The Party Must Go On. That was the headline on CNN’s coverage of the financial crisis in Brazil yesterday. It’s not that Brazil isn’t experiencing the same economic hardships – they are. Their currency value has dropped by 35% since last year.

It’s Carnival time in Brazil  and some little thing like a worldwide economic disaster  wasn’t going to stop them from celebrating. And celebrate they did. Though they trimmed back a bit, and found ways to do things a little bit cheaper, they’re still having their biggest, wildest party of the year. What they are missing in money, they will make up with creativity!

If those crazy Brazilians can do it, so can you. Tough times are no good reason to stop having fun. In my opinion, finding ways to have fun in tough times is an absolute necessity. We can’t just sit around and fret and worry, and “woe is me.”

So plan that party, celebrate Mardi Gras, have some fun. You can find ways to trim your budget a bit and still have a great time. Buy costumes and accessories on sale, reuse your costumes, make them unique and fun by mixing and matching pieces, do more homemade stuff, and throw theme parties that rely more on accessories than expensive costumes.