When you’ve spent all of your money on booze, you make due with what you’ve got. Just because you got kicked out of your parent’s for a few months doesn't mean you have to go without air conditioning and cold beer. MacGyver that shit!
When you’ve spent all of your money on booze, you make due with what you’ve got. Just because you got kicked out of your parent’s for a few months doesn't mean you have to go without air conditioning and cold beer. MacGyver that shit!
Rollin’ Cooler
Savings $60
Cost: $10
Materials:
Cooler
Skateboard
Dog Leash
Bungee Cords
Replaces: a $70 cooler with wheels
If you’re doing anything worthwhile this semester, you’re gonna need to BYOB. Instead of lugging around your old-ass cooler, just give it some wheels.
How To: Set your cooler on the skateboard. Hook a bungee cord to one of the handles, and stretch it all of the way underneath the skateboard, then up to the other handle. Add more bungees as necessary. Use a simple knot to secure the leash to the front trucks, and you’re ready to roll. For bonus cool-ness, use the leftover bungees for a boombox, so everyone knows the party’s on its way.
Evaporation Cooler
Savings $22
Cost: $8
Materials:
5-gallon bucket
Mismatched socks
Wire or plastic mesh
Zip ties
Replaces: a $30 cooler
Warm beer makes you as many friends as your 70-year-old, smelly cooler. If you don’t have a cooler, or are embarrassed of yours, harness the power of evaporation to keep those brewskies cold.
How To: Drill one-inch holes all over your bucket, then wrap the mesh around the cans or bottles you hope to keep cool. Zip tie them closed so they’re like little cages. Stuff the clean, mismatched socks into the cages, and secure those with zip ties. Line the bottom with more socks (any scrap fabric will do) and put all of the cages into the holey bucket. Add your beverages, and spray the whole contraption with a hose. In about a half hour, your drinks should be at least 30 degrees cooler, and you’ll be 100-percent happy.
Air Conditioning
Savings $100 or more
Cost: $36
Materials:
Working desk fan
2 Duct elbows
Styrofoam Cooler
4 bottles of frozen water
Replaces: a $120 air conditioner, plus utilities
If you live in a shithole without AC, you’re in for a long, hot, sweaty semester. Normally, that’s sexy, but without someone to ogle your almost-pecs, it’s miserable. Avoid swamp ass with an air conditioner you made all by yourself.
How To: Cut three holes into your cooler. One fan-sized one on the top, and two elbow sized ones on the sides. Stuff the holes with their respective objects. Fill the cooler with the frozen water bottles and put the lid back on. Plug in the fan and in less than 10 minutes, you’ve got a temperature-controlled living space you’re happy to party in, we mean study.
Wheel Barrow Fire Pit/Grill
Savings $80-$200
Cost: $0
Materials:
Old steel wheelbarrow
Big rock
Grill grate
Replaces: $80-$200 fire pit or grill
Nothing beats sitting around a fire roasting weenies on a warm night, but when you don’t have a grill or fire pit, you’re shit out of luck. Instead of mooching off of the neighbors you don’t really like, make your own.
How To: Roll your wheelbarrow into the center of a circle of chairs. Place the big rock in front of the wheel so it doesn’t tip over or move. Throw some kindling into the wheelbarrow, and light that bitch on fire. Add some charcoal to the mix, lay the grill grate across the top, and it’s time to grab the hot dogs. You can take this baby wherever your heart desires and start parties all up and down the quad. Attach your rollin’ cooler/boombox to your belt, and you’re a one-man-party-band.
Gigantic Slip’n’ Slide
Savings $45
Cost: $50
Materials:
Gigantic roll of heavy duty plastic
Pool noodles
Velcro
Sprinkler
Dish soap
Steaks
Replaces: $15 kids’ slip ‘n’ slide
Every party would be better if people got partially naked, amiright? Because kid slip’n’slides can’t handle all that drunk booty, you’ve got to make a bigger one. So yeah, this isn’t saving you any money, but it’s making your party much much cooler.
How To: Unroll the plastic on a hill, and decide how big you’re going to go. Lay your pool noodles at the bottom and all up the sides of your slide for bumpers, and fold over the plastic onto the pool noodles. Secure this noodle pocket with Velcro. Once you’ve gotten your bumpers in place, flip the slide over and pull it taut. Use your muscles to steak the slide into the ground, so it won’t tear or come down the hill with you. Douse it with dish soap, and turn on the sprinkler. The more soap, the less water you’ll need, and before you know it, everyone in a bikini or shorts will want to take a ride on your huge, slippery slide.
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