Easy Entertaining – Frugal Holiday Entertaining

One aspect to consider when entertaining is the financial cost. If you’re not careful, expenses can add up, pushing you over budget when feeding a crowd. Follow these simple tips to make your holiday gatherings memorable and affordable!

1. Don’t worry about decorating the whole house. Focus on the festive decoration of the room where you are receiving guests. Focus on the food and the table if you are on a tight budget.

2. Use what you have. Reuse items you already have on hand instead of buying new ones. Collect branches and cones yourself and use them to decorate instead of buying them.

3. When choosing a menu, make budget-conscious decisions. For example, a short rib stand is a beautiful entree, but it will put a lot of strain on your budget. Host of a good christmas theme, an “Italian-inspired Christmas” and prepare two delicious but inexpensive main pasta courses along with salads and a loaf of foccacia. Choose recipes that call for lower cost ingredients.

4. If you’re hosting a large gathering, warehouse stores can save you quite a bit of money. Use a shopping list when shopping for groceries, and stick with your list even if the store offers new and irresistible items you’d like to try. Stick to your list and you’ll stick to your budget.

5. Filling your menu with purchased items is a huge time saver, but keep in mind that it can add substantially to your overall costs. Preparing all the food yourself or accepting guests’ offer to bring a plate is one of the most cost-effective ways to save money when entertaining.

6. If you are serving alcohol, skip the mixed drinks and serve wine and/or beer along with other non-alcoholic options. Or if you want to serve a cocktail, make a “Cocktail of the Night” and serve it in a pitcher or punch bowl, instead of having an open bar.

7. Skip the disposable party supplies and use plates and serving pieces you already have for your table. Washing a full load of dishes in your dishwasher saves money and energy compared to washing them by hand and is less work for you!

8. For a centerpiece, consider fruits and vegetables instead of flowers. For Thanksgiving, use a serving tray and fill it with pumpkins, mini squashes, apples, pears, and walnuts to create an attractive centerpiece. Use a silver bowl with pomegranates, apples, or citrus with cloves for Christmas. You can eat most items after your festive gathering is over.

Do some things and do them well. By focusing your efforts and budget with this in mind, you’ll be able to entertain with style and efficiency.