"Living the Life" on a Tight Budget in Lake Tahoe

Everyone’s looking for ways to “tighten the belt” these days, and those of us fortunate to live here in Lake Tahoe are no different.  We are lucky though.  It seems as though most of our friends and associates all migrated to the lake at one time or another with a single purpose in mind – a higher quality of life.  There is an appreciation of beauty, joy and an eagerness to tackle a challenge.  Being an international resort community presents a few economic challenges.  Dining out, going to a performance, etc. can be a bit more expensive than in other areas yet there are alternatives found here that can be invigorating and FREE.  And now, folks in Lake Tahoe are engaging in the challenge of finding ways to continue the “finer life” at little expense.

We’ve mentioned the rediscovery of the pot luck in the past.  One of our favorite social activities these days is our glorified potluck – the “gourmet dinner club.”  Okay – we are not “foodies” per say or culinary experts but we do like good food and even more so, stimulating conversation.  These dinners have featured various themes such as food from other countries, regional foods and this year – famous chefs.  The host (on a rotating basis) chooses a chef and assigns the various courses.  Everyone does their homework and voila – an incredible meal, lively entertainment and NO TIP.  Actually, there is a tip – Do this SOON!