Swinging and this bad economy...

[MulderNScully]

You know, this is a good time for all of us struggling to maybe do some budget swinging or budget parties where everyone brings something and meet at a safe place and share the cost together. (just a thought)

[2inSanDiego4u]

Originally Posted by LFM2

We have been eating more at home instead of eating out. That in itself saves us $$$.

Us too. If we meet couples for the first time it's usually for drinks or coffee, not a meal. When we do eat out, we avoid ordering alcohol to keep the bill down. Playing at home would be the ultimate cost saver, but some of us just can't do this due to kids, family, discretion, etc.

[MrkLin]

We haven't noticed any unusual downturn in swinging at all. I should qualify that last statement by saying that it's been our experience that swinging generally takes a bit of a downturn this time of year as people start gearing up for the holidays. People are out of town, or have family visiting, or are saving their cash for Christmas - things like that. We usually have a pre-Christmas house party for just that reason. People like having that fling the second weekend of December - a time to just go nuts before they settle in with family for the big holiday. It's always well received, and we have a good turn-out.

[WonderWhat]

Well, in our case, it's cheaper to go to the club (New Horizons) than to go out for dinner and a drink. Since the club is BYOB, we end up spending between a maximum of $120. Compare that to a nice dinner and two or three drinks: $160-$200, and no playroom.

Now, Mrs. W's sister is staying with us for some weeks, so we're hitting the club as much as we can in the next weeks now that we have someone to babysit for free .

[TravlParty]

We compared our weekend at the club to our usual weekend at home.

Club fee: $75 for a weekend pass, BYOB. Hotel - $200
Had a blast! Partied until they closed.

Club fee/bar tab for a vanilla dance club: $30 in door fees, $200-300 tab (2 nights $10 per drink, plus $70 for dinner each night), splitting hotel tab $75.00 (very rare to meet anyone)
Danced a little and home by 1:00 am.

We paid $1.74 per gallon for gas this weekend.

When we do the math, going to the club is definitely our best value.

[ownerspet]

I think during slumps in the economy, people not only tend to swing less, but I think people do less things in general that consume financial resources. Whether it is movie and dinner out, OR door charges at a swingers social/club and a hotel room, people tend to spend less when the economy is not doing so well.

[starryeyes]

Our favorite is going over to another couple's home. We will generally bring the main dish especially since they are providing the venue. All in all the evening may end up costing between $40-60. No cover charge, can stay all night, and may even include breakfast in bed courtesy of the guys!!

[Chicup]

Unless you lost your job its all in your head.

I'm so sick of the talking idiots telling us how awful things are because its scares people into not spending money 'just in case' and that gives us a bad economy.

Its like if the weatherman said 'its going to rain' made it rain, its practically criminal.

This is one thing that makes me very mad right now.

[BiloxiCouple]

At least gas is going down....

[JustAskJulie]

I actually managed to get premium for under $2/gallon yesterday.

[MRSfun]

I filled my car for 25 bucks today.

That leaves 25 saved compared to a few months ago.

Thats 25 bucks to get in the club now

[Chicup]

Originally Posted by BiloxiCouple

At least gas is going down....

And you remember all those economists who said it WASN'T speculation driving the price up, even though our consumption was 7% lower than the year before and production was up?

[MRSfun]

Originally Posted by Chicup

And you remember all those economists who said it WASN'T speculation driving the price up, even though our consumption was 7% lower than the year before and production was up?

Would a hummer make you feel good

I could do that

[WildMiCouple]

Originally Posted by Chicup

I'm so sick of the talking idiots telling us how awful things are because its scares people into not spending money 'just in case' and that gives us a bad economy.

You haven't lived in Michigan the last 3-4 yrs. Although I've been doing fine (with projects in Chicago ), we've led the nation in lost jobs here. They'll be turning out the lights if we lose our auto companies

Having said that, there was a hotel takeover last month in the metro Detroit area and it was about sold out with over 300 couples from all over the midwest. At a cost of around $400, I was very surprised at the number that showed up.

Brett

[Chicup]

Originally Posted by MRSfun

Would a hummer make you feel good

I could do that

The visibility out of a Hummer is awful, plus I'll be damned if I buy a GM car.....

Oh wait, a hummer not a Hummer....umm.. Yes please?

Originally Posted by WildMiCouple

You haven't lived in Michigan the last 3-4 yrs. Although I've been doing fine (with projects in Chicago ), we've led the nation in lost jobs here. They'll be turning out the lights if we lose our auto companies

Having said that, there was a hotel takeover last month in the metro Detroit area and it was about sold out with over 300 couples from all over the midwest. At a cost of around $400, I was very surprised at the number that showed up.

Brett

Michigan's economy has sucked even in the 'good' economy.

With Circuit City closing, their PR people blame the economy, talking heads say 'a sign of the times' and no one mentions that Circuit City has been awful for years. I only shopped in their once, they had a bad selection and I was attacked by a salesman. Why would I go there over Best Buy or Fry's? In my demographic, no one shopped there as there were always better alternatives.