As the country approaches economic crisis, spending $8 on a drink just seems plain irresponsible.

We dared to wonder: Is it possible to spend only $20 on drinks over the course of a Friday night in Dallas? And be satiated?

Lower Greenville, with its bevy of casual bars, would be the best place to test this theory, a group of friends and I decided. Here's how it went down.

None of us ever really hangs out on Greenville, so we hit the Public House (2010 Greenville Ave.) on a whim. A beer-bucket waitress at the door is confused when we ask about "specials." Miller Lights end up being $3.50 each. (Yowch!) I eye my change and guiltily leave a 50-cent tip. On the empty rooftop patio, which boasts views of the downtown skyline, a friend muses: "The cool kids need to re-take over Greenville." In the background, Crazy Town's "Butterfly" blares, as if in sad agreement.

Spent so far: $4

10:30 p.m.

Photos by JASON JANIK/Special Contributor

Customers drink and play billards at The Service Bar on lower Greenville Avenue

Jackpot! The Service Bar (1919 Greenville Ave.) has $2 wells and domestics for the next half-hour. And free stale popcorn in a Styrofoam bowl. Questions that need to be answered: Why is it foggy in here? The music is too loud to talk, so is this a club or a bar? Are short-shorts on women still in style?

Spent so far: $7

11:21 p.m.

The doorman at Malibu Bar (1915 Greenville Ave.) says, "Hey! Free shots for the ladies." We ponder this for a half-second and go inside. The shots are kamikazes served in plastic cups. The waitress takes mine away before I'm done. Note to self: Next time, plug nose and slurp the whole thing at once.

Spent so far: Still $7

The Sugar Shack (1909 Greenville Ave.) has $2 Miller Light drafts and a DJ bumping 2 Live Crew. Awww, yeah. This place feels like what would happen if Cosmo's and Señor Frogs had a wild love affair. There's a shot girl, a beer tub girl and panties hanging from a chandelier. And a guy with a lip ring stubbing out his cigarette at the bar. Sean Paul's "Temperature" comes on. I wiggle my hips.

Spent so far: $10

12:50 a.m.

Must. Find. Pizza. At Greenville Avenue Pizza Co. (1923 Greenville Ave.), I am so excited by my gooey slice of spinach and prosciutto, I burn the roof of my mouth. The crust is thin and chewy, and a gigantic slice costs only $4. I tip the cashier an extra buck for connecting me to my cheesy, yummy fantasy.

Spent so far: $15.

A friend urges us to go on to the Winedale (2110 Greenville Ave.), but pizza has turned on my "sleepy time" button. We have succeeded in our journey. Huzzah! Good night.

We agreed on these guidelines:

•Starting at 10 p.m., the $20 must last until 2 a.m. It must also include a late-night snack.

•Anyone who plans to have more than two drinks can't drive themselves home.