St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday that allows everyone around the world to celebrate the Irish, Saint Patrick and good ole fashioned shenanigans. Of course, since St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Thursday, you may end up spending most of the holiday trapped indoors. This can be a bit tough, especially if you work in an office with strict polices that won’t allow you to come to work dressed as a leprechaun. If you’re worried about missing out on all of the green fun, you’re in luck. Here’s ten simple ways to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day this year at the office without forcing you to blow your budget. Now, you can share your Irish roots, or simply your love for holidays, with all of your co-workers, which could make the holiday even better.
1. Paint Your Nails
If your employer is banning you from wearing green this holiday, or you simply don’t have any business attire that will suit your green needs, then painting your nails is a pretty awesome way to get your holiday fix. Green nail polish won’t cost you a pretty penny to begin with and if you don’t want to get too elaborate then you can have a green friendly look in a matter of seconds. Of course, if you love to add some pizzazz to your nails then you can easily print out a simple four leaf clover stencil and use it to create a festive design on your nails. There’s lots of ideas online if you’re in need of inspiration. Another simple option is to add green or gold rhinestones or stickers to your nails. This will add a temporary look that is sure to please. If you’re not as worried about your budget, then you can head to your favorite nail salon and let them work their magic!
2. Pass Out Clovers
One amazing way to celebrate when you can’t wear green or bring in holiday inspired cupcakes is to pass out clovers. These clovers are said to bring luck to you, which will allow you to celebrate the luck of the Irish without forcing you to spend money on other clever ways to celebrate. You can probably get a variety of clovers from stores nearby, but if you really want to save some money then bring your crafting skills to the table. There’s lots of great online tutorials you can choose from and none of them should force you to spend a small fortune. When you’ve worked your magic on your clovers then display them on your desk, pin one to your clothes and give them to your favorite colleagues. You’ll love the spirit they bring to the office, even when the company isn’t celebrating.
3. Pack a Lunch
A great way to bring more of the holiday to your day when you’re trapped at work is to pack a special St. Patrick’s Day lunch. You can choose from a wide assortment of items too, which will suit your diet as well. A healthier option is to bring a green smoothie, which will power you through the day while helping cleanse your body of toxins. Green cupcakes are another great idea if you’re looking to suit your green requirement. Of course, you could also keep it traditional by bringing something Irish to the mix. For starters, you can try out a corn beefed sandwich, which is sure to bring out your roots. There’s lot of recipes online though if you’re not keen on corn beef or not quite certain what to make to suit your Irish needs. You may even be able to try something new, which will stun all of your colleagues.
4. Host a Party
Even if there haven’t been any rumors of a party, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not allowed to have one. Ask your boss if you can set up a little get-together in the break room over lunch time. If he or she says no then it’s no harm done, and if they say yes then you’re set up for lots of fun. Of course, you could always invite people back for a little fun at your house when the work day is over. Either way you go, there’s some quick frugal ways to make the party a blast without forcing you to shell out a lot of money. For instance, you can ask everyone to bring in a traditional Irish dish or something green to help create a potluck that everyone will remember. Cheap décor can be found at most dollar stores or you can look up a few DIY items that won’t take up a lot of time. As far as games are concerned, try to come up with a Celtic version of charades or host an Irish history trivia game. You may also be able to find quite a few party ideas online too. If you want to give out prizes, then think chocolate gold coins or clovers.
5. Decorate Your Desk/Cubicle
If you’re worried about the holiday coming and going without any representation, then try to spice it up by decorating your desk or your cubicle. You can easily transform your pen holder into a pot of gold using basic crafting supplies, which may add a fun twist to your work schedule too. If you often get kids in your office, then add a few chocolate gold coins to keep them happy while they wait. Leprechauns also make a great touch! You can easily print and color some out to hang up or buy a few for a low price. Window or wall decals will also add a great look to the room and will do no damage when you hang and remove them. Apart from that, you can put your DIY skills to work by making your own holiday inspired garland, clovers or whatever else floats your boat. If you’re not in the mood for crafting then you should be able to find incredibly cheap décor at your local dollar store or department store, just make sure to shop around for the best bargain.
6. Grab a Playlist
When it comes to celebrating, nothing says fun like some Irish music, both old and new. If your boss is totally against parties, dressing up and décor, then browse around for a playlist to get you through the long non-celebratory day. If you’re already a fan of Irish music, then take to your own collection to create the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day celebration playlist and bring it to work with a pair of good headphones or earbuds. Of course, if you’re not really sure where to start then take to your favorite streaming program. You can probably find St. Patrick’s Day lists if you don’t have a preference for genre. However, if you want to use the holiday to explore your musical taste then be more specific in your search. You can find everything from folk songs, instrumentals, rap, punk, alternative and even pop. You may even find something you’ll want to enjoy throughout the year.
7. Discover a New Restaurant
Pigging out on Celtic cuisine can be a pretty awesome way to celebrate, especially if you get a fair lunch break at work. Try browsing around your local area to see if there is an Irish pub or other restaurant that likes to serve up Irish food. You may end up finding a place that serves Irish influenced food, but it’s still better than the same old PB&J, right? Make sure you look around for deals too, as this is a prime time for restaurants to serve up a signature dish or to offer a great sale on their food. Another smart thing to do is look for Groupons, so you and a few of your colleagues can save some money by trying a new dish together.
8. Pass Out Cards
Another way to celebrate the occasion without putting too much money into it, or over-stepping your boundaries at the work place is to pass out cards. You can find a whole bunch of templates online to print out if you’re interested in taking a cheaper route. Of course, you can dedicate a bit more time to them and make them entirely from scratch. It’s not hard to show off clovers, leprechauns, rainbows and pots of gold, so you could even enlist the whole family to make the cards even more special. If you don’t really have the time to go the DIY route, then you can always pick up cards in bulk. You may have to order them online, as St. Patrick’s Day cards aren’t as popular as other holidays, but it’ll be worth it when you bring some cheer to the office on your favorite holiday. You may even get lucky and avoid pinches due to your kindness.
9. Browse Parades
One frustrating thing about being trapped inside during such a fun holiday is missing out on the parades, especially if your city hosts one. You’re in luck though! Thanks to the internet, you can watch parades from all over the place, which should help brighten your day. A lot of cities will post live footage of their parades and will also add the event to their website after it’s over. So, you can browse it during your breaks or share some of the love with your fellow colleagues. You can even skip over the boring stuff you’re not interested in. This year, you may even find a city that creates a parade better than you would have ever expected. So, start book marking the websites of your favorite cities now!
10. Grab A Drink After Work
Part of St. Patrick’s Day has a whole lot to do with drinking, which isn’t exactly work friendly. However, you can always gather up a group to grab a drink with you after you finish up your day. Most bars will have a special on their drinks, particularly green beers or other Irish inspired concoctions, so you may be able to save a bit of money on your special occasion. However, keep the drinks to a minimum or your tab may go up substantially without you realizing it. You should also call around to see if anyone is offering special prices, foods or even a Happy Hour to celebrate the occasion. With a little luck of the Irish, you’ll find the perfect place to end the professional day and start up your Irish celebration.
St. Patrick’s Day can be a lot of fun, but if you’re trapped in a workplace that doesn’t let you celebrate then you may have to find a few tricky ways to get your celebration in. These ten tips should help you find a few frugal ways to enjoy a few aspects of the holiday, so you can feel like the special occasion didn’t just pass you by!
