically expensive, or going to a bar, which can be pricy as well, grab a six pack and something from the grocery store and head over to a friend’s place. Each person will bring over the same thing and before you know it, you have plenty of food, drink and fun. Best of all, it isn’t just you that is saving money on entertaining, it is everyone else, too.

You can even expand on this idea by having “sales nights” with your friends. Make a rule that you have to buy whatever is on sale at a local grocery store and make a meal out of it. Each friend gets a different store so you don’t all end up with the same dishes. Have a weekly competition between each friend to see who comes up with the most delicious meals. It is a great way to save money, expand your cooking skills and have a great time, as well.