My Thrifty Friends Invited Me to a Birthday Party—But I Went Home Hungry

My frugal friends invited me to a birthday party. I came home hungry.

I have a particular group of friends whom I think of as rather thrifty. They pinch pennies in every areafood, clothes, you name it. Its not that theyre struggling, either; theyre quite well off and always seem to have money to spare. So its not about necessity.

I only ever visit them for special occasions; otherwise, we just chat on the phone. About a month ago, they invited me over for a birthday celebration. I went along and, astonishingly, returned home ravenous.

On the morning of the party, I tucked the gift Id bought into my handbag before heading to work. The invitation was for four oclock, so at lunchtime I simply had a coffee and a couple of biscuits. I purposely didnt eat much, thinking Id be enjoying a proper spread later on.

By the appointed time, I arrived at their place, handed over the gift, and wished plenty of happiness and good health. I joked that I was starving like a wolf, letting them know Id saved my appetite for the party. My friend cheerfully replied, saying everything was ready.

There were six guests and our hosts, making eight altogether. When we entered the living room, I immediately noticed there was no dining table; evidently, they had arranged a buffet. There were no chairs, just a tiny sofa. I would have preferred a proper sit-down meal after work, but apparently we were all to squash together on the little couch. Fine, buffet it was. My friend set up a small round table with the feast.

At this point, I bitterly regretted my lunchtime restraint. On the table (I actually counted, without shame) were several very small plates, each with precisely eight thin sliceseight of cured sausage (my favourite!), eight of cold meat, and eight of cheese. The same went for the fresh tomatoes and cucumbers: eight wafer-thin slices all round. Everything was sliced with impressive precision, and presented beautifully. There were also two miniature bowls of salad, and the fruit was strictly portioned for eight people. Finally, a solitary bottle of wine completed the lavish spread. Eat, drink, and be merry, I suppose.

I sat there, chewing on my fragment of sausage with cheese, still quite hungry. I didnt even fancy the wine, as I was worried it wouldnt fill me up. My friend announced, “Ill bring something hot.” Confident at last, I thought thered be a hearty dish.

The hostess appeared with the hot food: on each plate, a single roast potato and one baked chicken drumstick. Yes, just one each! It was almost farcical. At least the birthday cake was of regular size. In truth, we had a lovely time together. After about ninety minutes, I made my way home, still absolutely famished.

On the way, I stopped by the shop for some groceries and, back at home, treated myself to a decent meal. So, in the end, my friends managed to save money on their guests.

But really, what is the point of hosting a birthday party if you cantor wontoffer your guests a proper welcome?