I went to a Pampered Chef at-home party recently and bought some new kitchen stuff. Did I need it? Not particularly since I have a well-stocked kitchen. But the products are good and I enjoyed the company. I drop a couple hundred bucks and made some new friends.

A few days later, the woman who was selling the stuff at the party, the party host and I got together again, this time to cook. I had been bragging about my cooking skills and describing a couple of the things I’m mad about right now and they were intrigued. We agreed to get together to cook. I’d do the shopping and we’d split the bill three ways. So that’s what we did.  I taught them to make my curried coconut and squash soup and portabella mushroom sandwiches, we chatted and laughed, and ate lunch for about $4 a piece right there in Catherine’s kitchen. 

I got to thinking about it some. Why are we turning shopping into a social event? Whatever happened to hanging out, cooking together, shooting the breeze?

We seem to be able to turn everything into a reason to spend money. Book club becomes a “meal out with the girls” in a nice restaurant. Entertainment becomes “going to a movie” and not even talking to each other. And the direct sales party is a resounding success both in terms of sales dollars and socializing.

We all know Avon. Getting together to play with make-up is a great way to spend an evening. So what if you drop $50? You’d have spent that going to dinner or a movie, and you got that great make-up to take home. Mary Kay is such a big hit that all over North American there are women driving pink Caddies, the reward for being a Big Seller.

Tupperware was one of the originals into the home-shopping game, turning plastic into gold. Discovery Toys offered educational playthings for aspiring moms and dads. And Herbal Life promised health. Scrapping booking is another direct sales money-maker. So are all the at-home fashion parties where you can buy business wear or new naughty knickers while sipping wine, nibbling nibblies and laughing. According to the Direct Selling Association in the U.S., there are almost 14 million people working in the industry making sales of $29.7 billion (in 2006).

So, are we spending money simply because we’re lonely and think we need to spend money to be with friends? Are we substituting spending for being?

It’s a reasonable question. I’m not knocking direct sales, believe me. If you can make money working on your own terms, I say go for it. I’m just wondering about all the people who go to the parties and buy stuff (they feel obligated, no doubt, by the food they’ve eaten and the wine they’ve drunk) just to have a night out.

And what are the less consumer-focused ways we can gather with our pals, meet new people and have a great time?

When I set up my new home, I think I’ll start a cooking party. No, people won’t have to buy anything. Instead, I’ll invite a few friends over to cook together, and they each can bring another friend to widen the group. Maybe once every three months to start. We can share our favorite recipes and learn from each other, laugh our heads off and have a great time, and stick some food in the freezer for when we get home from work and can’t work up the energy to cook.

There are dozens of ways we can get together with friends that don’t cost money. The original book club idea, the children’s toy swap, the DVD exchange (watch a movie, eat some popcorn and swap previously watched DVDs)). So how do you do it?

BTW: I’m all for direct sales as a career choice if you’re looking for a way to grow your income. Want more info? Head over here.  It’s a U.S. site with tons of info on various direct sales alternatives. 

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