The holiday season is here and now is the perfect time to throw a holiday party for your loved ones. If you are considering hosting a party, you might be worried about how much it might cost you. Luckily, we have a few tips to help you get started and stick to a reasonable budget.
Guest List:
When hosting a holiday dinner, you can easily go overboard with your guest list. It’s important to remember that although you want to provide a fun holiday experience, inviting too many can end up costing you more money than you want to spend. Keep your guest list reasonable and only invite your nearest and dearest. Another way you can save money is to encourage guests to RSVP. This way, you know exactly how many people to expect and you won’t overspend on too much food and beverages.
Avoid Buying Holiday Decorations:
Purchasing holiday-themed decorations for a holiday dinner can be a lot of fun, but it can also get expensive quick. Instead of specifically seasonal decorations, pick a few key features and then stick to everyday items in the same color palette. Red, green or even fun metallic shades can all be used at other occasions. You can reuse tablecloths, table runners, chargers and other sorts of décor if they don’t have a specific theme. Not only is it an investment for future events, but these items will be less expensive than other holiday-themed decorations in the height of the season.
DIY Decorations:
Another way to save money is to DIY your decorations. Making your own decorations can add an extra flare to your party without forcing you to spend too much. There are so many decorations you can make with items you most likely already have at home. For your guests, you can create these Easy Candy Cane Place Card Holders. Other DIY ideas include Ornament-Filled Vases or Book Paper Tree Centerpieces.
Potluck Style
Ask everyone attending your event to bring their favorite dish. This will save you money on groceries and also save you time in preparing all of the food. With everyone bringing something to the dinner, you will also ensure that there will be plenty for everyone to eat and something that everyone will enjoy. You can also encourage guests to bring their own beverages to the dinner as well. If you wish to provide alcohol for your guests, there are plenty of places where you can get good quality without going over budget. Some fan favorites are Trader's Joe's Charles Shaw Wines that are priced at $1.99 to $3.79 depending on what state you live in. Another good option is to create a holiday cocktail like Red Apple Crisp Drink that will only cost you about $22 for every dozen guests.
Couponing & Cash Back
Before you start shopping for any items you will need for your party, make sure to search for any coupons that will help you along the way. There are hundreds of grocery coupons available to print, use on your mobile phone or include in online orders. In addition to couponing, see what items you can get that will offer you cash back for your purchases.
Take a look at some deals BeFrugal has that can help you throw a frugal holiday party:
- Printable Grocery Coupons
- Costco Coupons
- BJ's Wholesale Club- up to 15% off supermarket prices, plus 3.1% cash back
- Party City- 50% off patterned tableware
- Dollar Tree- 2% cash back