Cheap Entertaining: Potluck Oscar Party

Are you waiting on a check?  Are you having a tough year?  Are you a victim of the economy?  Are you having a cash flow issue?

Are you, if we're being honest here, straight-up, flat-ass, broke-as-a-joke poor? 

Of course you are!  So is The Frugal Hostess.  Like, way more than usual.  To the point that she can barely afford to complain about it.  FruHubs has put his foot down about hosting another party until the current deficit is corrected, and FruHo actually agrees (for a change).

But she's having an Oscar party anyway.  What?  It's not 1950!  TFH never promised to obey!

To keep the cost down, FruHo is asking her guests to bring a dish or drink inspired by the (453) movies nominated for Best Picture.  Decorations will be, well, spare (maybe she'll artfully arrange some DVD cases around the house?), and the entertainment is built in.  Cleaning is the only thing she will do, and we all know how thoroughly The Frugal Hostess tends to clean.

If you want to have a super cheap Oscar party, here are some ideas to help you out.

Pandora’s Bento Box (over-sized bento box filled with sushi), or blueberry pie?

Buffalo wings and pigs in a blanket

Nine kinds of candy?  Umm, chicken wings to symbolize that freaky alien arm the bad guy wanted to eat?  Better keep it simple and stick with some South African wine.

Bangers and mash.  Think about the double entendre possibilities.

Ice cream bombe.  Or bottle of champagne.

German beer and brats.

What’s the most depressing food you can eat?  Serve that with a painkiller and vodka cocktail garnished with a razor blade topped with a suicide note umbrella.

Knish, latkes?  Who knows - did anyone hear of this movie until this week?

Nitrous balloons?  Of course not, what a terrible idea.  Blowpops -- the hidden gum surprise looks like a balloon when you blow it.

Airline chicken, travel-sized portions, or a really expensive fruit and cheese platter with at least one rotten grape per person.

UPDATE: Here are some posts with really cool Oscar party ideas. The first, from the awe-inspiring Bakerella, features seven (that's right!) different Oscar-inspired sweets.  And the second, courtesy of the always festive Hostess with the Mostess, has a centerpiece idea that could be modified for a  birthday party or shower.

The Frugal Hostess will see you at the movies. Please comment. You can also join the Frugalistas on Facebook for exclusive content, follow on Twitter @frugalhostess, or subscribe so that you always know when a new post appears.