5 Affordable Girls' Night IN Ideas
Do you need a Girls’ Night? I know I do! But sometimes a night out is the last thing my bank account needs. As wonderful as they can be, between the drinks and the apps and the ‘zerts and the more drinks, GNOs can get pretty expensive. So why not flip the script and opt for a Girls’ Night IN? Put on some sweats, tighten that top knot, and gather your girlfriends on the sofa! I’ve come up with five affordable options for your next GNI.
Game Night and Potluck. If your group of friends is up for some games and food (who isn’t!?), this is for you guys. Have everyone bring a snack or a drink. It can be as simple as a few bags of chips, some fruit, and/or a bottle of wine or two. Then gather around for some simple games. A few I suggest for this type of gathering are Catchphrase, Exploding Kittens, What Do You Meme, or pretty much any game with cards because they tend to be fast-moving and easy to take a break from for a quick side-chat.
TV Night In. Some of my favorite girls’ nights have centered around The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. So whatever your guilty reality TV pleasure, invite your besties over to experience the train wreck together. Have everyone bring a little snack or drink and your night is made! Don’t forget the stretchy pants and statement earrings. And remember, Aldi has all the ingredients you need to make a killer charcuterie board.
Spa Night. If you and your girls need a relaxing evening with some heart-to-heart conversation, you can opt for a spa night in. This one is so fun and easy- pick up some single-use face masks (the more Hannibal Lecter-looking the better- think about the Insta pics), slice some cucumbers, add some bubbly, and have a cathartic venting session with your squad.
Service Project Night. Look online to see what items your local food pantry is in need of and “charge admission” in the form of food items for each friend. No matter how many friends or how many items they each bring, your GNI will be a blessing to people in your community. You could even play a game in which the loser (or winner!) is the one who gets to drop the food haul off at the food pantry. Another option for a GNI service project is to make Homeless Care Packages. Have each girl bring multiples of one item on the list, then combine and construct the packages as you sit around and chit chat. Split the packages evenly between the girls to distribute to any homeless or otherwise needy people you come across as you go about your daily lives.
Craft Time. Know what’s a fairly easy and cheap to DIY that even I can do? Seasonal wreaths. Find your favorite DIY wreath instructions online, source your materials from the local dollar store, and have a crafty evening with your girls! If your friends are a crafty group, you can always choose a more intricate craft, but wreaths seem to be a perfect fit for me and my friend group. My favorite dollar store wreath tutorial is here (and Her Happy Home has so many more great dollar store DIYs on her blog).
No matter what girls’ night activity you choose, the important thing is to carve out some quality time with your girlfriends, whether that looks super fancy or super casual. Because when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year… they’ll be there for you. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)