My girlfriend is in the corporate world and she usually receives scores of invitations to annual Christmas and New Year's Eve parties/balls. But so far this year, she has not even received half the number she got this time last year. The singular hardship affecting the world (read recession) has translated to plural consequences for all of us.

There are subtle hints of downsizing, like smaller and less ostentatious invitations, far fewer Christmas cards and gifts. The real shocker came at one of the few parties where she ran into a popular party giver round town and said to him, "I hear there will be no New Year's Eve party this year," and he replied, "The economy bad, no money for dat."

As far as I am concerned, all these people who used to climb through hoops for those invitations should come together and fund the party this year. But many more organisations and individuals are being cautious with spending and all of us should take note.

So this week, I have a few tips for my single female readers and I hope they help you through what all the experts are predicting will be a rough 2009.

TIPS

1. If you got a bonus this year, save most of it and then head to the wholesale and stock up on non-perishables like toiletries, paper products and canned goods.

2. Buy gifts only for the children in your lives and give them clothes and books rather than toys that they will destroy in 30 minutes.

3. Consider sharing an apartment or house if you are looking for somewhere to rent (with girlfriends, no shacking up). This way you split the utility bills, etc.

4. Plan a Sunday dinner club where four or more of you pick a Sunday in the month to cook dinner for everyone. That way you only cook once in the four weeks on this special day. Share leftovers and take home for lunch next day.

5. Talk is cheap so stop spending so much money to do it. Use your phones smartly.

6. Stop spending your hard-earned money to subsidise the worthless men you still have in your lives. That's baggage you need not have around in 2009.

7. Since there will be fewer balls this year, why not head to the nearest place of worship. Come December 31, give God thanks for taking you safely through this year. And to all you pastors, why not use this opportunity to extend the invitation to Jamaicans to forget the balls and come to church? Serve snacks after midnight and segue into some good reggae-gospel music! Happy holidays!

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