The Summer Wildcat has compiled a list of tips and pointers to keep you partying classy this year. From house parties to bars, these suggestions can help keep the night safe and enjoyable for you and everybody else.

Wherever you’re going, make sure you’re invited.
Feel like you’re getting stared at? It’s because nobody knows you, and you weren’t invited. You should probably leave, soon.

Don’t dress to fit in, and don’t dress to stand out.
You want to be memorable and forgettable at the same time. Everybody remembers the idiot in the green wig, so leave it at home.

Never be the first to arrive, and never be the last to leave.
Being first is awkward, especially if you don’t know the host that well, and lingering around after the festivities are over is just rude.

Don’t get hammered drunk, at least not right away.
It’s almost never polite to be drunk on someone else’s property, even if they are drunk themselves. Getting drunk sooner leads to bad decisions later. Learn to pace yourself.

In groups, have an exit strategy and a backup plan.
Be it a wink, a nod or a catchphrase, every group needs a signal for when it’s time to leave the party. Reassemble and regroup in a designated spot, and then prepare to proceed according to the backup plan.

Carry some cash.
Whether making a beer run, ordering pizza or paying a taxi to take you home, you never know when you may need some cash. Carry some with you, or have a friend hold on to it for you if you are bad with money.

Find a designated driver.
It goes without saying that it is never safe to drink and drive. Unfortunately, not a day goes by that somebody doesn’t get behind the wheel after drinking. Don’t be part of the problem; be part of the solution.