How to Host a Fun and Frugal Game Night with Dollar Store Supplies

Looking for a fun way to hang out with friends without spending a lot of money? A game night is the perfect solution. With just a few simple items from the dollar store, you can create an evening full of laughter, friendly competition, and great memories. Here are four easy games that will make you the host with the most—without breaking the bank.

• 39 plastic cups (all the same color, plus one different color)
• 1 box of tissues (Kleenex or any brand)
• 5 craft sticks (popsicle sticks)
• 5 dice
• A timer or stopwatch
• Optional: drinks and snacks

Game 1: Moving On Up

This is a fast-paced game that tests your coordination and speed.

Setup:

1. Stack all 39 plastic cups in a single tower. Make sure the one different-colored cup is placed at the very top of the stack.

How to Play:

1. Start the timer.
2. Using only one hand, take the top cup from the stack and move it to the bottom.
3. Continue moving cups from top to bottom, one at a time, using only one hand.
4. Keep going until the different-colored cup has traveled through the entire stack and returns to the top position.
5. The player who completes this the fastest wins.

Game 2: Stack Attack

This game is all about building and unstacking as quickly as possible.

Setup:

1. Place 21 plastic cups in a single stack.

How to Play:

1. Start the timer.
2. Using one or both hands, stack the cups into a pyramid shape. The base should have 6 cups, then 5, then 4, then 3, then 2, and finally 1 cup at the top.
3. Once the pyramid is complete, immediately begin breaking it down.
4. Restack all cups back into a single stack.
5. The first player to return all cups to their original single stack wins.

Game 3: Hanky Panky

This game is deceptively simple but surprisingly tricky.

Setup:

1. Place a full box of tissues on the table.

How to Play:

1. Choose one hand to use for the entire game. You cannot switch hands or use any other body part.
2. Start the timer.
3. Pull tissues out of the box one at a time using only your chosen hand.
4. You may put your hand inside the box and hold multiple tissues in your hand as you pull out others.
5. Each tissue must clearly come out one at a time.
6. The first player to empty the entire box wins.

Team Variation: Play in teams of two. Each team member takes a turn pulling tissues. The team that finishes first wins.

Game 4: It's Dicey

This game requires steady nerves and a steady mouth.

Setup:

1. Give each player one craft stick and five dice.

How to Play:

1. Place the craft stick in your mouth, holding it with your lips only. No hands allowed on the stick once the game starts.
2. Start the timer.
3. Carefully balance one die on the end of the craft stick.
4. Continue adding dice one at a time until all five dice are balanced on the stick.
5. If any dice fall, you must start over from zero.
6. The first player to successfully balance all five dice wins.

1. Set a timer for each game. Keep rounds short (30-60 seconds per game) to maintain energy and excitement. This also prevents games from dragging on.

1. Create a tournament bracket. Have players compete head-to-head, with winners advancing. This builds anticipation and keeps everyone engaged throughout the night.

1. Have prizes ready. Even small prizes like a candy bar or a funny trophy make the competition more fun. Dollar store items work great for this too.

1. Adjust rules for your group. If a game seems too easy or too hard, modify it. For example, in "It's Dicey," you can start with three dice instead of five for beginners.

1. Keep a backup game plan. Have one or two extra games ready in case some games go faster than expected. You can also repeat games with different rules or variations.