Seems like just about everyone is looking for the best way to stretch a dollar these days. Saving money up for a big event, like a cruise with your favorite band? Skip the movies next weekend—Those dogs in Beverly Hills Chihuahua? NOT actual talking dogs. See? You’re not missing anything—let your friends entertain you instead. Now is as good a time as ever to share my secrets for cheap (actually, free) and easy entertainment!

Quiz Your Friends: Is there someone in your life about whom you  know everything there is to know? Maybe you know everything from their biggest fear in life to what sort of liquor is guaranteed to make them hurl  or maybe you know what wourd they would most like to see abolished from the English language? My good friend Jeph started this years ago. Jeph started with a twenty-five question quiz and then asked each question with the same rapid fire intenstiy to everyone regardless if had known them two years, two weeks, or his entire life. After each contestant has a shot, scores are announced and judgements are passed.

The basic rules:

1) All questions must be multiple choice, with four possible answers for each question. Any other way sucks, and who wants to suck?

2) The only exception to the first rule is in the case of extra credit. Extra credit questions may be written in the form of the author’s choosing.

3) Each question is worth one point, with extra credit questions being worth up to five points.

4) All quizzes must be read aloud, and work well when given in groups.

5) Questions usually are of a personal nature, but don’t limit yourself (Who shot Andrew Jackson?)

6) The most important rule of all: ALL OF THESE RULES ARE MADE UP AND MOSTLY NONSENSE. If you are the sort of person who likes rules, then by all means follow them. What sort of person are you?

JOY’S QUICK SAMPLE QUIZ (for answers check the comments)

The pet store is giving away the free mammal of your choice with every bag of kitty litter. Which of the following would I choose?

a. Kampuchean Monkey

b. Star-nosed mole

c. Otter

d. Nothing. I don’t have a cat. Why would I buy kitty litter?

Finish the following sentence: “It’s not a party if___________.”

a. you’re still wearing your socks

b. no one’s dancing

c. there’s no peanut butter

d. the paint is still wet and the goat’s not wearing his costume

Which of the following does not play a key part in one of my recurring nightmares?

a. Gorillas with ray guns

b. Guerillas with dart guns

c. Flying monkeys throwing stillettos

d. A tiny monkey  disguised as a horse, which I ride

What do I tell people was the first CD I ever bought?

a. Huey Lewis and the News, Room for Squares

b. The Clash, London Calling

c. The Misfits, Legacy of Brutality

d. The Ramones, Rock ‘n Roll High School

What was actually the first CD I ever bought?

a. MC Hammer, Can’t Touch This

b. New Kids on the Block, Hangin’ Tough

c. Amy Grant, Heart in Motion

d. Boys  II Men

Good Idea, Bad Idea: To be played on a train, in a plane, in a box, or with a fox. Good Idea, Bad Idea can be played anywhere! Only need two people. Player one gives an example of a good idea. Good Idea—Go to the bank wearing your new straw hat to deposit some money. Player two must then respond with a similar idea, but worse. Bad Idea—Go to the bank wearing your new ski mask to deposit some bullets. Of course, some may find that one man’s good ideas are another man’s bad ideas (all ideas by women are good). This only add to the fun and the moral confusion. Whoever tires of the game first loses. Whoever never tires of the game is probably a loser.

No Yes and No: The only game listed so far that I’ve tried as a drinking game. In the case that you blew all of your beer money on pencils and paper while playing “Quiz Your Friends,” adult refreshments are not required. Turn to the person next to you and ask them a yes or no question. The object is to never answer yes or no and to respond only with a yes or no question. Surprisingly much more difficult than it sounds. Example:

Player 1: “Is the sky blue?”

Player 2: “Is the sky blue on a cloudy day?”

Player 1:  “Are the clouds cumulus clouds?”

Player 2: “Have you ever taken a science class?”

Player 1: “Was your science teacher Dr. Davis?”

My example is pretty boring. But, the first person accidentally answer yes, no, or respond with anything other than a yes or no question must take a drink, and then you start over again. As you can imagine, the longer you play and the more you lose, the more interesting the conversations get. You may not want to try this one in public, unless like me you are used to people overhearing your conversations believing you to be certifiably nuts.

Enjoy playing my awesome games Sixthman blog readers!  But please, use the above information responsibly. Or not all. Or while stuck on a bus to Kalamazoo. Or on the way to a cruise (that you helped pay for with the extra entertainment money you saved all year long using my cheap and easy games)!

xoxo,

Joy