Throw a Rent Party

I've never heard of this before, but it's a great idea for tough economic times - and who doesn't love a party! Ungeek To Live: How to Raise Your Rent One Glass at a Time

[throw] a Rent Party in order to pay the rent. It was a Harlem Renaissance tradition that died along with prohibition (and some say, because of it). Here's an excerpt on Rent Parties from the Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance:

During the 1920s and 1930s (and even into the 1940s), such parties formed the backbone of Harlem nightlife, and became for many working people not only an enjoyable and affordable way to dance and socialize but also an economic necessity. For the reasonable admission price of between ten cents and a dollar, plus the cost of liquor and food, guests could dance, drink, flirt, and gamble, while the hosts collected enough money to pay the landlord for another month.